UCSSL 2019 PLAYOFF RESULTS |
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60’s Divisions |
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Games for Week of August 18, 2019 |
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Kenilworth VFW 13, Awnings Galore 5 |
In the 60's A division wildcard game, Kenilworth VFW
defeated Awnings Galore 13-5 and will move on to the semifinal playoff
round. The VFW jumped to a 6-run lead only to have Awnings come back and make the score 6-5 after
4 1/2 innings. VFW scored 4 in 5th and 3 in the 6th to put the game on ice.
VFW was led by Ton Beninato and Jose Santana who both went 3 for 3 at the plate. For Awnings, Rich Polonitza (2 for 2, R, RBI), Johnnie Jordan (2 for 2, RBI) and Bruce Crawford each contributed 2 hits on the night. |
Avengers 24,
DeBellis Associates 16 |
In the opening game of this best of three semifinal playoff
series the bats were smoking for both teams. The Avengers, down
6-3, scored 9 runs in the second inning to take the lead. DeBellis
scored 5 runs in the top of 3rd to bring the game to 12-11, but the Avengers
answered with 5 runs in the bottom of the inning to maintain the lead. The Avengers then outscored DeBellis over
the last four innings to gain the victory 24 to 16. For the Avengers
Steve Falco and Moe Fernandez had 4 hits each. Jeff Villani, Leo DiGuilio, Bob Hoffman and
Joe Brown had 3 hits apiece. Bill
Moore, Geno Raisley, Sal Iannaconne, Doc Henley Black and Steve Landau had 2
hits each. Every DeBellis player
contributed to the effort with at least one hit and scoring at least one
run. Offense leaders included John Miller, Rich Grossberg and Rich
Silva who each had 3 hits and scored 3 runs. Howard Walker had 3 hits
including a booming home run. Marv
Scherb had 3 hits, and Bruce Bilotti and Dave McFall had 2 hits. Bob
Mancini had a long triple. |
Yogi's Boys 10,
American Legion 8 |
Yogi's Boys eked out a 2-run victory in the opening game of
their best of three semifinals series with American Legion in A
Division play. Legion jumped out to an early lead fueled by the
bats of Jim McCullough, Mike DiRienzo, Ray Pelesk, and Gene Antonucci.
Yogi’s rallied back, and with the score tied 5 - 5, The Boys
scored 5 runs in the top of the seventh with the big hit coming from a Geoff
Polston triple with two men on. He
went on to score the 5th run on a sac fly. American Legion's 3
runs in the bottom of the seventh off the bats of Walt Serafyn and Glenn
Sytko weren't enough to complete the comeback. |
Cranford VFW2
16, Creative Industries Too 7 |
Cranford VFW2 took the opening game of this B Division best of
three semifinal playoff series, defeating Creative Industries Too 16-7.
Leading the VFW were Kevin Carroll (2 for 4, HR, 3R, 3RBI), Dave
Drechsel (2 for 3, R, RBI), Gerard McDermott (1 for 2, RBI), Charlie
Wischusen (3 for 3, 2R, RBI), Dave Woodruff (1 for 2, 2R), Gary Schaller
(2 for 3, 2R, 2RBI) and Ken Murray (3 for 3, 3B, 2R, 2RBI). VFW pitcher Tom Rutkowski helped
his cause going 2 for 3, scoring twice and driving in a run. |
Liberty
Lighting 10, Kenilworth VFW 7 |
Top seeded Liberty Lighting took the opening game of their best
of three A Division semifinal playoff series by defeating Kenilworth
VFW by a score of 10-7. Liberty
trailed the entire game until a 6-run 6th inning put them on top.
Paul Southwick laced a single to start the inning followed by Rich Pitonzo’s
towering blast stretched into a triple.
