UCSSL 2017 PLAYOFF RESULTS
60’s Division
Playoff Games for Week of August 20, 2017
 
Cranford VFW 21, DeBellis Associates 15
The VFW took a quick 4-run lead in the top of the first inning and added four more runs in the top of the third to increase their lead to 9-2.  VFW raced to the finish line behind the pitching of Tom Rutkowski to complete a 21-15 victory.  Bill Early led the VFW with 4 hits (3R, 2B, 3RBI). Vic Trindade  (2B, 3R, 3RBI), Dave Drechsel (2R, RBI), Mike Volpe (3R, RBI), Gary Schaller (two 2B, 2R, 2RBI), Charlie Wischusen (R, 2RBI) and Jerry Gaeta (2R) each contributed 3 hits to the VFW's victory.  For DeBellis, Howard Walker led the way with 3 hits including a triple.  Dave McFall, Rich Silva, Bob Mancini, George Barca (3B), Dennis Wilckens, Art Martines and Bob Donnelly all had 2 hits.
Cranford VFW 19, DeBellis Associates 12
Cranford VFW closed out their best of 3 semifinal series and advanced to the 60's B Division Championship series with a victory over DeBellis Associates. VFW plated 6 runs in the 6th inning to put the game out of reach.  Dave Drechsel led the VFW with 3 hits (3R, 2B, 3B, 4RBI). Mike Volpe (3RBI), Charlie Wischusen (R, 3RBI), Joe Mitarotonda (R, 2B, 2RBI) and Lou Koehler (R, 2RBI) also contributed 3 hits each to the VFW's victory.  For DeBellis, Bruce Bilotti, Howard Walker and Bobby DeBellis all had two hits. 
Creative Industries I 17, Liberty Lighting Group 5
Creative Industries I defeated LLG in the first round of the playoffs 17 - 5. Offensive stars for CI were winning pitcher Gary Pence (3H), Dennis Watson (3H), Steve Ferro (2H, 2R) and Tom Lombardi who were all perfect at the plate.  Also adding to the offense were Dana Kimmel (3H, 2R), and Tom Straniero and Rick Wilson who both blasted two triples each.  LLG struggled to put up an offensive threat against a determined Creative team. Steve Pietrucha lead the team with 3 hits. Although 6 players contributed with two hits each, timely hitting became elusive.
 
Playoff Games for Week of August 27, 2016
Awnings Galore II 16, Kilkenny House 4
Awnings Galore II scored 5 runs in the top of the first inning and led all the way in the first game of the 60+ A Division semifinals.  Rich Traub (3B, 3R, 2RBI) and Danny Mendoza (2B, 3R, 3RBI) were both 4 for 4 in the game.  Angelo Melillo (two 3B, 3R, 4RBI) and Tom Pasko (3RBI) both had 3 hits, while Gary Cuttler (R, RBI, BB), Pete Osborn (R, 2RBI, SF) and Pete Andriacci each contributed 2 hits. 
Awnings Galore II 10, Kilkenny House 9
Awnings overcame an early three run deficit and held on as the final out was made with the tying run in scoring position in the 7th inning of the nightcap of the doubleheader.  Angelo Melillo (2R) remained hot as he and Ray Meigs (R, 2RBI) each banged out 3 hits for AG2.  Winning pitcher of both games, Tom Pasko, scored two runs and drove in two with a pair of base hits. Awnings now advances to the A Division Finals to take on last year's champion Creative Industries I.
Creative Industries I 17, Liberty Lighting Group 3
Creative Industries I completed a first round playoff sweep, defeating LLG 17-3.  Eight CI players were perfect at the plate: Dana Kimmel (2H, 2R), Tom Straniero (2H, 3R), Joe Massimino (2H, 1R), winning pitcher Gary Pence (3H, 2R), Mark Mariski (2H, 1R), Frank Pepe (3H, 2R), Steve Ferro (3H, 2R) and Larry Berra (2H, 1R).  Creative now heads to the 60+ A Division finals to defend their 2016 crown and will take on Awnings Galore II
Creative Industries Too 18, American Legion 15
Creative Industries Too knotted this best of three semi-final playoff series in the 60+ B Division with a 18-15 victory at Tremley Point Field in Linden.
American Legion 21, Creative Industries Too 7
American Legion closed out their best of three semi-final playoff series in the B Division with a convincing 21-7 win over Creative Too.  The Legion now heads to the Final series to take on Cranford VFW2. 
Creative Industries I 24, Awnings Galore II 16
Trailing 16-7 after 3 and a half innings, Creative Industries I came back to defeat Awnings Galore 24 - 16 by scoring the final 17 runs of the game to win the opening game of their best of three series in the 60+ A Division Finals.  Winning pitcher Gary Pence shut down the powerful hitting Awnings over the last three innings to secure the win.  CI pounded out 33 hits led by Dana Kimmel (4H, 3R), Tom Straniero (3H, 3R, 2DBL), Pence (3H), Joe DePierro (3H, 3R), Anthony Santorelli (3H) and Frank Pepe (3H).  AG2’s balanced attack had every player with two or more hits, all but one scoring at least one run, and all but two driving in at least one run.  Bobby Lorincz (R, 3RBI) had two doubles among his 4 hits, while Danny Mendoza (2R, RBI), Bruce Crawford (2B, 2R, 2RBI) and Ray Meigs (R, RBI) each had 3 hits in the game.
 
Playoff Games for Week of September 11, 2017