September 6, 2005 - It's minutes before the start of the finals and neither team has enough players or bases to start the game. This type of scenario usually takes place at the start of the season not the start of the finals - mind boggling. Both teams are also very loose and joking with one another. The series already lacks the intensity that M Street finals usually has. I'm sitting here wondering if this lack of passion will continue through the entire series.

After a lengthy delay, Playwright's Juan Sanchez gets the scoring started when he doubles to deep center that scores Joe Broderick from first. Mario Perella follows two batters later with a triple scoring two more runs and Playwright jumps out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the first, the defending champions flash the leather and complete a beautiful 5-4-3 double play.

The third inning is halted for twenty minutes while the teams wait for the lights to turn on. When they return to the field the Hawks jump on the now cold Playwright pitcher, Jerry Thomes and pate their first run of the game. The Hawks threaten to score in the fourth but Thomes escapes further damage with crafty pitching.

Perella makes his presence known again in the sixth when he legs out a leadoff double. Jerry Thomes Jr. follows with his own double and Plawright begins to sense that this game is theirs as they lead 4-1 in the sixth. Joe Broderick follows a batter later with a SAC fly to center that scores Thomes giving Playwright another insurance run, 5-1.

The Hawks put two runners on in the sixth but Thomes gets stingy and grunts his way out of the threat keeping the score at 5-1 in favor of the Playwright.

In the seventh, the Playwright tacks on three more runs when Sanchez triples, Mike Smith whacks a SAC fly to right, and Jack Rogers ropes a two run homerun to left. The Hawks go down 1-2-3 in the seventh and can now feel the heat of playing in the finals.

The passion and desire that was missing from both teams at the start of the game was quickly grabbed by the Playwright tonight. By winning the first game the defending champions already silenced their critics and will look to give the Hawks a tough battle all series long.

September 7, 2005 - due to a time limit (lights), this game was started on Tuesday the 7th and finished on Wednesday the 8th. The two clubs were tied 1-1 with both pitchers dominating through four innings of play. The Hawks looked to go ahead in the fifth when Ramon Mateo connected for a one-out triple. With Mateo on third and the game in the balance the lights went out for the evening (as expected). Folks the lights are on a timer and are set to shut off at 9:35. Both teams were informed that the game would be concluded the following night.

It's now Wednesday and the continuation of game two is about to get underway. The Hawks have more players here tonight and appear to be ready to bring their A-game to the Playwright. On the otherside of the diamond, the Playwright realizes they have a difficult hole to dig themselves out of with one out and a runner on thirdbase.

In steps Garry Licabe who promptly singles to center giving the Hawks a 2-1 lead. Licabe is then cut down (9-4-2) on the following play when he blows through a stop sign and tries to score from first after a throwing error. For the moment, Playwright realizes they dodged a bullet and may get out of the inning with minimal damage. But Jose Cruz dashes their hopes when he extends the inning with a single placing runners on the corners with two outs. The very talented Toco Soto is then called on to pinch hit and smashes a RBI single to right field giving the Hawks a 3-1 lead. Sammy Acevedo follows with a single to left increasing the Hawks lead to 4-1. At this point, Playwright appears to be asleep and not ready for the very long night of softball that lies ahead. Pitcher, Domenic Lemarra retires the next two batters but the damage was done and Playwright's chances of going up two games look slim.

Leading 4-1, the Hawks get back on the attack in the top of the sixth inning when Licabe strokes a triple and scores the fifth run on Ivan Pillot's double. Toco Soto follows two batters later and singles home two more runs making it 7-1. The Hawks are in total control at this point and look like they will be very tough to beat in games three and four which are scheduled to immediatley follow.

September 7, 2005 - Minutes after tying the series, the Hawks took to the field with an extra jump in their step for the start of game three. However, their momentum was quickly taken away by the Playwright when they loaded the bases in the first inning. They (Playwright) were looking for a big inning but would have to settle for just one run that scored on a walk to Billy MacDonald.

