By The TimesLedger
Alexis Namit and Nicole Epstein combined to one-hit New Hyde Park No. 2, as the first place David Weprin Rockies extended their record to 7-0 with a 22-1 victory last Sunday, May 20, at the Glen Oaks Oval. Every batter in the lineup scored or drove in a run as the David Weprin Rockies scored the Merrillon Girls Majors Softball League maximum six runs in first, second and fifth innings.
Namit, batting second, and cleanup hitter and catcher Marisa Bearak led the David Weprin Rockies with four RBIs each Bearak, playing with an injured index finger on her throwing hand, still threw a runner out to preserve a shut-out through five innings and blasted two doubles and scored two runs. Namit hit safely in all three at-bats, smacking a bases-clearing double and scoring two runs.
Leadoff hitter Jennifer Francis, playing firstbase and center field, reached base and scored all three times up. Tara McCullagh, starting at third and also catching, scored two runs, added a steal and cleared the bases with a fifth-inning double. Second baseman Lauren Epstein tripled in a run in the first to end the scoring and later scored a run. Divya Akula reached base each at bat, scored two runs and drove in three. Nicole Epstein, batting third, was walked all three times up, scoring twice, and drove in a run.
Michelle Asciote scored twice and drove in one run. Elana Glowatz also reach base safely in each at bat, scoring a run and driving another home. Theresa Pullo smartly sacrficed to advance runners who later scored and batted in one run. Jillian Meyer walked in her two at bats, scoring both times. Lauren Glowatz, playing outfield, third and short, scored two runs and drove home one on a walk and a single in two times up.
Nicole Epstein and Namit no-hit and held the New Hyde Parkers scoreless over 5 1/3 innings, striking out 16, but walking 15. Namit struck out five in two innings, including striking out the side in the second. Epstein recorded 11 strikeouts and 10 walks over the final four innings, giving up the lone New Hyde Park No. 2 run. She struck out the side in the third, fourth and sixth innings.
Co-Managers Ira Epstein and Corey Bearak and coach Dave Francis awarded the game ball to Tara McCullagh for her hitting prowess. The Glen Oaks entry in the Merrillon Girls Major Softball League is the only unbeaten team.
The 13- and 14-year-old Glen Oaks Dodgers defeated the Yankees of the United Queens Alliance, 5-3, in an exciting game last week. The Dodgers had a magnificent pitching performance by Anabhav Raj, who limited the Yankees to just four hits. The offense was led by Adam Yager's three hits and two RBIs, Stephen Gold's two hits and two RBIs and a big double by Raj himself. The defense was keyed by the solid glove work of Ahvik Mitra and Murtuza Akbari. The Dodgers are now 7-1.
The Glen Belle Car Service Royals engaged in a slugfest against the Carvel Giants in the Farm Division. Both teams tore the cover off the ball and the runs came in bunches. The Royals were led by Randolph Herbert, Louis Salzberg, Blaise Christoforatas, Christian Graddick and Danny Graham, who all had five hits. Michael Kelly, Kaitlyn Biscotti, Jason Flaxman, Nicholas Frangella and Billy Hannigan each chipped in with three hits. Steven Pelan had a double and was robbed of another extra base hit by Patrick Kelleher. Pelan returned the favor when he made a great diving catch of a line drive off the bat of Kelleher in the third inning.
The M&M Deli Cardinals ran their winning streak to six by defeating the N.H.P. Wireless Diamondbacks and the Petland Discount A’s this week. The Cardinals are now 8-3-1 on the season. Against the D'Backs, Greg Conway went the distance for the Cardinals, allowing one run while striking out 13. Steven Velez drove in two runs, while Ray Potestio, Charlie David and Michael Osario all had one RBI. Other Cardinals contributing to the offense were John Ryan, who singled and scored, and Brian Biscotti, who singled, walked twice and scored scored twice.
Against the A's the Cardinals held on for a 9-5 win. Ray Potestio threw the first three innings for the win. Ryan Paroulek singled twice, while Brian Biscotti, Greg Conway, Ray Potetsio, Nikil Kumar and Steven Velez all had singles. Harrison Schnieder doubled for the Cards, but the big bat belonged to Charlie David, who hit his sixth home run of the season while driving in three runs.
