The regular season has now come to a close and the league will now be gearing up for the OTH Annual Year-End Charity Tournament. This year had some surprises as usual, with some teams finding new success while others search for answers for their misfortune.

One of the rebounding teams was the resurgent Hampton Air East team who ended their very successful season with a payback win over Changing Times, 24-6. The win avenged an early season loss and provided Air their best record (13-3) in many a year (27?). On this night Hal Edelman, John Healy, Tom Giorelle, Glen Sullivan and Chris Theohrides all went 4-5 with the big hit being Joe Bonarrigo's triple to break the game open.

Changing Times played well throughout the season, ending up in second place to Air in the National Division with an 8-8 record. Moby, with their win over M&T finished in third at 6-8-1 while the loss dropped M&T to 4-12. Mounting perhaps their best offensive effort of the year, Bethpage PT bested a short-squad (fielded only nine players) Built-More-Builders team 27-13. It was a game of offensive prominence for both teams, as the two squads combined for 25 runs in the first three innings before settling down. Built-More opened the first frame with 4 runs but Bethpage came roaring back in their half of the first. Consecutive hits by Frank Horoszewski, Mike Colecchia and Doug Dervin made it 4-2 before getting clutch two-out hits from Rick Bugeia, Bob Concessi, and Frank Aimetti, ending up with a 7-4 lead. Built-More answered back in the second with a four-spot, and then added another four runs third which gave them 12-7 edge. From that point on however it was all Bethpage.

A six-run outburst in the third, highlighted by Mike Anzalone's three-run HR and Horoszewski's two-run triple, gave Bethpage the lead at 13-12. Meanwhile the earlier storming bats of Built-More quieted down, with John Leone's pitching keeping them off balance, and Bethpage's "D" shining, including a "web gem" catch by outfielder Mike Colecchia. With the score tied at 13 in the fifth, Bethpage erupted for five runs on Chris Tuttle's two-rbi single which was followed by RBI hits from Doug Dervin, John Leone, and Bob Concessi's sac fly. Bethpage put the game away in the next inning with more offensive fireworks, scoring five more, highlighted by Chris Tuttle's three-run HR and Collechia's two-run blast, which they then followed with four more runs in the eighth. Although BMB lost their last five in a row, they ended up a respectable fourth place while PT ended up fifth.

On the American Division side, Synergy continued their outstanding season with a 23-7 victory over Singletons. Finishing at 15-1, which is their best regular season record. They did it by using the entire line-up to hit and score. Leading the way were "Mr. Steady" Joe Lutz, Billy Fitzpatrick (a long homer), and Bruce "Mr. Comeback" Coonan with four hits each. Benny Macchia (still hobbled with a bum ankle) went 3-3, and Tommy Vanasco, Davey Rubino and Bob Joyce added three hits. Defensively Bobby Joyce pitched brilliantly keeping Singletons off the base paths while terrific fielding by rookie Aldo Balducci and Billy Fitzpatrick backed him up. Bill discovered he could throw almost as well on his back as he can standing up.

Rounding out the American side, Barco ended up second at 14-2 with a forfeit win over Bar Boy while Mers ended O'Sheas late season winning streak, giving Mers a 10-5 good for third while O'Sheas finished at 7-9. The tournament will start up after Labor Day weekend, with the brackets, based on winning percentages, being posted in next weeks article.

Synergy	15-1-0	.938
Barco	14-2-0	.875
Mers	10-5-1	.667
O'Sheas	7-9-0	.438
Singletons	5-10-0	.333
Bar Boy	0-15-1	.031

Hampton	13-3-0	.813
Changing T's	8-8-0	.500
Moby	6-8-1	.433
BMB	6-9-0	.400
Bethpage	5-11-0	.313
M&T	4-12-0	.250