In the home half of the first inning, Playwright's Joe Broderick did his part to keep his team ahead when he made a diving catch in right field taking away a sure homerun.

Broderick's play inspired his teammates in the second as they went to work with the bats. Daryle Alexander ripped a double to deep left that scored Jerry Thomes Jr from first. Alexander then scored on the play when the Hawks commited a throwing error. Coach Jimmy Fitzpatrack kept the inning going with a triple to right field that scored Juan Sanchez making it 4-0 Playwright. Fitzpatrick later scored in the inning on another Hawk error. At the moment, things were looking very good for the Playwright.

However, like New England weather, the momentum of the game quickly changed when Playwright made two errors of their own leading to two unearned runs. The Hawks were right back in the game.

The Hawk bats heated up in the third inning when Rocky Issac, Ivan Pillot, Gary Licabe, and Toco Soto mounted an offense attack that scored two more Hawk runs. Playwright's five run lead was quickly shrinking, 5-4.

Sensing his team needed something to cheer about, Michael Smith nearly delivered in the fourth when he roped a pitch to deep left. The ball fell about a foot short and was caught at the fence by the left fielder Isaac.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Hawks again went to work against Playwright pitcher Domenic Lemarra. Victor Baez led off with a single and was followed by Jeff Nieves who quickly singled to center. Lemarra's next offering was slammed to right center by his counter part, Sammy Acevedo. Sammy managed to leg out a triple that plated two more Hawk runs and gave them their first lead of the game, 6-5. Acevedo would later score in the inning making the Hawk comeback complete.

More mind boggling madness occurs in the top of the fifth inning when three of Playwright's starting players leave the game to attend a game in another league. Their coach, Jimmy Fitzpatrick, must have been pulling his hair out as he was already dealing with the hardship of blowing a five run lead and would now have to finish this game and play the next game short staffed.

The Hawks must have sensed that the fight was out of the Playwright as they tacked on two more runs in the sixth making it 9-5.

September 7, 2005 - With his team in need of a win to stay in the series Playwright's veteran pitcher, Jerry Thomes, is on the mound to start game four. Thomes was very effective in his game one victory and will be looking for more of the same tonight.

Thomes gets his riser going early and strikes out the Hawks leadoff batter to start the game. He then ends the inning by striking out the Hawks most feared hitter, Toco Soto.

Moving on to the third inning, the series has its first major disagreement. After pitcher Mo Wiggins leads off with a double to center there is a dispute over a called out at first base. The Hawks argue that the Playwright fielder missed the bag and the runner should be safe. From my seat, the Playwright fielder accidentally kicked the bag when he went to find it before the throw was there. When he gets the ball he tags the place where the bag was - I think the umpires got the call correct. The fielder should not follow the moving bag to record the out. The Hawks are upset about the call and have two players fuming on their bench.

When the inning resumes Playwright decides to intentionally walk Toco Soto with one out. The move quickly backfires when Rocky Isaac doubles to deep center scoring both Wiggins and Soto. Playwright's Jack Rogers then makes a great play at second base to keep the score at 2-0 in favor of the Hawks.

Great defense usually can spark an offense and Rogers' play did just that for Playwright in the bottom of the third inning. Billy Mcdougall led off with a solid single to center field and scored on Joe Broderick's single to right. Juan Sanchez then tied the game with another single to right. Playwright was looking for more and would get there chance when they loaded the bases with two outs. But Wiggins struck out Jerry Thomes Jr. on three pitches to end the threat.

Some controversy returned in the fifth when Jeff Neves tried to go from second to third on a grounder to short but was called out by the plate umpire. Arguments ensued but the call stood and the Hawks knew they missed a glittering opportunity to pull ahead in the game.

In the bottom of the fifth, Juan Sanchez nearly put his team ahead when he hit a deep fly to left. But like Michael Smith's fly in game three, this one fell a few feet short and into the Hawks glove for the out. Mo Wiggins, who was playing left field in this one, then ended the inning with a great running catch to take away extra bases from Smith. The score remained tied (2-2) heading into the sixth inning.

