Coming off last November's accent to the semi-final of the ABA Turkey Shoot Out, the Columbus Lodge 2143 Golden Lions ("CL") were eager to begin this season by building upon last year's success. Despite a soggy field, that eagerness produced a 12-5 season opening victory over the team from Avon Electrics. Dave Saviano (2-runs scored) and Dennis Tranchina (2b, HR, 3-RBIs) led a 21-hit attack with three hits each.

After being named co-winner of last year's the J.B. Award, Dave Saviano began his 15th season with the Golden Lions by opening with a single to right field. After Massapequa's Joe Percella double Saviano to third, Jeff Steinberg, the other co-winner of the J.B. Award, singled in the first 2-runs of the season. Dennis Tranchina followed with a 2-run homerun, scoring Steinberg ahead of him and give CL a 4-0 lead.

The Columbus Lodge continued to pounce on their opponent scoring 3-runs in the third and 2-runs in the fourth. Singles by Lee Miceli and Dave Saviano allowed CL outfielder Jeff Steinberg, who was last year's team leader in HRs and RBIs, to hit a one out double scoring speedy Miceli. Tranchina followed with a single that brought home Saviano. Then Anthony Curran's sac-fly scored Steinberg for the final run of the inning.

Farmingdale's Ed Bochynski, now in his ninth season as Columbus Lodge softball manager, has guided the Golden Lions to 15 titles and trophies. Looking to build upon prior success, the veteran first baseman christened the new season by slashing a 2-out double, which allowed Ron Gandolfo to score from second base. The run put the Lions a head 8-0, as the team headed to into the bottom of the fourth.

Joe Percella showed why he is considered among the finest shortstops in Columbus Lodge history when, with Avon Electric base runners on first and second, he fielded a weakly hit ground ball and tossed it sidearm to second baseman Angelo Patrone for the first out. After Patrone completed the double play, the next batter singled to left. Percella fielded the cutoff throw and fired it home to catcher Lee Miceli. Miceli placed a tag on the incoming runner, which ended the fourth inning.

In the fifth inning, Anthony Curran reinforced his nickname 'the Big Sausage' when he crushed a 3-run salami. Later, Mookie Castillo doubled in the Lion's final run to extend the lead to 12-0. Avon Electronics finally broke through with two insignificant runs in the bottom of the fifth and three more in the sixth inning. Castillo pitched the Lions to victory and was the recipient of plenty of free advice from teammate Jeff Steinberg.

The Golden Lions are a competitive softball team that raises money for local charities by participating in softball fund-raising events and a branch of the Columbus Lodge 2143, a not-for-profit fraternal organization and member of the Sons of Italy. Currently, the team is putting together its charity events tour. Since the Lions inception, their participation in such events has helped raise over $600,000 for local charities.

Other OSIA News: Later this month, CL's Keith Wilson will lead a precession of members and veteran organizations to Pine Lawn Cemetery and place flowers on the graves of each soldier as a Memorial Day remembrance. Wilson, a real estate broker for Prudential Reality, is a Massapequa resident . . . Lioness Rita DiSalvo, an assistant softball coach at Dowling College, has helped guide her team to a 28-16 record and is headed for the NYCAC playoffs.