April 29 results indicated that a few teams were coming out of the starting block red hot, leading the way is the hot hitting Synergy team which has been rejuvenated with some new blood. The Synergy boys beat the powerful Singletons team 24-5. Synergy scored early and often. Offensively, they hit up and down the order. Key hits came from Bob Joyce, Mike Mormino, Benny Macchia (HR and a triple), Dave Rubino, and Denny Oehl. Rookie Aldo Balducci, besides having a multiple hit night, was the middleman of three double plays. In his first start of the year, Richie Dargie pitched a brilliant shutout through 6 innings. Newly recruited rookie Bob Huebner hit well at the plate with three hits. Unfortunately for Singleton's they started out slowly, after 3 innings it was 4-0 and after 6 it was 17-0. Yup 17-0. By then Singleton's started to play ball and managed to score 6 runs before ending an early season nightmare with a 23-6 whipping. Another of the quick starters is Built-More Builders (BNB) who also posted their 2nd win. BNB beat Bethpage PT 14-6 thanks to another solid outing from pitcher Kris Solberg and a barrage of late inning runs. Beno Reverberi and rookie Tom Dittmeier supplied most the offensive punch; both had three hits and homered to break the game open. Dittmeier's blast was especially impressive, a rocket shot on the 90 ft. field. Rookie Bill Hartenstine chipped in with a RBI single and some nifty base running. Jerry Mazza managed 4 "seeing-eye" singles while John Defalco had 3 hits. Joe Manning and Rick D'Amico added 2 hits each. Defensively, Joe Algerio and Rich D'Amico were tough on the left side the infield handling numerous chances. D'Amico looks at home at short and was heard to say, "Bobby who?" The loss evened Bethpage PTs record to 1-1. The game opened quietly enough. Down 1-0 after one, Bethpage tied it in the second on three straight two-out hits, with Jimmy Nolan getting the RBI. In the third Bethpage took a 2-1 lead on hot fielding Mike Kochan's RBI hit, but left two runners on with only one out. Built-More responded with a three-spot of their own in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead. The quiet hitting stayed that way with Bethpage getting only 2 hits in the next three innings (both in the sixth to start the inning, but the potential rally stalled right there). Built-More padded their lead to 6-2 with two more in their half of the 6th, but once again Bethpage got back into the game in the seventh. Singles by Mike Muscara and Jack Brosnan sandwiched around an out led to two out RBI hits from Mike Colecchia and Bob "Pops" Schellhorn, making it 6-4, and putting the tying runs in scoring position, but the inning ended without further scoring. BNB quickly snuffed out Bethpage's dream of a comeback with 4 in the seventh for a 10-4 lead, and then a final crushing 4 run 8th open up an insurmountable lead and the final score of 14-4. The last game with reported highlights had Barco cruising to their 2nd win as well, beating Bar Boy 24-6 that was called after 6 1/2. Leading the way for Barco with perfect nights at the plate were Bill "Ace" White and Dennis Ryan (both 4-4). Ace eventually found his way home from AC to drive in 3 along with Dennis, Steve Schwind and Dave Saur as Barco continued their hot hitting. Providing some comic relief was twinkle toes Jeff Elie while showcasing his base running skills, which he'll gladly demonstrate on request. No other game results were provided.

Highlights from week one that were omitted from last weeks article had both Synergy and Bethpage PT starting the season on a winning note. Synergy began the new season with some new players and obviously a revamped lineup and defense. They beat the always-tough Mers team 27-8 behind the steady veteran Bob Joyce on the mound. The defense turned several double plays and seemed to come up with big plays that kept Mers from getting any momentum. Joe Lutz started the Synergy scoring with a solo home run, and Synergy never stopped after that. Rookies Benny Macchia and Aldo Balducci each hit homers, combining with multiple hit nights by Denny Oehl, Davey Rubino, Al Devine, and Richie Dargie. "Big Mike" Mormino and "Tall Big Mike" Maier, both had big nights at the plate despite nagging injuries. They showed gritty determination just to be on the field. Overcoming early 4-0 and 6-2 deficits, Bethpage PT stormed back to win the season opener, 12-8 at rainy Allen Park last Friday. Changing Times Pub opened with a flurry, putting up two in the first and two more in the second to open up a 4-0 lead. Bethpage answered with two in the second on 3 hits, but by the top of the fourth Changing Times scored another pair to open a 6-2 lead. Bethpage erupted with a big inning of their own in the bottom of the fourth. A single and a walk opened the inning and Mike Anzalone followed with a 2-run triple. Hits by Mike Muscara, Mike Kochen and rookie Chris Tuttle followed, and a fielder's choice closed out a 5-run fourth and a 7-6 Bethpage lead. After Changing Times tied it in the fifth, Bethpage regained the lead in their half with a pair of their own on RBI hits by Mike Colecchia and Frank Horoszewski (who had 3 hits on the night). After that the flawless Bethpage defense dominated, with Kochen's ESPN-quality sparkler at third base highlighting the play. Bethpage added two more in the 7th and another in the 8th on Doug Dervin's RBI hit to open up a 12-7 lead en route to the 12-8 victory. Several had outstanding games with Chris Tuttle's 3 hits and 2 RBI's, Jack Brosnan 3 hits and Milke Anzalone's 3 hits leading the way.