It's the start of the sixth and the field is eerily quiet. I think both teams realize what is at stake - it seems every ball player is focusing on what their job is at the moment. No distractions at all. Ivan Pillot breaks the silence for a moment when he leads off by ripping Thomes' 2-1 pitch to the right side of the infield - a sure hit. However, Jack Rogers somehow tracks it down and gets a glove on the ball but it still looks like Pillot will leg out the hit. While still in motion and deep in the hole, Rogers throws the ball in a backhanded manner to first baseman Billy Mcdougall and gets the base runner by a step. Mcdougall's presence to not give up on the play and to make a great stretch added to the "web gem" that this play was. A great clutch play!

In the top of the seventh inning and the score still tied, Mo Wiggins gives his team some hope when he hits a one out single to left field. But Thomes gets tough and records the next two batters to end the mild threat.

In the home half of the seventh the Playwright's offense seems a bit jumpy as the first two batters are retired on pop outs and on just three pitches. This game is looking like it's heading for extra innings. It's now 10:16 and the two teams have been playing softball for over 4 hours. Everyone is limping and purely exhausted.

However, the inning is kept alive by Playwright's Joe Broderick who ropes a two-out single to right. With Juan Sanchez due up the Hawks catcher, Pito Ruiz, decides that it would be a great time to have a chat with his pitcher, Sammy Acevedo. Again, the mood here is amazingly quiet - one could almost hear the conversation from as far away as the stands. The conversation ends and Sanchez greets Acevedo with a single that puts Broderick on third base. The winning run is just sixty feet away and the coach - Jim Fitzpatrick is due up. Acevedo decides to pitch around Jimmy and walks him on five pitches.

September 8, 2005 - Deja vu? It's minutes before the start of the pivotal game five and the Hawks are not on the field. Instead, the few players that are here have gathered by the left field foul pole waiting to see if any others will show. On the other hand, the Playwright and the umpires are warmed up and ready to go. A few minutes later a rumor circulates that the Hawks will be forfeiting the game.

At 6:39 the umpire, Earl Garret, yells "coaches please." From the stands it appears that the Hawks might have eight players - just enough to start the game. By the way, the lights are already on so there won't be any half hour delay to save the Hawks tonight. At 6:45 the umpire yells, "batter up!"

In the top of the first inning, Playwright's Charlie Connors took advantage of the missing outfielder and smashed a drive to center field that fell for a triple. Jimmy Fitzpatrick follows with a single to knock in the game's first run. Juan Sanchez follows with a double giving the Playwright a 2-0 lead. The Hawks go down quickly in the bottom of the first with the last out being a called third strike. An argument ensues between the Hawks and the umpire. While this is going on, coach Jimmy Fitpatrick takes the opportunity to gather his players for a rally call.

The Playwright batters respond to his words in the third inning when Connors again connects for a two-run homerun to center, 4-0.

Mario Perrella (3 run homerun) and the Playwright break the game wide open with seven runs in the fourth inning and the rout is on. Folks, this game was ugly before the first pitch was thrown. Playwright's defense shines in the bottom of the fourth when they turn an inning ending 4-6-3 double play.

Finally in the sixth inning the Hawks get their ninth player, Ramon Mateo. His arrival is a bit late though as the game is way out of hand, 17-2 Playwright.

The stinker of a fifth game finally ends with Playwright trouncing the "lost" Hawks, 20-5. Pitcher Domenic Lemarra had plenty of run support in this one as he cruised to victory. To his credit, the Hawks Mo Wiggins, was very consistent and threw strikes even though he did not get the support needed to win.

September 8, 2005 - It's game six of the series and the Hawks are facing elimination. They were just hammered by the Playwright in game five and will hope that their late arrivals (pitcher Sammy Acevedo and second baseman Ramon Mateo) will give them a much needed boost. The Playwright turns to their ace pitcher, Jerry Thomes, who is hoping to wrap up the series and add another title to his already brilliant career.

