(Editor’s note: Diamond Dust is a weekly synopsis of action in the Rome Men’s Softball Association compiled by board member Mike Kohli. It spotlights feature games and standout players from each week’s games. Send questions or comments to: mkohli@romemenssoftball.org)
By Mike Kohli
Rome Men’s Softball headed into the final two weeks of league play with several pivotal games on the schedule. The top four teams in each league will automatically qualify for the season-ending championship tournament, while the fifth- through 12th-place teams are relegated to playing individual league mini-tournaments to play their way into the big dance.
Sunday’s Community League featured a matchup between 7-2 Taylor Construction and 6-3 Rhine Haus No. 1. With a victory, Taylor would seal one of the Community League’s automatic berths. Rhine Haus would put themselves squarely in contention with a win.
Visiting team Taylor Construction put themselves in the driver’s seat early on with a three-run home run by Rich Tennant in the first inning. The blast plated Josh Hedrington and Chad Tennant. Rhine Haus battled back in the third with four runs of their own to take a 5-4 lead. Kevin Coe belted a triple, knocking in Shawn Wilcox and Trinity Swancott, who had reached on consecutive singles.
The teams traded runs for the next two innings before Taylor exploded for four runs in their half of the sixth. Rhine Haus answered with four of their own to tie the game heading into the final frame of regulation. Rich Tennant led off the Taylor seventh with a single to center and was followed by a walk to Vinnie Waterman and John Tarbania’s single. With the bases loaded, Mike Ragonese plated Tennant on a fielder’s choice with what would prove to be the game-winning RBI. Willie Roberts followed with another fielder’s choice RBI for an insurance run.
Taylor was able to hold off the bottom of the Rhine Haus batting order in their half of the seventh to cap a 12-10 win and secure at least third place in the Community League. Rhine Haus’ loss dropped them into a fourth-place tie with R&S Steel and Aquino’s heading into the final week of regular season play. Monday’s feature game was between Brew Crew and Bucky’s/Korp’s Corner. Both teams were tied in the standings with 6-3 records heading into the night’s action.
Bucky’s brought out the sticks early and often, putting up a 12-1 lead through four. Eugene Capoccia had two hits and Andy Maurer contributed three for Bucky’s/Korp’s through the first four innings.
The fifth inning saw the Brew Crew’s bats showing signs of life as they posted four runs to cut the deficit. The always dangerous Bryan Brockway hit a two-run home run in the fifth to help mount the comeback.
Bucky’s/Korp’s was held scoreless in the bottom of the sixth. Brew Crew came out swinging again in the top of the seventh. Dan Vescio belted a double to left-center field to get the rally started for the Crew followed by singles from Rocky Mosca and Bryan Brockway. Rich Brockway cleared the bases with a triple and Andy White one-upped his teammate with a two-run home run to bring the Brew Crew within two runs but Bucky’s/Korp’s held on to win 12-10.
The win helped Bucky’s/Korp’s move into a fourth-place tie with Mohawk Valley Practitioners. Each team holds 7-3 records heading into a crucial final week of play. Brew Crew dropped to 6-4 on the season and will face Mohawk Valley Practitioners in a grudge match on Field 2 at 7:15. Bucky’s/Korp’s will need help from the Brew Crew and a win over the powerful Garage/La Pub to secure the fourth seed in the Burt Smith League standings.
Thursday play saw more doubleheader action as the Jim Korpela League was still catching up with the other leagues after several rainouts. With seven of the 12 teams having a realistic shot at finishing in the top four, each game was crucial.
McKie’s Sports bounced back from a lackluster effort last week against Palisades to defeat Rhine Haus No. 2 12-4 in the first game of what was supposed to have been a doubleheader. Brandon Lovett finished the game with four hits to break out of a slump for McKie’s. The second game was unable to be played however, as the entire right side of the field became engulfed in darkness when the lighting on Field 2 failed. The second game was to be a matchup between Mac Contracting and McKie’s, two teams within a game of each other in the standings and both battling for that fourth position. This game has yet to be rescheduled.
The game of the night occurred on Field 1 between Palisades/PBA and Midnight Mike’s/Federated Insurance. Mike’s entered the game with a 7-2 record and needed an upset win over the undefeated Palisades to cement a spot in the top four.
Both teams scored early on in the game as they headed to the fourth inning with Mike’s clinging to a 7-6 lead. Mike’s added three more runs in the fourth and five in the top of the fifth to take a 15-6 lead. However, as the Palisades have shown all season, no lead is safe for the opposition. Palisades tied the game with four runs in the fifth and five more in the sixth. Mike’s scored one in the top of the seventh to take the lead, but Palisades rallied for the win in the bottom of the seventh.
Daryl Finn tied the game at 16, plating Fred Carnavale with a single, and Stephen Sellin then drove home John Miller for the game-winner with two outs to keep the Palisades/PBA undefeated record intact for another week.
The final week of play will feature several evenly matched games as Casey’s faces Midnight Mike’s/Federated and Palisades/PBA meets Don’s Auto/Korp’s Corner. Mac Contracting will face an Anson Construction team who pulled off an upset of the once-hot Bobraymond.com in Week 10 play.
