Another week was completed in the M Street Softball League but it wasn't without more schedule disruptions from Mother Nature. Wednesday's lightning storm forced the cancellation of the games that evening but that didn't seem to upset many players as they could now watch the Bruins take on Vancouver in the Stanley Cup finals.

Unlike the Bruins, the Makepeace squad from Fairhaven has found their winning ways as they have won five straight and have rocketed to the top of the "A" division. Last week they took down the previously undefeated Sidewalk Café team, 5-4 in a well played game. Makepeace and their ace pitcher, Jimmy Pinkston, followed the win with an 8-1 thrashing of the Ole Rebels. Pinkston has been mowing down the batters (57 strikeouts) this year with his over powering stuff and leads the league with a sterling 2.45 ERA. However, Shenanigans' is a close second with a 4-0-1 record and has already defeated Pinkston and Makepeace this season. The two teams will see each other again in July which should have plenty of meaning in who finishes with the best record.

Not far off the pace in the division is the young Quencher Tavern team that has won three in a row, 3-2. They are scheduled to take on Makepeace this Friday where a win will give them league wide respect. Quencher has been getting great production from their two offensive stars in Jesse Carlton (4 HR and 12 RBI) and Bob Carlson (.647 AVG). The Playwright and the Nexus are both 2-3 and haven't quite put it together yet. The Nexus are getting some good pitching and defense but can't score as they have a league low of nineteen runs. Meanwhile, the Playwright can't seem to do either but some reinforcements arrived late last week so you may see this team quickly turn things around.

Although they have dropped their last two games, the Stingers still remain on top in the Feeney division at 4-2. Their two losses were both very exciting games as they put up a great battle against Makepeace but eventually fell, 8-7. In their next contest they jumped out to a big lead but then couldn't score as pitcher Tommy McGrath and the Bulldogs rallied to steal a 12-11 win from them. The Ole Rebels (3-3), The Place (3-4), Cranberry Café (2-3-1), Stats Bar & Grille (2-3-1) and L Street Tavern (2-1) are all within striking distance in a very tight race for first place.

Telegraph Hill is the other remaining unbeaten team as they sit atop the Feeney Division at 6-0. Last week, the Swingers were looking to be the first team to knock them off but came up short, 6-3. They are getting consistent pitching from Jack Atton while Tom Resor (.650 AVG) and Jared Barber (5 homeruns) have been providing the offensive punch at the plate. Although the Swingers dropped a tough one, they are still holding their own in second place at 3-3. TK Skenderian (4 homeruns and 18 RBI) and Joe Baszkiewicz (.647 AVG) have been the hitting stars for the Swingers so far. Also in the division is the Cornerstone Pub (2-2-1) who has bounced back from a forgettable 2010 campaign and is enjoying a nice season. A tie against the Bulldogs and an impressive win over the Swingers has this team finally looking and playing like a contender. Mike Doran (.714 AVG) and Adam Mullen (.667 AVG) are swinging the bat very well and both have picked up a win on the mound.

The Cornerstone Pub is just one of the many teams in the league that features a family connection on their active roster. Mike & Dave Byrne and Kevin & Pat Lee each don the shirt of the Cornerstone Pub softball team. Through the 41 years of softball at M Street, the league has seen many family connections on the various team rosters over the seasons. Brothers seem to be the most common. The Baszkiewicz family contributed Derek (a fine player for many years, now retired), as well as his younger brother, Joey (Swingers.) On the Dorset Club, there's Alex Lisek, Chris Lisek, and Wes Lisek. There are tag teams of Garofalos and Deanes on the Below Average Joes roster. Brodericks and Landolfis, among other clans, currently play together.

In the father/son category, Sidewalk Cafe's Mark Senna had the pleasure of sharing the playing field with his dad, Don. Joey Magee, now pitching for Cranberry Cafe, started in the league at a time when his dad was a regular all-star second baseman for the Sam Moran Club. Robbie Rogers, a perennial candidate for the league lead in home runs, started his slugging career while his dad, Jack, was a teammate.

This year, however, the league title for players from the same family goes to the Attons. There are four, on three different teams. Jack Atton, pitcher for Telegraph Hill, is the "old man" of the group. He's the father of Pat Atton and Drew Atton, who both play for the Swingers. Jack is also the uncle of Jay Atton, who pitches for the Stats Bar & Grille team.

Having said that and providing the weather cooperates, a unique piece of league history will probably happen on June 28th. All three of the Atton's teams are playing that evening - Jack's Telegraph Hill team takes the field at 6:00, Jay's Stats Bar & Grille squad plays at 7:30, and then both Drew and Pat will be competing for the Swingers in the 9:00 game. What's really special is that the starting pitcher for all three teams that night, barring injury or missing a bus, should be from the Atton family. You might even see Pat throw an inning or two in relief which would make it FOUR members of the same family pitching on the same night. Now that's a Family Affair!

Pack your coolers and get on over to M Street to cheer your favorite team on - the players really appreciate the support. And, if you come on the 28th, you will even witness a unique piece of league history. League games are played Monday through Friday with game times starting at 6:00, 7:30, and 9pm. Have a great week and Go Bruins!