The game starts with Acevedo having an easy first inning which breathes some much needed life into the Hawks. In the bottom of the first, they waste little time in getting their potent offense going. Jeff Neves leads off with a single and is followed by a Ramon Mateo single through the infield. Playwright then gets an out at second on a fielder's choice but might have had a double play if turned quickly. Thomes seems miffed and walks Rocky Isaac on four pitches to load the bases. Ivan Pillot then makes Playwright pay when he triples to right center to clear the bases, 3-0 Hawks.

Playwright threatens to score in the third when the first two batters of the inning reach base. But Acevedo gets some help from his talented infield when Toco Soto and Jose Cruz make two great plays that keep the Playwritght from scoring.

The Hawks take advantage of two Playwright miscues and make it 4-0 in the home half of the inning. Suddenly, this game has the same feeling that game five had but with the teams exchanging places.

After a 1-2-3 Playwright fourth, the Hawks break the game wide open when Soto doubles home two runs making it 6-0. A few batters later, Pillot follows with his second extra base hit of the game which drives in three more runs and the Hawks are in control, 9-0. Mercy!

Scoring twenty runs just minutes ago, one would think the Playwright attack would pick up from where they left off. Well folks, that's why they play the games - you just never know the outcome.

Acevedo continued to pitch very effectively for the remainder of the game and was backed by some great defensive plays. In fact, from the fifth inning on the game sort of became the Ramon Mateo show. The speedy second baseman made six outstanding defensive plays while collecting two hits in the process. Mateo and Acevedo led the Hawks to any easy, 9-3 victory setting up a "winner take all" game seven.

Friday, Sept. 9, 2005 - Arriving at the field, one immediately gets the impression that this game has a lot of meaning for both teams. Players on each side of the diamond are standing, stretching, talking, and appear ready to battle for the title. The Hawks, who have struggled at times to get a full team here this season, have ample players on hand tonight. Their catcher, Pito Ruiz, soon gathers the team and leads their chant. "Hustle on three...one..two...three...Hustle!" If I were a gambler, then I would be placing my money on the Hawks tonight as they have the star players here and look ready to win.

At 7:44, Mo Wiggins delivers the first pitch (a ball to Charlie Connors) and Game 7 is underway. Connors then works a walk but is erased on the next play when Joe Broderick bounces into a fielders choice. The Playwright coach, Jimmy Fitzpatrick follows by working a four-pitch walk. Juan Sanchez then loads the bases when he singles to left. The Playwright bench has come to life and are now standing and cheering for lefty hitting Mike Smith to deliver the games first run. Smith takes a cut at the second pitch and bounces one to the sure handed shortstop, Toco Soto. But Soto misplays the ball, everyone is safe and two runs score. Suddenly, the Hawks find themselves in a big hole to work out of. Jerry Thomes Jr. follows Smith with a RBI single to center making it 3-0 Playwright. Veteran player, Mario Perella, then drives home another run on a single through the infield to give Playwright a 4-0 lead.

Wow! This was not the start that anyone imagined. Frustration can now be seen on the Hawks faces as they know they can't let Playwright get too far ahead. Jack Rogers is then hit by a pitch to load the bases again. A lot of pressure is now put on pitcher Wiggins and the Hawks defense. Al Martin follows by bouncing a one hopper to second that eludes Ramon Mateo to score Thomes from third, 5-0 Playwright. At this point, I can't help but to think back to M Street softball's last game seven final between the Moran Club and the Sidewalk Cafe (1997). Sidewalk had rallied from being three games down to tie the series and force a game seven. But in the first inning of game seven, the Moran club plated seven runs to pretty much put the game out of reach. Right now, the Hawks need to make some plays and get out of the inning before this one gets away.

