May 20

Total Security Alarm Systems 12, Tsontos Furs 10

Total Security got out to an early lead in the opening inning on an RBI single by Jonathan Hock, scoring Pete Dwyer. The Furs came back in the bottom of the first with two of their own before Kurt Hetzer rang up his third K. Drew Barnett tied it up in the second legging out a Paul Tapias single and scoring from second. In the fourth inning, Andrew Shear ripped a triple to the wall and scored on a Robert Cabo sacrifice. Total Security tacked on 4 more runs in the fifth. In the bottom of the sixth, though, the Furs came back with five runs, three off the bat of Chris Brostek's triple, as they batted around the order. With the game tied, a lead off walk and a steal by Chris Valente, a double by Paul Tapias, a double by Pete Dwyer and a double by Jonathan Hock pressed three runs across the plate. The fourth run was stopped cold at third by Chris Brosteck's strike to home from deep center field stopping Dwyer in his tracks and leaving him on third. The Furs put three more runners on base in the seventh and one across the plate before Pete Dwyer got the final batter to strike out.

May 19

Mineola Chamber of Commerce 6, Knights of Columbus 5

On Saturday May 19, the Chamber of Commerce defeated the Knights of Columbus by the score of 6 -5. And while the final score was identical to the first meeting between these teams the games were quite different.

Most of the excitement in the first game came in the last inning of play, the damage in this second meeting transpired in the first inning. In the top half of the first, Michael Granath led off the game for the Commerce with a single to left. Robert Maloney was awarded first base after being hit by a pitch and the Commerce quickly had a runner in scoring position. Mick Oswald promptly put the Commerce ahead when he doubled to left sending home Granath and Maloney making it 2 - 0 Commerce. Danny Vojvodic followed with a walk and David Esselborn, who has been on base in every game for the Commerce this season, easily keep that streak alive when he double down the right field line driving home both Oswald and Vojvodic staking the Commerce to a 4 - 0 lead. Esselborn eventually scored on a passed ball giving the Commerce a 5 - 0 lead.

The Knights of Columbus came out fighting in the bottom of the first. Chris Orlando led off and got on base. Matt Dadich hit a soft blooper into left field and the Knights were on their way. After striking the next batter out, Marc Dadich came up to the plate. Marc hit a scorching line drive through the hole a second for a double and both Orlando and Matt Dadich scored cutting the score to 5 - 2. Michael Marques proceeded to hit the identical shot as Matt Dadich did looping a Texas league single into left. Marques moved to second on the throw home, but Marc Dadich scored ahead of the throw of the play and the score was narrowed to 5 -3. Marques would steal third and eventually score on a botched play at second before the Commerce recorded the last out of the first inning and the score moved to 5 - 4.

In the top of the fifth, the scoring resumed. With one down, Robert Maloney singled to right and the hot hitting Oswald walked to the plate. Oswald hit the ball hard and Maloney scored all the way from first and the Commerce took a 6 -5 lead as Oswald cruised into second with a stand up double.

Chris Orlando pitched a great game for the Knights going 6 innings striking out 13 and letting up only one run after coming in as a relief pitcher in the first inning for the Knights. The Chamber of Commerce improved to 7 - 1 with the victory.

Mineola Chamber of Commerce 8, Total Security Systems 7

With Robert Maloney on the mound for the Chamber, TSS showed great patience in the top of the first as their first three hitters (Paul Tapias, Kurt Hetzer and Peter Dwyer) walked in consecutive at-bats loading up the bases for Jonathan Hock. Hock lashed a shot into the gap in right field just out of the reach of Chambers outfielder David Esselborn. Both Tapias and Hetzer crossed the plate on the play as Hock pull into second with a 2 RBI double. Up next for TSS, Frankie Lao lashed a 2 strike fastball through the hold at second base and Peter Dwyer and Jonathan Hock scored and it was quickly and 4 - 0 game.

The Chamber would get two runs back in their own half of the first. Michael Granath led-off with a walk and advanced to second and third on back to back passed balls. Granath would score when Robert Maloney hit a slow roller back to the mound and it was 4 - 1. Mick Oswald would single in what would end up being a 4 for 4 performance with the bat, stole second and moved to third on Danny Vojvodic's fly out before scoring on a pass ball closing the gap to 4 - 2.

In the home half of the third, the Chamber knotted the score at four. Adrian Moreno, Chambers left fielder was awarded first base after being hit by a pitch. This would prove to be a pivotal moment in the game as Moreno would eventually come around to score. Granath and Maloney would both go down after hitting shots back to the mound. On both at bats, Moreno would advance one base on each play. In his second at-bat of the game, Mick Oswald ripped a double to right sending home Moreno to bring the score to 4 - 3. Oswald moved to third the throw from the out field and scored after Danny Vojvodic single to right to even up the score at four.

For Total Security, Frankie Lao started off the 4th inning with a walk, and would later score as TSS retook the lead at 5-4.

However, this Chamber team would just not go away. In the bottom of the fifth with two outs, Robert Maloney reached first beating out an infield single. Mick Oswald stepped to the plate and on the first pitch he saw he hit a majestic shot over the center field fence for a 2-run home run and the Chambers had their first lead of the night at 6 - 5.

Total Security fought back in the top of the sixth. Jonathan Hock doubled in the tying run and then would later score the go ahead run.

Down to their last hopes, Chambers clawed their way back. Nick Augustin started it off with a single. Michael Granath and Robert Maloney drew walks loading the bases for Mick Oswald, whose shot down the leftfield line scored the tying and winning runs.

The MAA Minors season rounded into form during its second week as K's Auto Repair and Mineola Florist met for the second time in this young season. The game's final score did not do justice to a competitively played match won by the Autos 11-4.

Starting pitchers for both teams were solid at the outset. Florist's John Hinchcliff mowed down five K's (coincidentally) while the Mike Diglio duplicated the strikeout feat. K's Auto manufactured a run when TJ Winters reached base on an error, stole two bases and scored on Vinny Ruggerio's single. In the bottom of the third, Brandon Hoffman led off with a base on balls then stole second and third. Rickey Franzini walked, Ruggerio plated both with a line drive single. Free passes loaded the bases. Catcher Mike Castellana stroked home a pair. The next hitter, Tommy Bayne, cleared the bags with a tremendous triple to break it open and gain the game ball.

Later in the week, Cinco de Mayo saw the K's and Nassau Chromium together for the first time. The Auto Bodies sparked quickly and were never headed in a 14-4 standoff.

Fastballer Mike Diglio retired the first six hitters on his signature K. The home half of the first was all the K's would need on this day. The top five hitters reached base safely and scored primarily due to smart base running and RBIs from Bayne, Diglio and Castellana. Nassau Chromium called on Alexa Vojvodic for relief with none out and destiny in her hands.

K's Auto wrapped their scoring with clutch performances. Anthony Della Ratta Tatta notched his first hit of the year at a critical time to garner two RBIs and the game ball. Captain Vinny Ruggerio had a great all around game with two innings of middle relief, a searing triple to center and a game ending unassisted double play to calm the soaring blood pressure of his manager/father for a 4-1 record for K's Auto Repair