By The TimesLedger
Facing a fast windmill pitcher Sunday at the Glen Oaks Oval, the Queens Surface Rockies ran the bases and fielded well and hit just enough to outscore a strong East Williston team, 10-3. Nicole Epstein pitched a three-hitter, striking out 14, walking eight and hitting a batter over seven innings in leading the Queens Surface Rockies, one of two Glen Oaks entries in the Merillon Girls Softball Senior (ages 12-15) Division, to their third win. Nicole’s strong outing comes on the heals of Lorey Giblin’s complete game six-hitter against Merillon 2 the evening before.
Fielding highlights included Lorey running down a long fly ball in the sixth inning and Nicole’s stop of a hard shot up the middle, throwing to Jen Francis at first for the out. Lorey, who also played first base, also drove in a run. Jen led all Queens Surface Rockies hitters this weekend, going 2-for-3 in both games, driving in two against East Williston and half of the runs in the close 7-6 loss against Merillon 2. Tara McCullagh, playing third base and outfield, led the Queens Surface Rockies with three RBIs against East Williston.
With two out and in a similar situation when Lorey was called out on an attempt to steal home on the first pitch the week before, rightfielder Thesesa Pullo drove in the Queens Surface Rockies first two runs, as the team took a 3-0 lead in the second inning that they never surrendered.
Leadoff hitter Alexis Namit, playing shortstop, continued to be a run machine, scoring two of the three times she reached base and stealing two bases. Alexis led the Queens Surface Rockies with 15 runs scored and 16 steals in eight games. Lauren Epstein, playing second base and outfield, reached base in each of her three appearances, scoring twice. Sister Nicole also scored twice and knocked in a run to help her own cause.
Cynthia Johnson, who leads all Queens Surface Rockies, batting .619, drove in and scored a run. Leftfielder Gina Scali added a hit and scored a run. Melisa Ritchie, playing outfield and second base. also scored a run.
Their second see-saw game in a row ended on a base hit with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning in a game moved from Merillon to the Glen Oaks Oval because of field conditions from two days worth of rain. Cleanup hitter Marisa Bearak scored three times, earning three of her five bases on balls this weekend against Merillon 2. Marisa, leading the Queens Surface Rockies with 15 RBIs, 10 walks and a .740 on-base-average this season, caught all 13 and two-thirds innings in the back-to-back games. Lorey Giblin, in taking the loss, taught a lesson to the other Queens Surface Rockies on what it takes to pitch with control.
The Queens Surface Rockies next play at home Saturday, June 1, at the Oval against Mineola and Sunday, June 2, at 9 a.m. against Merillon 1 at Merillon Athletic Field 1 off Marcus Avenue in New Hyde Park.
Mets edge Astros, 4-3
In the Major Division the Hunan Cafe Astros and the Mets battled each other Saturday with the winner taking sole possession of first place. These two teams are both defensively sound, have solid pitching and good clutch hitters. The game proved to live up to its billing with the Mets, winning 4- 3 by scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
In the top of the second inning, the Astros scored a run off Mets starter Kevin Salcedo when Steven Figueroa led off the inning with a double, then stole third and home. The Mets responded against Jonathan Hyatt in their half of the second when Ryan Paroulek was hit by a pitch and eventually stole second, third and home. The Mets threatened again in the 3rd when Brian Biscotti singled sharply to center field. Michael Costanzo fielded the single hit the cut off man, Jonathan Dupuy, who fired a strike to the plate to get Jonathan Kruczowy, who was trying to score from second. In the top of the fifth inning, Anthony Civitano made the defensive play of the game for the Mets when he tracked down Jonathan Dupuy’s fly ball to left-center with the bases loaded and two outs to preserve the 1-1 tie.
In the top of the sixth, it looked like the Astros would win the game when they scored two runs. Randall Ramnarain singled with one out and Steven Figueroa followed with a walk. Matthew Rosenhouse then hit a come-backer to the mound and the Mets tried for the force at second, but were unsuccessful. which loaded the bases with still one out. Brian Biscotti struck out Michael Costanzo, but Brandan Ramnarain singled and the Astros ended up scoring twice in the inning for a 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Brian Biscotti led off for the Mets by doubling and scored when Kevin Salcedo followed with a single to right. Anthony Civitano was next up for the Mets and also singled to right, scoring Kevin for the tie. Jonathan Hyatt then settled down and struck out Daniel Quinlan, but Anthony Civitano stole second and third during that at bat. Ryan Paroulek came to the plate and the Mets put on the suicide squeeze, Ryan missed the bunt but the ball got away from the catcher, allowing Anthony to score the winning run. The Hunan Cafe Astros are now 7-2 and Ralph's Ices Mets are 7-1.
