The 2008 Over the Hill Gang season got under way on a beautiful night with a great matchup between National League Champs, Hampton Air against American League Champions, Granny O'Shea's.

Grannys started strong. Bob Kirk, Jay Donovan and Bob Thompson all singled home a run to make it 3-1 in the first. Hampton tacked on another run in the second inning and O'Shea's responded with a string of runs over the next five innings. Walter Hasemann went four-for-four with two runs scored to help lead Grannys. In addition, Mike Hadnagy greeted the new season with a three-for-three outing and an RBI. Bob Meyers pitched a strong game and came away leading the team in triples for the year as he pulled one down the third base line for two RBIs in the sixth. By the end of the seventh inning, O'Shea's had a 14-4 lead. Hampton added three more runs in the eighth but it was not enough as time ran out. The final score was 14-7 Granny's.

O'Shea's sends a huge "Welcome Back" to teammate and friend Andy Cohen. After a year on the "DL", he looked great going two-for-four with a run scored. And best of luck to rookie Lyle Nigro, as he joins the Granny O'Sheas family.

The guys in the light blue shirts have a new name, Zwanger Pesiri Radiology. The old Darien team began its newest era with a hard fought 12-10 win over Barco Construction. It was a see-saw game until the top of the ninth when Marc Fischer tied it with a mammoth blast to left field. "Rookie" George Eicher, Tommy Dittmeier, Bino Reverberi and Rich D'Amico followed with hits to give ZP a three-run cushion. Other contributors included "Rookie" Vinny Ciullo, who kept an eighth inning rally going with a two-out single and Brian Tinney, who followed with a clutch, go-ahead RBI single. For the night, Dittmeier was a perfect three-for-three while Jerry Mazza, Eicher, Reverberi and D'Amico also had three hits. Fischer and Karl Dessel added two hits a piece. ZP would like to welcome its new players, George and Vinny, and also thank Kris Solberg for coming down to watch on Opening Day. Bobby S., we miss you, but not for long, if we keep winning!

Barco was led by Dave Saur (4-4), Gary Jambor and James Widmer (3-4). Also Steve Jacobson and Dennis Ryan had multiple hits and RBIs in Steve's managerial debut.

The middle game between Singleton's and Mers started out with both teams scoring three runs in the first inning. Singletons continued their hot hitting right through the seventh inning where they outscored Mers with 18 unanswered runs. Being threatened by the mercy rule, Mers said, "enough is enough" and scored nine runs in the bottom of the seventh and two more in the ninth to make the score respectable, but in the end it was The Big Red Machine coming away with a 21-14 win. Hot bats were had by Alan Rapfogel going 4-4 with three RBIs, Richie Smindak 3-4 with four RBIs, Bob Davis 3-4 (coming back after a serious leg injury), rookie Scott Gordon reaching base four times and scoring three times in his first game, Dennis Passaretti 2-2 with three RBIs, Larry Greishaber three RBIs, John Gannon three RBIs on a long HR, and with two hits on the night were Benny Alberto (who pitched a brilliant game), Tommy Sorrentino, Gary Saccaro, Paul Canalattos, Jimmy McQuade and Tommy (Satch) Camarda.

For more scores and standings, visit www.othgny.com.