Minors

K's Maintains First Place Lead in Minors

K's Auto Repair maintained their first place hold on the Minors division with their sixth consecutive win in a hard fought 5-3 game against Nassau Chromium. K's improved their record to 8-1 and established a one game lead at the top of the Minors standings one week before the conclusion of the regular season.

The Auto Boys struck with a first frame run. Vin Ruggiero walked and stole his way to third. Control problems plagued the Chromium with a walk to an under-the-weather Mike Castellana and a plunk to the knee of Nicky Franzini. Call up Billy Sullivan then walked in a run with a keen eye to take the early lead. K's added a similar run in the second when Brandon Hoffman was hit and scampered around the sacks, Eddie Nienstadt and TJ Winters walked to load the bases and Ruggiero's ground out to second plated the run for a 2-0 lead. Mechanics emergency starter Winters was cruising before the Chrome Platers nailed a score. A walk to Bryan Strauss and a blast by speedy Alex Ward tied the game with two outs.

K's sealed the fate in the fifth. Ruggiero's presence via error and Castellana's base on balls combined with stolen bases set the table. Tough little Nicky Franzini then finished off his best game of the year. With two previous Rey Ordonez-style defensive plays at second, Franzini gave himself up with a solid shot to the right side to score the deciding run. Castellana's heads up base running before time out was called tallied insurance. Ruggiero closed down the victory, his fourth of the year, with three key innings of clutch pitching behind some great fielding decisions especially in a tense fifth inning. Both teams added a run in the sixth to make the final 5-3. Nienstadt fired a solid double and tried to score on Winters' single before getting tagged out at the plate on a great relay throw from Nassau's Alexa Vojvodic to catcher Michael Anes. Winters came around to score on Ruggiero's RBI single one batter later.

There were some critical contributions by the K crew on a night when they were decimated with injuries and defections. Robert Raveli played his first full game behind the plate and did a stellar job with both pitchers. Brendan O'Halloran broke from his hitting slump with a neat single up the middle. Rookie Sullivan played a staunch first base with the game ending play to stuff a potential rally. The most important move may have been some significant defensive adjustments by Manager Al Ruggiero over the objections of bench coach Winters Sr. that decided the outcome. The silent figure on the third base coaching lines, Manny Castellana, keeps the wheels rolling on the Autos after the brakes are applied by Never Shut Up first base coach Jay Hoffman. Together this may be the most psychologically confusing coaching staff in the division but one that just keeps on winning.

Many thanks go to Umpire Steve Franzini for his third "volunteer" assignment with the mask. His experience, desire, fairness and eloquence is greatly appreciated. In a pickle, Steve has come through with real class and grace to pitch in and help the MAA.

Majors

Total Security 6, Harry Katz 4

Jonathan Hock threw a complete game, 15 strikeout, four-hit gem in allowing only one earned run. Drew Barnett opened the scoring with a steal of third base and advanced home on an errant throw. He was followed home by Matt Siwinski. Jonathan Hock led off the third with a deep triple, then stole home.

Chris Valente stole second and third in the fifth inning and scored on a Hock RBI single. Pete Dwyer reached on a single and scored on a Kurt Hetzer sacrifice. Harry Katz opened their scoring with an identical steal of home by Robert Kruse as Hock napped for more K energy. Ryan Pratt's walk in the fourth turned into a 240-foot jog to the bag as he ran to first and didn't stop until he reached home. John Englis made it home and made the game tight going into the final inning. Terry Mooney loaded the bases in the sixth, but wriggled out of it, striking out the final two batters. In the bottom of the sixth, Hock fanned the first two batters with the final out coming on a ball to first handled cleanly by Kurt Hetzer for the final out of the game.

Mineola Mavericks

The Mineola Mavericks MAA 13-year-old travel team, sponsored by Windsor Fuel Oil, were back at home against West Hempstead after a brief rest. West Hempstead took the lead early on, with two runs scored in the first inning, putting the pressure on early. The Mavericks closed the gap in the first with a base hit by Brian Abrams, who stole second base and went on to third on a base hit by Rob McPartlan and home as a result of an error at first by West Hempstead.

West Hempstead scored a third run in the second inning. The score held until the sixth inning, thanks to Chris Harnett, who retired nine in a row. Fly pops caught by Harnett on the mound. Revegno and DeKanchuk and the rest of the team played a great game but West Hempstead ultimately won 4-3.