The Hawks then get a great play from third baseman, Jose Cruz, who cuts a base runner down at the plate keeping the score 5-0. Wiggins then gets Sanchez for the innings final out but the damage was done.

In the home half of the first inning the Hawks were looking for some life and got it when Toco Soto smashed a line drive homerun to right that brought up chalk when it landed. The Hawks were on the scoreboard and feeling good again. Juan Polanco followed Soto and smacked a line drive to the right side of the infield that looked destined for extra bases. But the scrappy Jack Rogers got a glove on it and held on for the inning ending out.

In the second, the Playwright gets a couple of runners on with two outs and begin to make a lot of noise on their bench. They realize that they will need every run tonight to pull off the win as the Hawks have fielded a devastating lineup and are expected to score a bunch of runs. The Hawks left fielder, Jamie Morales (hey, I finally got his name right), then ends the inning when he snares Mario Perella's line drive. The score remains 5-1 in favor of the Playwright.

Morales then gets to work at the plate and leads the bottom of the inning off with a walk and is followed by Ivan Pillott's single. Garry Licabe moves the runners up when he launches a deep drive to center that is tracked down by Connors. Cruz then bounces out to shortstop but a run scores on the play making it 5-2. It's looking like the Playwright will get out of the inning with minimal damage but they walk Pito Ruiz on four pitches. Jeff Neves follows with a single to center that plates two runs and gets the Hawks back in the game, 5-4 Playwright.

Sensing that the momentum is swaying to the other side the Playwright puts a couple of runners on with one out in the third and are looking for more. Just then, a Hawk fan yells from behind the backstop "enough is enough...get that pitcher out!" Apparently she feels that the Hawk starting pitcher doesn't have his best stuff tonight and should be replaced. Wiggins responds by striking out Connors for the innings second out. Fitzpatrick follows a batter later with a double to right that scores Al Martin and the Playwright increases it's lead to 6-4. Wiggins walks the next batter but then retires Smith on a grounder to short.

Playwright's pitcher Domenic Lemarra has a great third inning and retires the heart of the Hawks offense, 1-2-3.

Lemarra's efforts give life to the Playwright attack as they get right to work on Wiggins and the Hawks. Thomes leads off with a bloop single and is brought home by Perella's double to left field, 7-4. Jack Rogers then singles which ends Wiggins' night on the mound. Sammy Acevedo is brought into the game but makes matter worse when he hits his first batter, Al Martin, to load the bases. However, Acevedo is a gamer and bears down to strike out Connors for a huge first out. Joe Broderick follows and rips a grounder to first but Pillot handles it cleanly and fires home to get the lead runner. Playwright is really squandering an opportunity here. Fitzpatrick then steps into the box and works the count to 3-1. The next offering appears high and away so he lays off thinking he has a bases loaded walk but the pitch is justifiably called a strike by plate umpire, Larry Heafey. Acevedo completes the "tight-rope walk" by getting Fitzpatrick to pop up on the next pitch. The Hawks really dodged a bullet here and are still in the game thanks to Acevedo's efforts.

We heard before that great defensive plays usually carry over to the offense and tonight was no different. Feeding off of Acevedo, Ivan Pillot and Garry Licabe both smack one-out single's to center to start the rally. Pillot scores when Jose Cruz doubles to center cutting the lead to 7-5. Pito Ruiz then grounds out to first baseman, Jimmy Fitzpatrick, who alertly holds the runner at third while recording the out at first. With the last batter due up it looks like the Playwright will escape the inning with no further damage. But Hawk batter, Jeff Neves, collects his second hit of the night when he rips a double to left field that scores two and ties the game at 7-7. As the inning proceeds, Playwright's Jerry Thomes begins to warm up on the sidelines. Lemarra and the Playwright get out of the inning when third baseman Mike Smith makes a great play to end the inning.

Neither team gets anything going in the fifth inning and the quiet that first appeared in game six has returned to the field.

