Playoff Races Heat up in Week 8/9

The chase for playoff positions began in earnest this week as the Community and Burt Smith Leagues
played week seven games while the Jim Korpela League completed week eight. With the top four teams from each league earning an automatic spot in the post-season RMSA tourney, teams in the middle of the
pack stated their case for inclusion in the tournament.

Sunday’s standings tightened up as All Pro Homes took a must win game over Waste Management 17-2,
to move into a fifth-place tie with Sammy G’s, Taylor Construction, Ace Hardware and B-52s. All five teams hold 3-4 records, just one game behind fourth place Bravo’s/Wagoner-Hickok, who took one on the chin against second place Don’s Auto on Sunday night.

Don’s took what would seem to be a commanding 12-6 lead into the seventh inning but Bravo’s/Wagoner-Hickok made some noise in the visitor’s half of the inning where they scored six runs to tie the game.

Elder statesman Bob Raymond led off the inning with a walk to kick start the Bravo’s rally. A Brad Fike base hit scored Raymond for the first run of the inning. Mark Bahr doubled home Shaun Wilcox and Fike home and Trinity Swancott knocked in the tying run with a two-out double of his own. Bravo’s left Swancott stranded on second however as Justin Witzigman flew out to center to end the inning.

Don’s Mike Sreca opened the bottom of the seventh with a single to left. After two outs were made, Tom Meiss advanced Sreca to third. John Cawl then lined a sharp single to plate the game winner in walk-off fashion.

In the Burt Smith League, Bucky’s stayed in the hunt for the fourth playoff spot from Monday as
they held off a late rally by Rhine Haus/Slices to win 11-9 and stay a half game behind Casey’s Brew Crew in the standings. Rob Beer, making his statement for “Comeback Player of the Year,” plated John Cawl with what would prove to be the game-winner, in the bottom of the sixth inning. Beer finished the night four for four with four RBI to lead Bucky’s in the win. Cawl added three hits of his own, as did Bryan Brockway.

The Rhine Haus/Slices attack was led by Pete Civitelli and Bob Gerace, each contributing two hits. The loss knocked Rhine Haus/Slices to a game below the .500 mark in the standings and, for the moment, on the
outside looking in at the RMSA Tournament. Rhine Haus will look to bounce back in a must-win game against Bill Herrig’s Auto next week.

Midnight Mikey’s/Federated Insurance survived a scare from an improving but still winless Bottini Funeral Home in the field two opener on Thursday to keep their hold on third place in the Korpela League standings.

Bottini’s made a statement early, posting six runs in the first inning. Zach Cicotti hit a two-run homer to highlight the first for Bottini’s and Trevor Brockway added a double. Bottini’s tacked on two more runs in the second and then their bats went silent.

Mike’s held Bottini’s scoreless the rest of the game as they meticulously added runs each inning the
rest of the way to win the game 10-8. Todd Jackson, Matt Cummings and Rich Johnson all hammered solo home runs as Mike’s continued playing their signature long ball style. Mark Beer, Tim Sears and Eric Keiffer all added doubles to help Mike’s in the win.

The Korpela League is off next week due to the Independence Day holiday and will resume play on July 8^th where the 7-0 Palisades squares off against the 7-0 Mattacola Law Firm in the battle for Thursday supremacy.