The season is now in the home stretch as one full week of games is yet to be played before the league heads into the year-end Charity Tournament. One team that appears to be peaking at the right time is Granny O'Sheas, besting Bethpage PT 19-12.

In the first inning Granny's took advantage of PT's generosity (six walks) to score eight runs, led by the key RBI hits of Mickey Newbeck, Al Celeste and Brian Mulcahy. Another big inning for O'Sheas occurred in the third when Andy Cohen smacked a long three-run homerun over the left fielder's head followed Jay Donovan's own two-run blast giving O'Sheas a secure 14-4 lead. Granny's recent hot streak actually has included the past two wins while fielding only nine players, a very impressive accomplishment.

This week they were led by leadoff hitter Mickey Newbeck, who had three hits, a BB and a FC good for three RBIs. Hampton Air East continued their terrific season with a 37-13 spanking of Bar Boy. The entire line-up had a minimum of three hits apiece with Tim Jones continuing his hot hitting going 5-5 with two homeruns. Also coming up big was Chris Theohrides who went 4-4 but actually the best news of the night belonged to Captain Ed Bernauer who had successful eye surgery. The final game on the big field had Mer's pulling out an 11-10 come-from-behind victory over a struggling M&T squad.

The game started out with the teams trading runs back and forth in the early innings as M&T jumped out to a 9-6 lead after five. Then their bats went cold, only pushing across one additional run over the last four innings as Mer's tightened up their defense and received steady pitching from Joe Fanning. Mer's rookie shortstop, Tom Brusca, and George Cohan, playing second base for the first time, turned in some fine plays in the infield along with third baseman, Ed Healy, and Mers outstanding first baseman, Jim Fileccia help cool off the M&T offense.

The outfield play by Tom Fitzpatrick, Byron Bodine, Bill Sutherland, and Kevin Brosnan was almost flawless, which included a great catch by Tommy Fitz in a critical junction of the game which robbed a sure extra-base hit from M&T. Ed Healy's two-run homerun blast started the Mer's comeback and was helped out by Bodine and Fanning, who went 3-4. Also for the Mersmen were Ed H, Jim Fileccia, and Tom Vella who each went 2-3 and combined for six RBIs, as well as Sutherland and Vella who both went 2-4.

On the small field, Barco continued their fine season as they edged out a resurgent Changing Times team 9-8. CT jumped out to a 8-2 lead after three but then their bats went cold from there as Barco fought back, culminating with Kevin Moloney's monster two-run blast in the home half of the seventh to give them the lead and win. Aiding Barco tremendously were the fuor DP's they turned which included Kevin M's great throw home to finish one DP and a game ending DP with the tying run at second.

The middle game had Singleton's winning over Built-More-Builders while the late game had Synergy continuing their outstanding season with a 9-8 win over Moby Drugs. It was the bottom of Synergy's lineup that proved their guts and came up big to pull out a real nail biter as they scored four in the bottom of the eighth to pull this game out. Bobby Joyce threw off the piano and legged one out to keep rally going which brought in the tying run while Denny Oehl had a perfect night at the plate going 3-3. Rookie Benny Macchia showed real determination to help his team, getting two hits while running on a badly sprained ankle, who along Richie Dargie contributed from both sides with two hits and a great job on the mound.

After the game, Joe Lutz commented on how especially sweet those cold ones at Mers will taste after beating Jerry and Paul.

American Division		National Division
Synergy	14-1	Hampton Air	12-3
Barco	13-2	CT	8-7
Mers	9-5	BMB	6-8
O'Sheas	7-8	Moby	5-8-1
Singletons	5-9	BPT	4-11
Bar Boy	0-14-1	M&T	4-11