The Major Boys New Hyde Park Wireless Diamondbacks stood toe to toe against the M&M Deli Cardinals on Monday, May 14. Despite excellent play by the D-backs, they went down in defeat by the score of 5-1. Mohammed Hashim played his usual stellar defense behind home plate and on the mound and Kevin Cheddie pitched confidently. Joey Pellegrino helped the team on second base with alert play. The Diamondbacks only run was scored by Randall Cruz while the game was still close. Fielders Timmy Gallagher and Rammohan Ramakrishna tried to keep the game close with some nifty plays around the diamond. However, in the end, the D-backs slipped to 4-7 with the loss.
On Tuesday, May 15, the Modell’sWhite Sox took on the Gary Spitz Tigers. The White Sox had it all together, beating the Tigers, 11-2.Great pitching by Alex Riehnhartz and timely hitting by Michael L.,Will and Kimball improved the White Sox's record to 7-2 and give the team sole possession of first place.
Highlights for the Tigers were Sam Hoffman's hot bat, MIKE C. playing awesome defense and Gab Santana and Adnar Akbari's hustle in the field. Tilak Shah said after the game the White Sox have the best uniforms.
On Saturday, May 19, the Nick and Maggies Braves hosted the Gary Spitz Tigers. The Tigers improved their record to 5-4 with a convincing victory over.
The Tigers took to the long ball, with Patrick Florian, Jon Kruczowy and Mike Costanzo combining for four triples, two home runs, six runs scored and eight RBIs. Sam Hoffman also continued his hot bat and has a four-game hitting streak. The Tigers sent 12 batters to the plate in the top of the sixth and scored nine runs to put the game out of reach. Pavan Parikh said the Braves tried really hard and never gave up. Highlights for the Braves were Gabe Gomez going deep,Vladimir David still pounding Tiger pitching and Jonathon Dupey's strong outing on the mound.
After two rainouts the Krupnick and Goldman Devilrays played host to the Gary Spitz Tigers. The Tigers improved their record to 6-4 with a tough victory over the Devilrays this past Memorial Day weekend.
Tilak Shah pitched two innings of shutout ball for the Tigers, Patrick Florian homered for the fifth time this season and excellent fielding by the Tigers proved too much for the scrappy Devilrays. Sam Hoffman's triple and Jon Kruczowy's double gave te Tigers some insurance runs late in the game. Adnar said he played hard because his friend came to watch him play. Gabe played a great third base and Drew Devoe said the pitcher for the Devilrays had an awesome fastball and was not mad after getting hit in the helmet. Joey Barbrow showed great sporstmanship after plunking Drew and showed concern asking if Drew was alright. Coach Tony said the Devilrays have excellent coaches and managers.
In the Major Boys Division, the New Hyde Park Wireless Diamondbacks faced a tough Andron Century 21 Pirates on Saturday, May 19. Albert Marin slammed the ball all day long with a multi-hit game, Randall Cruz hit a monstrous home run in the first inning, which drove in two runs, and of course, Andrew McCarthy and Tim Gallagher shined in the field. In the middle of the game, John Cacharani took over the pitching duties and may have found a future home, retiring the first three batters he faced. However, the D-backs went down by a score 8-2.
The D-backs bounced right back against the M & M Deli Cardinals on Monday, May 28. Billy Gillespie wasted no time getting the team started. He grabbed his bat and belted three hits in three times at bat. Kevin Cheddie’s bat also came alive, as he singled and scored twice after walking twice. Cheddie also pitched a great game, letting up one run in nearly four innings of work against a team that scored 14 runs against the Yankees just the day before.
Chris Cerone and David Treminio both drew walks for RBIs in a six-run first inning. But the shot of the day had to be Joey Pellegrino’s three-run triple in that same inning. With two strikes, Pellegrino blasted a ball to right field that drove in the tying and winning runs. When the dust cleared, the Diamondbacks had clinched fourth place improving their record to 5-8.