Al Betau drove in the second run with a single to right center. With 2 out and down by one, Stan Lesniewski
stepped up and drilled a single to center setting up Keith McDede’s game
tying hit. Don Miller then singled and Lou Balestriere doubled to cap
the 6-run inning. For the VFW, Bill Vanderstreet, Ed Klecan, Bill Hillyer and Gary Wiese
each had multiple hits. |
Games for Week of August 25, 2019 |
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Avengers 11,
DeBellis Associates 0 |
The Avengers soundly defeated DeBellis Associates in the second
game of their best of three semifinal series for the sweep, and catapulted
themselves into the 60+ B Division playoff finals. The Avengers
claimed victory with the solid pitching of Alan Schachman, a steady defense
to back him up, and good all around hitting. At the plate Anthony
Abbaleo and Bill Moore were 3 for 3. Moe Fernandez, Geno Raisley, Doc
Henley Black, Sal Iannaconne and Alan Schachman had 2 hits each. |
Cranford
VFW2 20, Creative Industries Too 4 |
Cranford VFW2 completed the sweep in the semifinal of the B
Division playoffs over Creative Too with a 20 run barrage that included
11 doubles and a triple over five innings.
Leading the Cranford 27 hit attack were Marty Joyce (3 for 3, 3R,
2RBI), Charlie Wischusen (3 for 3, 3R, 3RBI), George Merlo (3 for 3, 2R,
3RBI), Gerard McDermott (3 for 3, 2RBI), and Dave Woodruff (2 for 3, 3R,
3RBI). Cranford pitching and defense held Creative scoreless after
giving up a four run first inning. |
Liberty
Lighting 10, Kenilworth VFW 7 |
Same score, different day.
Liberty clinched a berth in the finals with a two-game sweep of
Kenilworth VFW by identical scores of 10-7. LLG jumped out early with a
6 run first inning. This opening explosion was led by singles
by Andre Thomas and Don Miller, followed by Lou Balestriere’s 2 RBI
double. Willie Jackson singled setting up Harry Semple to drive in
Balestriere with a single. With 2 men
on and a still no outs recorded, Rich Pitonzo stepped up and lifted a
long fly ball over the left field fence for a 3 run homer. Rick
Lindemann added some insurance runs by collecting 2 RBIs a on single in the
4th. |
Roselle
American Legion 17, Yogi's Boys 1 |
After dropping a close one to Yogi's Boys in the opening game of
this best of three semifinal series, American Legion came roaring back with a
resounding 17-1 victory in Game 2 to set up a rubber game for a chance to get
to the 60+ A Division playoff final. The Legion
was led by Harry Streep who pitched a masterful game and contributed three
hits in the victory. Bob Glassman continued his hot hitting with three
hits on the night. Also contributing on offense were Jim McCullough,
Ed Kushner, Glenn Sytko and Walter Serafyn. Mike DiRienzo and Ray Pelesko flashed the leather on
defense to keep Yogi’s from making any kind of a run at a comeback. |
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Games for Week of September 6, 2019 |
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Avengers 13,
Cranford VFW2 11 |
The heavy underdog Avengers surprised Cranford VFW2 in the
opening game of the best of three 60+ B Division Playoff Finals by a
score of 13-11. The Avengers only managed to score in two innings but
it was their 10-run eruption in the 5th that was enough to take a 13-7 lead
and hold off the Vets for the game 1 victory.
For the Avengers Anthony Abbaleo, Moe Fernandez and Joe Brown had 3
hits apiece. Leo DiGuilio, Geno Raisley, Doc Henley Black, Sal Iannaconne
and Alan Schachman had a pair of each.
