Playoffs

Twenty six teams began the season in May with high hopes of playing for the championship in September. The dream is still alive for five of those teams as another round of playoffs was completed at M Street Park last week.

Moran Division 3rd vs. 2nd - after knocking off the Clough Club, Shenanigan's Bar & Grille faced the Cranberry Café, who finished in second and received a first round bye. In game one of the best of three series, Cranberry jumped out to a 6-1 lead and was getting a good start from pitcher Jimmy McNiff. However, Shenanigan's continued to chip away at the lead and eventually got some breaks in the game and won, 13-7. Cranberry was now facing elimination in game two and was also facing one of the league's top pitchers, Jimmy Pinkston. The hard throwing righty made it very easy for his Shenanigan's teammates as he didn't allow a runner to reach second base while fanning nine in the easy 10-0 series ending victory. In just three years Coach Dave Conti has turned his team into a title contender.

Moran Division 4th vs. 1st - the Stadium Stingers scored lots of runs against the Brewers in their first round series and were now facing the Dawgs who were looking to turn the tables against them. However, it didn't turn out that way in game one of the series as the Dawgs played like they didn't want to be on the field and the Stadium nearly pulled off the game one upset before falling, 12-11. The Dawgs then regrouped and got great pitching from Jerry Thomes and won easily 10-3 to complete the sweep. After the game, the defending champions boarded a plane that was headed for the A.S.A. Nationals in Atlanta, GA.

Once the Dawgs return from their trip they will take on Shenanigan's Bar & Grille in a best of five series that was scheduled to begin either on Wednesday (Sept. 4) or Thursday (Sept 5). This should be a great series folks.

Feeney Division 3rd vs. 2nd - the Shamrock Pub swept Doran Mechanical in the first round and was now facing a team that has been very hungry for some playoff success, the Boston Beer Garden.

In game one, it was the Shamrock Pub that broke open a 2-1 game with a 5-run fifth inning to take a commanding 7-1 lead. The game seemed out of reach for the Beer Garden as they were facing one of the best pitchers, Sammy Acevedo.

However, the Beer Garden fought back in the home half of the inning when they loaded the bases with nobody out. Clutch hitting Danny McElaney stepped in and laced a double to right that scored two runs making it a 7-3 game. Another walk would load the bases again for left handed hitting, Matt Keating. Keating ripped a double down the right field line that scored 2 more runs, 7-5. A couple of scratch hits later and the game was tied (7-7) and was moving onto the sixth inning.

In the sixth, leadoff singles by Tony King and Paul Gurley set the table for Shamrock's Charlie Conners. Conners lined a ball up the middle that scored King from second, 8-7. John Hoadley's groundout would bring another run in making it, 9-7 Shamrock.

In the final two frames, Acevedo wouldn't allow another Beer Garden runner to reach second base as Shamrock held on for the game one victory.

In game two, it was Shamrock's pitcher John Gregorio who got the scoring started with a RBI single in the bottom of the second inning. He would later score on Daryle Alexander's RBI single making it 2-0 after two innings.

The teams exchanged runs in the third (Peter Drummey HR and Matt Traft RBI single) but it was the defense that was keeping the runs off the scoreboard. Alexander made a great play at second base to save a run and prevent the Beer Garden from tying the game. On the other side of the diamond, it was a clutch double play that helped pitcher Keith Ziewey and the Beer Garden keep the game within reach. With runners on first and third, Dennis Toner handled a hot smash to third and threw quickly to second baseman Brian Sheehan for the force out. Sheehan then wheeled around and fired a strike to catcher Peter Drummey who applied the tag at home for the rare 5-4-2 twin killing. Those are the kind of plays that win playoff games folks.

In the fourth, Mark Landolfi singled home Danny McElaney to make it a 3-2 game and that would be all of the scoring until the sixth inning.

Before getting to the memorable sixth inning, the Beer Garden would get out of two jams to preserve the one run deficit. Ziewey helped himself with a "line out throw em out" double play in the fifth inning. They would turn another double play in the top of the sixth which set the stage for their offense to come to life.

Brian Sheehan answered the call with a single to right which scored Mark Hindman all the way from first with the game tying run. Dennis Toner followed with a double that plated Sheehan and Beer Garden had their first lead, 4-3. They wouldn't let up though as Matt Keating doubled scoring Toner and was followed by another double by Landolfi, 7-3. Jon Batchelder kept the pressure on with a RBI single making it 8-3. Peter Drummey completed the scoring with a RBI single and Beer Garden was in command, 9-3.

The two teams would trade runs in the seventh and that would be the game, 10-4. The Beer Garden avoided elimination and forces a game three which is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2 at 8pm.

Feeney Division 4th vs. 1st - Il Giardino Café needed three games to get past the stubborn Playwright but was hoping their momentum from the series would carry into the next one against the Sidewalk Café, who finished in first place and had been anxiously awaiting their opponent.

As advertised, Il Giardino came out swinging and jumped out to an early 8-1 lead only to watch Sidewalk chip away and eventually take a one run lead into the seventh, 9-8.

In the seventh, it was hot hitting Christian Frattassio who led off with a single (completing the cycle). Frattassio later scored the game tying run on a Billy Robinson (2 doubles, 3 RBI) sacrifice fly to center. With runners on first and second, Il Giardino was looking for more but Sidewalk's pitcher, Mark Senna got the final two outs of the inning and it was on to the bottom of the seventh in a tied game, 9-9.

In the seventh and with two outs and a runner on first, Sidewalk's Adam Ralston walked which brought veteran Don Bolstad up to the plate. On a 1-2 count, Bolstad lined a single to right that scored Marc McGurl from second with the game winning run, 10-9

In game two, Sidewalk's George Pratt threw five shutout innings and was the difference as Sidewalk made all of the plays and got plenty of hitting in their series ending victory over Il Giardino, 11-2. Sidewalk's offense was led by Dave Seermon (4 hits, 5 RBI) and Donald Bolstad (3 hits, 2 runs). On the other side of the diamond it was Marc Cerone stepping up his game and banging out 3 hits and a run scored for Il Giardino.

The Sidewalk Café will play the winner of the Boston Beer Garden and Shamrock Pub in a best of five series scheduled to start on Wednesday (Sept 3).

Playoff games start at 6:30 and 8:30 and are played Monday through Thursday at M Street Park. We look forward to seeing you in our stands. Have a great week!