Men’s softball squads jostling for position

Week four of RMSA play saw more late- and extra-inning heroics as teams
battled for position heading to the quarter pole.

In the Sunday Community League, Sammy G’s and Taylor Construction needed an
extra inning to decide their contest. Taylor took a 7-4 lead into the fifth
inning before Sammy G’s erupted for four runs in the top of the sixth to take
the lead. Chad Tennant, Rich Tennant and Kevin Lewis each slammed doubles in the
inning.

Sammy’s quickly tied the game in their half of the inning, setting the stage
for the Taylor seventh. Vinny Waterman led off the seventh for Taylor with a
single to left. After advancing on a fielder’s choice, Mike Ragonese singled to
drive him home and send the game to extra innings.

Trevor Fletcher singled to lead off the Sammy’s eighth, eventually scoring on
a Tom Rocker double with what would be the game-winning run. The bottom of the
Taylor batting order failed to produce in the home half of the inning, giving
Sammy’s the win and a share of the lead atop the Community League standings at
3-0.

Nazie Adolfi had a home run among his three hits and Adam Winters finished
with four hits for Sammy G’s in the win while Waterman collected four hits of
his own in defeat.

The Community League will play the week two schedule this Sunday.

In Monday’s Burt Smith League, one of the most highly anticipated match-ups
of the young season took place in the nightcap on field two. Undefeated RMSA
powerhouses Performance Wire and The Garage/The Mill squared off in a battle of
unbeatens.

Garage/Mill jumped out to an early 7-3 lead but failed to maintain that
momentum, scoring just one more run the rest of the game.

Performance delivered the death blow, putting up eleven runs in the final
three innings to win decisively 14-8 and take sole possession of first place.

Performance’s offensive attack featured home runs from John Sharrino and Greg
Keller as well as four hit games from Jared Tiffin and Kris Wutsch. Tiffin had a
triple among his four hits, while Wutsch added a double.

In other Monday action, Bert’s Brawlers held off a late Bill Herrig’s Auto
rally to even their record at 2-2 with a 11-10 victory. Shawn Russell’s sixth
inning home run proved to be the game-winner for Bert’s.

The Burt Smith League is off for the Memorial Day holiday. League play will
resume on June 7.

Palisades Hotel and Mattacola Law Firm remained undefeated at 4-0 in the
Thursday Jim Korpela League, with both teams winning handily.

Palisades needed a big seventh inning however, to break out of a game-long
slump versus Lee Legion. Palisades plated 10 runs in the top of the seventh to
win going away 16-5.

Mattacola continued the trend of piling up runs early in the season, beating
The Mill 25-9 in the opener on field one.

Jerry Switzer had five hits to lead the Mattacola attack. Marc Kohli added
four hits, including a double and Kris Dorfman had four hits as well as
Mattacola headed into their bye week.

Justin Roach hit a sixth inning home run for the Mill in the loss. Norm
Baldomir also had a home run and three RBI.

In other Thursday games, Hideaway Pub/Boys From Italy notched their first win
of the season, holding off Bottini Funeral Home for a 11-9 victory.

Dave Rienzo, Jr had three hits, including a double and Kevin Blanchard
contributed three of his own in the win.

Bottini was led by Eli Hedrington, who led off the game with a home run.
Hedrington finished with three hits while Zach Cicotti had four.