On yet another glorious Fall Day at the A Diamond this morning the Matinee Division wrapped up the 2024 season with our final game of the year. We have been blessed with picture-perfect weather all year long and today was no exception as conditions were ideal for our final game, in our most successful season. Mike Kane for McQs team and Mike Girard for JKs team started on the hill and once again the Matinee Division first inning proved eventful for both teams. JKs team struck first with two runs in the top of the inning as Rick Saidenberg crushed a 2-run double down the left-field line to open the scoring. McQs team answered in the bottom of the inning as Joe Careccia led off with a long triple and Kane delivered him with an RBI single. JKs team extended their lead in the third with an unearned run and the game proceeded to the bottom of the fourth with JKs team in front 3-1. In the bottom of the inning, after two outs, McQs team strung together five consecutive singles by Jerry Rosen, Darrell Duncan, Alex Marin, Mike Clary and Jim McQuade to plate three big runs and took a 4-3 lead into the fifth. In the top of the sixth Girard drove in the tying run with his fourth hit of the day and the game went to the seventh inning knotted at four. The seventh inning proved fateful for McQs team as their relief pitchers had trouble finding the strike zone and walked four consecutive batters to open the inning and JKs team eventually scored five runs to take a 9-4 lead. In the eighth inning John Cortese smoked a double in the gap for McQs team and Careccia drove him in with a single to end the scoring, and JKs team walked away with the 9-5 victory.

Mike Girard led the way for JKs team with four hits and Don Ball also added three hits on the day. Darrell Duncan, in relief of Kane and Ron Massaroni in relief of Girard both pitched very well on the day.

An extended cooler session followed the game with special guest Tom Maney leading the way!

The 2024 Matinee Division season included sixteen games this year highlighted by our annual Cooperstown and BBQ games, and we look forward to more of the same in 2025!

Good Luck to all those heading to Florida to represent the CDMSBL in the National Tournaments!!