Big hitters for VFW were Vic Trindade (4 for 4, 3R), Bill Early (3 for
3, 2B, 3R, 4RBI), Ken Murray (3 for 3, R, 2RBI), Dave Woodruff (2 for 3,
3B, R, 3RBI) and Gerard McDermott (2 for 4, 2R, RBI). |
Yogi's Boys 13,
Roselle American Legion 7 |
In the rubber game of this A Division semi-final series, Yogi's
Boys came out on top and advanced to championship finals. Yogi’s Boys trailed the Legion 7-3 after 4
innings but then proceeded to score 10 unanswered runs to seal the victory
and win and series. For the Boys, Sal
Martino pitched a complete game and contributed 2 hits. Anthony
Santorelli, just off the DL, had 3 hits and 2 game saving catches. Gary
Pence chipped in with 2 hits and great shortstop play. |
Cranford
VFW2 17, Avengers 10 |
Facing playoff elimination, Cranford VFW2 came back in game 2 of
this best of 3 B Division Playoff Finals and defeated the Avengers
17-10. The Vets scored 3 times in the first, 6 times in the
second, and 4 more in the third, and showed a solid defensive effort for the
win. Instrumental in the Cranford victory were Kevin Carroll (2 for 4, 2 2B,
2R, 3RBI), Dave Drechsel (3 for 3, 2R, 2RBI), Ken Murray (2 for 3, R, 3RBI), Gerard McDermott (3 for 3, 2B, 3B, 2R, 2RBI), Charlie Wischusen (2 for 3, R, 2RBI), and George Merlo (2 for 3, 2 RBI). Ace hurler Tom Rutkowski pitched well and the VFW defense was solidly behind him in the victory. For the Avengers, Geno Raisley was 3 for 3, and Steve Falco, Anthony Abbaleo, Sal Iannaconne and Steve Landau had 2 hits each. The VFW victory sets up a winner take all championship final game. |
Yogi's Boys 16, Liberty Lighting Group 9 |
In the opening game of this best of three 60's A Final series between arch rivals Yogi's Boys and Liberty Lighting, the Boys came out on top under a steady rain at Tremley Point field. Yogi's boys jumped out to an early lead and never looked back behind the solid pitching of Sal Martino. Joe Massimino had long opposite field HR for Yogi's Boys while Liberty Lighting's Andre Thomas parked one onto Wood Ave for a 3-run homer. |
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Games for Week of September 13, 2019 |
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Liberty Lighting Group 11, Yogi's Boys 7 |
In this second game of the 60+ A Division Playoff Finals,
Liberty Lighting Group faced elimination but rallied to defeat Yogi's Boys
11-7 to knot the series at a game apiece. After
falling behind 3–2, LLG plated 6 in the 4th and held on for the
win. Mike Backus and Andre Thomas were
perfect at the plate with 4 hits each as was Rich Pitonzo with 3 hits. Willie Jackson, Harry Semple, Thomas and
Rick Lindemann all chipped in with key doubles. |
Cranford VFW2 9, Avengers 6 |
This rubber game of the best of three championship playoff
season for the 60+ B Division crown went down to the wire with Cranford VFW2
coming out on top 9-6. This was the VFW's second consecutive B Division
crown. A 4-run top of the fourth by the Avengers gave them a 6-3 lead
but the VFW came roaring back with 4 of their own runs to reclaim a slim one
run lead heading to the fifth. A steady VFW defense held the Avengers
scoreless for the final three frames to clinch the victory. Leading the
offense for Cranford VFW2 was Gerard McDermott (2 for 3, 2R, RBI), Ken
Murray (1 for 3, R, RBI), Brian McDermott (2 for 3, 2R, RBI),
George Merlo (2 for 3, 2R, RBI), Marty Joyce (2 for 2, 2
2B, R, 3RBI), Gary Schaller (2 for 2, RBI), Tom Rutkowski
(2B, R), and Bill Early (2 for 3, R).
For the Avengers, Steve Falco, Geno Raisley, Doc Henley Black, Sal
Iannaconne and Joe Brown had 2 hits each. The Avengers rallied in the
7th with two men on and the tying run at the plate when VFW's Jerry Gaeta snagged a hot grounder heading to right center and tossed to first to end the game. |
Liberty Lighting Group 8, Yogi's Boys 4 |
With the season on the line, LLG rallied from a 4-0 deficit to
take the rubber game of the 60+ A Division Playoff Series. Andre Thomas
reached base in front of Rich Pitonzo who promptly hit a two-run homer over
the center field fence cutting the lead in half at 4-2. Rick Lindemann, Mike Backus and Willie
Jackson all reached base setting up a 3 run double by Harry Semple.
Thomas followed with a base hit and Pitonzo drove in Semple to give LLG a 6-4
lead. Rick Regenthal singled in the 6th and then Captain Jeff
Maglietta gapped the outfield with a double. In his final at bat of the
season, Stan Lesniewski collected 2 RBI with a single to center to cap the
scoring. |