Like Neves did before him, Playwright's ninth batter in the order, Al Martin came through when his team needed him most with a one out single in the top of the sixth inning. Martin reached third when the usually very stingy Hawk defense committed their fifth error of the game. The error would prove costly when Fitzpatrick followed with a sacrifice fly to left field that plated Martin with the go ahead run, 8-7. Players high fived Martin as he returned to the bench but realized they still had a long way to go before this one was in the books.

With Lemarra tiring on this hot night Jerry Thomes is brought into the game in the bottom of the sixth inning to try and preserve the one run lead. The move quickly pays off when the first batter he faces chases his first pitch and pops it up for the first out. Thomes gets Ruiz to follow suit but then gives up a single to Neves (3 hits, 3 RBI). With speed and the tying run on first Thomes stays tough and forces Ramon Mateo into grounding out to shortstop, Juan Sanchez for the inning's final out. The Hawks were now down to their final three outs of the season and needing to keep the Playwright from scoring to give themselves a chance in the seventh.

Pitcher, Sammy Acevedo made quick work of the Playwright hitters in the seventh sitting them down in order. With the heart of their lineup due up the Hawks hurried off the field to get ready to take their cuts at Thomes and the Playwright's narrow one run lead.

Ramon Mello led the seventh off with a blistering drive to center field. For a moment it looked as if the Hawks were about to tie the game but outfielder Charlie Connors quickly tracked the ball down for the key first out. It didn't get any easier for the Playwright as the league's most feared hitter, Toco Soto, was up next. Thomes worked the count in his favor then got Soto to hit a ground ball to Sanchez who fielded it cleanly and threw to Fitzpatrick for the second out.

Suddenly, the Playwright could taste the champagne and the Hawks began to question themselves wondering what went wrong. Next up was Juan Polanco who was nursing an injured hamstring but gamely played through it tonight. On a 1-1 count Polonco hit a high drive to left field where the versatile Mario Perella stood waiting. As the ball began its decline Mario camped under it as if he were fielding a punt for the Patriots. The ball came hurtling down from the night and hit Mario in the chest and arms but the veteran was not about to let this one fall to the ground and amazingly held on for the final out. The Playwright were champions again!

In the aftermath, the two very tired (7 games in 4 nights) teams congratulated one another for a well played series. The Hawks Ivan Pillot and Jamie Morales stuck around long enough to chat with each and every member of the Playwright. A gentlemen's move on their part which proved that the two teams have mutual respect and played the series with class.

The Playwright's Jerry Thomes (pitcher), Domenic Lemarra (pitcher), and Jack Rogers (second base) were voted co-MVP's for their all-star play during the playoffs. The Hawks pitcher, Sammy Acevedo also received recognition from the league for the great effort he made throughout the playoffs.

It wasn't long after the on field celebration that members of the tired Playwright began to throw the "retirement" term around. Who could blame them? They're older, wiser, and just won back-to-back championships!

2005 Playwright - front row (left to right): Al Martin, Juan Sanchez, Charlie Connors (with son - Charlie), Domenic Lemarra (MVP), Mario Perella, and Joe Broderick. Standing back row (left to right): Michael Smith, Daryle Alexander, Tommy Russell, Jerry Thomes Jr., Jerry Thomes (MVP), Jimmy Fitzpatrick (Coach), and Jack Rogers (MVP).

MVP's: Domenic Lemarra, Jerry Thomes, and Jack Rogers.

August 18, 2005 - under a clear sky and a full moon the bats of the Sidewalk Cafe erupted and took their mighty cuts against the Spartans embattled pitcher, Jimmy McNiff. In a game that was expected to be an evenly matched affair, was over in the first inning when Sidewalk sent fifteen batters to the plate and scored thirteen runs.

August 17, 2005 - Matt Rogers of the Spartans tied the game at 9-9 when he lined a 2-run homerun to left in the bottom of the sixth inning. A few batters later teammate Chris Aprile put the Spartans in front to stay when he connected for his second homerun of the game. Jim McNiff picked up the win in relief.

