It's the 2024 Edition of Hank Heitner Rockland Senior Softball

Week 19 - After the rain passed it's now back to the playoffs for all Divisions. Good luck teams. (Aug 25)

 

Division 1:

Doubleheaders abound in Div 1.

1-A: Copper Still advances. Elks and Eye Adventure tied at 1game a piece.

 

1-B: Both #1 Swingers and #3 TRIAD sweep and advance to the finals. Meet in finals.

 

Division 2:

All American Eagles, # 1 seed versus Mavericks, #8 seed squared off in the Division 2 Quarterfinals, a 1 game elimination. The Eagles prevail 7-6 with the bottom 9th gamer, a bases loaded 3-1 walk to end a tight, tense game. 

 

While the Birds took both season regular games, both were close. The Gun-Smokers, all carrying sharp shooting pistols, came ready to play as the entire 18 player roster showed up and ready to encounter any situation. Managers Ken Enderley and Morgan Tighe had the team primed. 

 

The Eagles looked prime too for a big game, scoring 5 runs, 5 hits, and walk in the bottom first. Criag Vansise led off with a single, followed by Bill Robinson single too. Then Chris Pellegrinelli belted a triple, 2 rbi. 4-batter Wilkey Jimenez drew a walk as the Mavs pitched around him, But, all-around ever-ready battery man, George Vansise wacked a 2 rbi double to go up 4-1. Louis Vidal singed, rbi, for the 5th run.

 

The game stayed tight 5-2 until the 6th when the Mavs scored 2, and the Eagles countered with 1, score now 6-4 Birds. The tough-bodied Westerner's push 2 runs across in top 8th and held the Eagles to no runs, game tied, 6-6, 9th inn coming. George V, still pitching, with a fan tracker of 400 pitches enabled the game to bottom 9th, tied. Now the high-flying Eagles came through to form. After 1 out, RF Sweet Lou V singles, and Brian Uhlinger doubles, for 2nd and 3rd. Outfielder Austin Kelly draws a tough count pitch walk as it was a tense player-pitcher at bat, and the Birds had the bases loaded. Ira Shapiro batting now. Ball 1, Ball 2, Ball 3, a gusty Strike 1, but a low pitch notched an Eagle's winner.

 

Defensively, the Mavericks kept the game tight as LF and CF players each made 2 running, reaching catches hit to DEEP outfields with everyone in Awe.

 

Eagle's highlights included:  Craig Vansise throws a 1 hop throw from LF to the Fisherman, Charlie Fisher, C, and nailed a tag up runner, dead out on home plate arrival.George Vansise starts a classic DP, throwing a low strike that intimated the batter to ground back to him at Pitching spot, who then kicked off the 1-2-3 DP with Charlie Fisher, C and Ira Shapiro, 1B

 

And, an Ira clutch throw after a first base PO was a Bullet Throw across field to nail an advancing runner, also dead-on arrival as 3B man Chris Pellegrinelli put the tag on a late sliding runner! Bases loaded, late inns, Mavs load the bases with no outs, and the Ever-ready Bandit George V, (P) works out of the inning, no runs, -- now this is classic Eagle-Ball, bring the bucket of worms on! More classic plays, Bottom of 9th, score 6-6, bases loaded, and Ira 'eagle-eye' Shapiro draws a 3-1 walk for the gamer, Birds win 7-6. This was the 4th time this year that the Eagles won in bottom inns do or die.      Eagles and Mavs played 2 error-D each

 

Deadheads win! Thhhhhe DEADHEADS WIN!  After 2 lackluster losses to end the season , the Heads got back on track with a convincing first round playoff victory, to begin their title defense. Prior to the game we named Nedward ( Jarhead) the first Captain in the history of the Deadheads, a well earned honor for his; dedication to the team, play on the field and leadership in the clubhouse. Well done, Marine!
  Tom P. was his usual masterful self, on the hill, allowing very few balls out of the infield. Once again,stellar Defense backed him up. After scoring 9 runs in last 2 games combined,the bats came alive as we exploded for 21 runs on 27 hits, with all Heads contributing.  Leading the onslaught were; Eli( 2 Homers and a Triple),Brandon ( 2 triples and a Double),Eric ( 3 hits, 5 RBI’s) Tony(3-4,3 RBI’s) and Mike ( 2- 4 with a monster double in the gap that SHOULD have been a Homer, except that CAPTAIN  Ned,on base at the time, slowed up, as to not run up the score any further.). 
  Caps are tipped to ODB , a great group of guys, for a fun season and for braving a Double Header ( played and defeated another team before facing a rested and psyched up squad of Heads) in the heat. They must have been exhausted yet they were great sports and never complained. Have a great offseason boys. See you next year.
  Great job Heads!  What’s aHEAD? We look to continue our title Defense but before proceeding to Finals we must first get through Barry and a very tough Blazers team Good luck guys. Good luck to the Dodgers and Eagles, as well. 
  LFGD! 
Happy Labor Day weekend to all.