McDonald’s Giants explode on offense
In the Farm Division, the offensive and defensive machine known as McDonald’s Giants continued to play outstanding baseball. The Giants played the Guys and Dolls Playhouse Twins twice and JJ Peabody’s Rangers once this week. Over the three games, the Giants only allowed their opponents to score six runs in two of the 18 innings played. Offensively for the Giants, Randolph Herbert had a double and 10 singles, Michael Kelly singled nine times, Danny Graham and Steven Pelan each singled 11 times, Louis Salzberg hit two homers and three doubles, Ryan Barrello had a triple, double and nine singles, Nick Frangella, Kaitlyn Biscotti, Theresa Conway and Joey Costanzo all singled in eight trips to the plate, Blaise Christoforatas had a double, triple and six singles, Sean Dolan doubled twice and hit two home runs and finally Billy Hannigan had three doubles and six singles.
International Haircutters Marlins s hine against Mineola 1
The International Haircutters Marlins got the fireworks going on May 19 when they played Mineola 1 at the Glen Oaks Oval 1. The girls played their hearts out with their fielding, especially from Nicole Guglielmetti, who caught the ball off a foul tip, and Shannon Liesner. who had many outs at third base. Stacey Paickatty, Megan Friary and Shradha Patel made outs at first base, along with back-ups by Pryal Sakhuja and hits from Kristen Holt, Gina Pitaro and Sara Garcia.
Joe’s Pizza Cyclones ground Carvel Orioles, 7-6
The Joe’s Pizza Cyclones finally got back on the winning track as they edged the Carvel Orioles, 7-6, in the Glen Oaks Little League International (9- and 10-year-old) division. Joey Gillespie, Kevin Han, James Wolfin and Blake Cholost had the big hits as the Cyclones rallied in the home fifth inning to retake the lead in this see-saw battle. Ben Klein also reached base during the Cyclones’ fifth-inning rally. The Orioles’ Justin Lugo gave his team the lead in the top of the fifth with his bases-clearing double. Justin and John Rubenau pitched three strong innings each for the Carvel squad. With two outs in the Orioles’ final at bat, Patrick Kelleher singled, stole second and third and scored on Zach Nuefeld’s base hit to bring the Orioles within one run. However, Cyclones’ Kevin Han recorded the final out and the save. The Cyclones got a gutsy pitching performance from starter Tyler Brodney, who struck out 11 batters while allowing no hits and only one run. Jordan Simmon’s got his first hit and scored the Cyclones’ first run on base hits by Jeremy Goldberg and Tyler Brodney. Scott Carey singled and picked up his first RBI.
Joe's Pizza Cyclones stop C-Town Braves, 9-6
With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, Braves’ hitting stars Mike Mandrin stood at the plate and Matt Kruczowy loomed in the on deck circle. Each would come to bat representing the winning run for the C-Town team. Cyclones’ skipper Mike McGovern put in the call to the bullpen and Blake Cholost took the ball and the challenge. Mandrin had reached base in three of his first four at bats, but Blake was able to strike out Mandrin and get the first two strikes on Kruczowy. On the next pitch, Matt grounded to first baseman Tyler Brodney, who knocked down the ball and just beat a hustling Matt Kruczowy to the bag to record the final out. Blake Cholost’s save gave the Cyclones a two-game winning streak and improved their record to 3-5. Justin Namit got the Cyclones off to a fast start with his home run to left-center field in the top of the first inning. Jeremy Goldberg, Tyler Brodney, Trevor Stark, Kevin Han, James Wolfin and Blake Cholost all had hits for the Cyclones. Joey Gillespie and Louis Marino each walked twice and scored a pair of runs. Steven Vaniyapurakal also drew a walked and scored his first run of the season. Scott Carey, Ben Klein and Jordan Simmons also contributed to the winning Cyclones effort. Adam Spitz had a big sixth inning hit to keep the Braves’ rally going in the sixth. The defensive play of the game was a beautifully executed rundown play between third and home, as the Cyclones’ Trevor Stark and Louis Marino each handled the ball several times flawlessly to record the put out.
Dodgers win over New Hyde Park 2
On May 19, the Preferred Mirror and Glass Dodgers won their game against New Hyde Park 2, 12-4. Jesenia Dupuy and Toniann Groth pitched the game, while Maria Vessia, Jackie Marinoff and Brittany Frary were solid in the field. The win included base hits by Nicollette Pullo, Kerry Bunyan and Nicole Ficarrotta and steals from Karin Lalla and Nicole Guzman. The Dodgers improved to 6-2.
Royals nip Rangers in final at-bat
On a gloomy and rainy Friday evening in front of an enthusiastic crowd of parents, family and friends, the North Shore Towers Royals played the J.J. Peabody Rangers. With an injured Billy Burkart inspiring the team and leading the cheers from the dugout, the Royals and Rangers battled throughout the game with the lead changing several times. Timely hits by Sean Brodersen, Michael Ciminera, Conor Maher, Matthew Reyes and a big triple by Kevin Burke, helped the Royals score the runs they needed to keep up with the hard-hitting Rangers. It was the great fielding exploits of Peter Lynberopoulous, Raymond Rybak, Ankit Malhotra, Leonard Manigbas and Mitchell Cruz (who also had four RBIs) that gave the Royals the edge to defeat the Rangers. The game was won in the final at-bat when Ralph Straughan got the game-winning RBI, bringing home Conall Ryan. Ryan got the game tying RBI minutes earlier.