Playing in their first playoff game ever the Dorset Club played a very gutsy game battling right to the very end and nearly pulled off the upset. Earlier in the game, John Gore of the Dorset Club made a great catch in right field robbing Billy Adams of a sure homerun. Gore had to avoid a N Street league player and another batted ball while staying focused on the ball in flight.

August 17, 2005 - the Brewers were trailing by a run with a runner on first and two outs in the top of the sixth inning and were in need of a clutch hit. The count ran to 2-0 before Tom Lind roped the next offering to deep right that skipped past the Green Team's outfielder. Lind raced around the bags giving the Brewers their first lead of the game at a most crucial time. After a lead off single the Green Team went down in order in the bottom of the sixth allowing the Brewers to cling to the one run lead. The game then turned to the seventh and the Brewers were looking to add an insurance run or two but pitcher Nicholas French quickly retired the side.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the leadoff batter (#6) reached with a single to right. Brewers pitcher Tom McGrath dug in knowing he had to get the next batter. McGrath produced a ground ball to second that fielder Kevin Smith flipped to second for the force - one out. In stepped the lefty French who homered to deep center earlier in the game. On a 1-1 count McGrath again got the same result; a ground ball to Smith who got another force at second - two outs. The next batter stepped in trying to keep the Green Team's hopes alive. On a 1-1 count Brewers catcher Greg D'Antona fired a pickoff throw to first that had the base runner leaning the wrong way. On the play the umpire ruled that the fielder didn't have control of the ball - a questionable call on a force play. The Green Team dodged a bullet and their hopes were still alive. The next McGrath pitch was lined to right for a base hit. The following batter walked to load the bases and suddenly it was looking like that call at first was going to cost the Brewers the game. With the game on the line, in stepped batter Rich Engalvdsen - a .500 hitter with 22 RBI's. McGrath quickly got ahead in the count and got Engalvdsen to pop out to Smith who recorded all three outs in the seventh. The well played game was finally over and the relieved smiles were wide on the victorious Brewers bench.

August 18, 2005 - the Beer Garden's offense was in full swing tonight as they scored in every inning while cruising to victory. It was the third meeting in two days for these two teams so there was little surprise and lots of offense expected. The Sharks came to life and bit back in the fourth inning when they plated six runs to take a slim 14-13 lead. That lead didn't last long as the Beer Garden quickly answered with six runs of their own and cruised the rest of the way.

Beer Garden's Peter Drummey (6 hits) and John Curtin (5 hits) were the offensive stars for the winners while Brian Schofield led the Sharks. Schofield, who had a great year, hit another mammoth homerun to left giving him 11 on the season.

After the game coach Peter Hourihan gave the commissioner a hard time saying that his guys couldn't make their next playoff game - scheduled for Friday. However, after a quick investigation it was found that it was Hourihan himself who couldn't make the game and wanted to postpone. The good guy coach loves playing the game and didn't want to miss out. Instead, Pete will be raising money for charity while competing in a New Hampshire triatholon over the weekend. Good luck Pete!

August 18, 2005 - sometimes things have a funny way of working themselves out. After the season schedule was released a few of the Il Giardino players contacted the commissioner and asked if a game could be added against their friends, Murphy's Law. Because of logistics the league could not accommodate them until now - the playoffs.

In the second inning, Giardino's Nick Kleimola tied (2-2) the game when he singled to right scoring Kevin Bradley from second. Little did they know the run would be their last of the game and their season as Murphy's Eric Malerba pitched very effectively the rest of the way.

Nick Herz broke the tie with a 2-run single to right in the bottom of the third inning giving Murphy's a 3-2 lead. They would add some insurance runs in the third inning when Brian Doherty, Brendan Burke, and Mike McGuirk all hit RBI doubles. Giardino threatened to score in the fourth and fifth innings but Malerba extinguished their hopes by getting several key infield fly outs. Murphy's Law had silenced their critics and won their first playoff game on their very first try.