SEAPOINT SPRINGS A LEAK - DROPS TWO

By Mark Senna
Date of publication: 7/23/1998
Two weeks ago the Seapoint Restaurant was sailing along playing great softball and they were the owners of an impressive 10-2 record that was good enough for second place. A perhaps overly confident Seapoint team may have prematurely looked past the competition last week and towards an upcoming clash with first place Sam Moran Club.

After scoring nine runs in the first inning against the Beer Garden, Seapoint and pitcher Jay Malley, who owns the league lowest ERA at 1.00, were well on their way to another win. But the ship sprung a leak in the third and the game would dramatically change from that point onward.

Seapoint's downfall started when their firstbaseman could not make a play on a slow hit ball down the first base line. The non-play was laughed at and quickly forgotten by the Seapoint players. But that miscue was just the beginning of things to come as they would commit five more errors in the inning and give up the nine run lead.

Seapoint would eventually rally and fight back with two runs in the fourth to retake the lead. Until Rob Rogers tied the game with a triple and leading the Beer Garden to a four run inning of their own. From that point on Rogers and company played solid defense and never looked back earning the hard fought 15-12 win, which puts them in striking distance of fourth place Molly Darcy's.

After suffering the tough loss,Seapoint tried to regroup and were ready to take their frustrations out on th eleventh place Hub Video team. This game, as many thought, would be a sure win for Seapoint. But after one inning the Seapoint was back to making errors and Hub grabbed a quick 5-0 lead. It got worse in the fifth when Hub's Joey Magee cleared the bases with a double to left-center making it 8-2. Ryan Wynne followed with a triple and Hub was on their way to a 13-2 lead. Hub was just three outs away from ten run ruling a once proud and mighty team.

Pitcher Bobby Noto took the mound in the fifth and faced leadoff batter Tony Jiminez. Jiminez hit a rocket that bounced off of third baseman Terry Flaherty who recovered and threw to first for the first out. Brian Aheran followed with a fly out to center field for the second out. The Hub players, who by now could no longer contain themselves, began to whisper 'one more out' to each other. Noto then got Jimmy Mcevoy to fly out and Hub celebrated their upset win at second base. On the other side of the field players of the Seapoint restaurant were scratching their heads, kicking dirt, and wondering what has gone wrong.

Earlier in the week the Olde Time Hardware took on the first place Sam Moran Club. Making his league and pitching debut for Olde Time was unknown Jose Bonilla. It did not take long for Bonilla to open eyes with his blazing speed and repotoire of pitches breezing through the first two innings.

On the other side of the diamond, Moran's pitcher John Gregorio was equally effective and over powering as he struck out the first six batters in a row. Gregorio was helped in the third when cousins Brendan flynn and Bobby McGarrell scored on Jimmy Fitzpatrick's single.

Olde Time fought back and tied it in the fifth on Sal Russo's one out single which now turned the game into a heated contest. Batters on both teams fell victim to the awesome pitching inning after inning forcing the game into extra innings.

Moran's second baseman Joey Magee, led the ninth of with a hard single to left. Gregorio then helped himslef by reaching base on a costly infield error that put Magee in scoring position with one out. Paul Gurley was up next and quickly found himself behind in the count 0-2. Gurley then laced the third ofering to right field that scored Magee with the game winning run. As the Moran players celebrated at the plate, the Old Time players consoled their new found ace and hoped he would return to pitch again.

In Thursday night action, John Nee was all business against the Olde Time Hardware taking a one-hitter into the sixth inning. Nee, who is a crafty left-handed pitcher, retired ten batters from thethird inning through to the sixth. Brian McDonald doubled in the game winning run in the sixth inning. The win moved Bay View into sixth place.

On to other news, for the third time the season the pitcher known as 'the Rifleman' has decided to end his retirement. That's right, after one week of calling it quits he was back on the mound and making his debut for his fourth team of the season, Molly Darcy's. He will have to remain with them or 'retire' as the leagues roster's are now closed. See you at the park!