As it stands today, Stats/BSB has won three in a row and is at the top with a 7-5-1 record. Jason Atton (.605 with 27 RBI), Frederic Goodman (.577), Joel Kershner (.553), Kevin McDermott (.471 with 23 RBI), and Matt Rogers (.545) are leading the way for BSB while Atton also doubles as the team's only pitcher and has a respectable 6-5 record with 55 strikeouts and a 6.09 ERA.

Just a half game off the pace (7-5) is the other Stats Bar & Grille sponsored team led by Tom Yeo and the recently acquired pitcher, Jack Flanagan. The team was sitting near the bottom of the standings (2-5) when the crafty pitcher hooked on with the club but has won five straight and are right in the thick of things. Brad Cole (.462), Greg DAntona (.512), Steve Markesich (.579), and M Street veteran Bobby "Tube Socks" Wogan (.565) provide the offense for Stats. The schedule isn't kind too them down the stretch as they have three really tough games but this team is very capable of winning them all.

The Stingers are sitting right there at the top with an identical (7-5) record but have lost two of their last three to teams that they need to beat. I would like to write about who has led the way for the Stingers this year but I don't have any stats or information to do so. I can say this, they wear yellow shirts, usually play great defense, and carry a small roster of players (enter those stats coach).

Closing the gap on the front runners are the boys from The Place (7-6) who have won three straight. This team features several great hitters and can score runs with the best of them. Marc Doyle (.667), Rick Gigante (.600), Brett Belcastro (.529), Dan Pencinger (.447), Kevin Snow (.514), Sean Sylvester (.583), Chris Sylvia (.548) are all enjoying a great season at the plate. With a relatively easy schedule the rest of the way, The Place could be the team that rises to the top of the Feeney division by season's end.

Just off the pace in the division are the Bulldogs (6-7-1), Cranberry Cafe (6-7-1), and the Ole Rebels (6-6). Each one of these teams are also very capable of running the table the rest of the way and winning the division. However, for these seven teams there are only five playoff spots up for grabs so two of them are not going to make it.

Telegraph Hill (11-3) is still leading the Moran division but recently saw their undefeated streak come to a screeching halt at the hands of the Below Average Joe's. Since that lost they have also dropped two more games so winning the division is no longer a guarantee as Joe's (9-4) is just a game off the pace. Jack Atton has been one of the main keys to the Hill's success as he has given his club strong & consistent outings from the mound. Atton is getting plenty of run support from teammates Jared Barber (.568), Mike Connel (.487), Bill Davis (.564), Pat Kelly (.540 with 30 RBI), Eric MacDonald (.478), Ross Maguire (.632), John Pels (.636), Mark Preziosi (.579), and Tom Resor (.586).

After a shaky start (2-3), Joe's has turned their season around and are enjoying the same success that won them a playoff round last season. The team hasn't provided any stats so I can't write about their players but can tell you that they will have a shot at finishing in first place as they have a game in hand that still needs to be scheduled. League sources are leaning towards scheduling their 17th game against their rival - Telegraph Hill. The Masterbatters (5-7), Swingers (5-10), Cornerstone Pub (4-7-1), and NGRR (4-6) are all still alive in the division but must need to win a good share of games down the stretch.

The league's elite division (Lucas) hasn't seen much in the way of movement among its teams this season. The two-time defending champion Shennanigan's (13-1-1), has led the division since week one and hasn't looked back. Sam Acevedo and Mike Hoadley are their two aces on the mound while Dan Brown (.564), Juan Rivera (.500), and Steve Stalcup (.447) have provided the offense. Although the team doesn't boast of a high team average or pump their chest out with homeruns, they can be very proud of their overall team defense. Shortstop Luis Colon and second baseman Stalcup are the league's best combo as they have won games with their glove play alone. The team plays in the toughest division and competes in every game because they don't beat themselves. That with their great pitching and timely hitting has proven to be the formula for success.

The Sidewalk Cafe (11-3-1) has stayed close to Shennanigan's and has played them well this year but can't catch them in the standings. Their lineup is stacked with sluggers from the top to the bottom - Danny Ekasala (.583), Marty Jeminez (.641), Brad Morrill (.458 with 24 RBI), Pat Sullivan (.537), and Tim Walsh (.568) have all enjoyed a great season at the plate and in the field for Sidewalk. The team is thin on pitching but has a lot of depth in positional players which it will need to lean on to get them through the tougher rounds of the playoffs.

Makepeace (9-5) and The Nexus (8-5) are in a tight battle for third and fourth in the division. The two squads will face each other on August 4th which should determine the outcome of where they finish in the standings. Makepeace is led by pitcher Jimmy Pinkston (3.05 ERA with 90 strikeouts), who is arguably the league's MVP/top dominating player. Pinkston is nearly averaging ten strikeouts a game and is a force at the plate (.605 with 23 RBI) while Joe Claudio (.511), Ian James (.630), Matt Fornier (.429), and Scott Grimes (.429) have also chipped in with some needed offense.

After a slow start where they couldn't score any runs Nexus has turned their season around and have won some big games recently (Sidewalk and Makepeace). Joe Venuti is giving them steady innings on the mound while Mike Caputo (.542), Steve Couturier (.528), Tony King (.500), and Rob Rogers (.435) have added the punch at the plate. Trailing the "big four" are the Quencher Tavern (5-6) and Playwright (3-9) squads who have struggled finding their "A" game this season for various reasons. Hopefully, they are lying low in the weeds and are preparing themselves for a long playoff run.

In closing, the league recently announced that the All-Star game will be played on Thursday, August 11th starting at 6pm. Prior to the game the league will hold a "Homerun Derby", and announce the winners of the "Fastest Man", "Strongest Arm", and "Fastest Pitcher" contests which will be held during the last few weeks of the season.

M Street Softball games are played on the M Street diamond Monday through Friday starting at 6pm, 7:30, and 9pm. The action on the field is going to be intense these coming weeks so grab your friends and head to the park for a game or two. With any luck, you might even run into "Superfan" Kevin. But be warned, he has a crushing handshake. See you at the field!