Men’s softball season arrives week earlier than usual

The Rome Men’s Softball Association opened its season this week at the
Haselton-Wright Softball Complex.

The Sunday Community League, with a full complement of 12 teams, batted
lead-off, one week earlier than the normal Mother’s Day opening. Don’s Auto
re-emerged on Sundays after a brief defection to the Thursday Jim Korpela League
last season and promptly landed in the spotlight game of the night, an
extra-inning affair with the B-52s. Perennial Community League powerhouses
Advanced Auto/Tebb’s and Western Legion entered Sunday play with surprisingly
different rosters. Several Advanced regulars changed allegiances to join
Western, beefing up an already strong lineup and creating what could be the
team-to-beat come RMSA Tournament time in August.

The B-52s fell behind to Don’s Auto 7-0 before their bats came alive in the
home half of the fifth, scoring eight runs to take the lead. Gary Breen knocked
in the tying and go-ahead runs with a bases-clearing triple to cap the B-52s hit
parade. Don’s came roaring back in their half of the seventh, scoring five to
retake the lead. Tim Destito and Ryan Harris, who finished with three hits
apiece, hit back-to-back doubles for Don’s in the seventh.

Down by three heading into their last at-bat, B-52s teammates Breen and Rob
Wiley hit clutch doubles to tie the game and send it to extra innings. Don’s
Auto opened the eighth with a sharp Shawn Weiman single to left.
Back-to-back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases for Don’s left fielder
Joe DiMaggio, who hit a screaming line drive over the left fielder’s head for a
grand slam. Don’s went on to score six runs in the eighth to seal the win. John
Cawl, Harris, Destito and Weiman contributed three hits each.

The B-52s Adam Carletta proved to be a game-changer on defense, making two
diving catches of line drives, saving several runs. Carletta’s second catch,
however, likely ended his season as he broke his arm in the process of diving.
Eric Knutti chipped in three hits for the B-52s.

The Monday Burt Smith League provided three of the RMSA’s top teams last
season in Black River Ale House/D&D Carpets, The Garage/The Mill and
Performance Wire. After a disappointing showing in last season’s RMSA
Tournament, Performance was out to prove that last season was not a fluke. The
statement was made loudly and clearly as they made quick work of Bert’s Brawlers
in a lopsided 35-7 affair. Defending RMSA champion The Garage/The Mill easily
dispensed of Rhine Haus/Slices 18-4. Black River Ale House/D&D Carpets also
breezed through their week one match, bettering Wal-Mart 18-2. Monday’s feature
game paired Bostwick Liquors and Brew Crew. Bostwick’s opened the game with four
runs as Brandon Ferrare cleared the bases with a triple. Ferrare finished the
day with two hits and two RBI. Brew Crew quickly responded, scoring six runs in
their half of the first. With Bostwick’s up 9-7 heading into the home half of
the sixth inning, Brew Crew plated eight runs. Jay Cadrette had two hits in the
inning and Lou Westcott provided the winning run on a two-run single that drove
home Dan Vescio and Gary Roth. Westcott finished with four hits, while Ron
Allard, Travis Piersall, Roth and Cadrette all had three hits each. Piersall
connected on two doubles.

For Bostwick’s, Deshane D’Amore had a two-run home run among his four hits to
finish the night a perfect four-for-four. Rich Johnson collected three hits and
two RBI in the loss for Bostwick’s.

Blowouts were the order of the night in the Thursday Jim Korpela League as
four of the five games were decided by 10 runs or more. Defending Korpela League
champion Palisades shut out Bottini Funeral Home in impressive fashion, 23-0.
Mattacola Law Firm (formerly McKie’s Sports) also put a thumping on their
opponent in a mercy rule-shortened game against Oriskany Manufacturing, 25-0.
New Thursday entry The Mill took down Dilligaf 18-8 and Midnight Mikey’s
defeated Lee Legion 21-6.

The night’s spotlight game took place early on field two between Firemen and
Mac Contracting. The Firemen opened up an early 16-6 lead but allowed Mac to get
back into it, giving up six and five runs in consecutive middle innings. With
the score 19-17 in the sixth inning, Firemen’s Chandler Wilcox singled home
Brian Townsend, who had tripled previously, for what would prove to be the
winning run. Mac posted two runs in the bottom half of the seventh but
eventually fell to the Firemen 20-19.