(Friday 7/24 - Watervliet) - On a perfect night for baseball at the pristine confines of Dennis Lane's Watervliet High School Field, The 55-Pirates bested the 55-Americans, by a final of 10-4.
Veteran hurlers, the Pirate's Eric Sundwall and American's Dan Durback toed the slab for their respective squads. This was to be a night where Sundwall put the Buccos on his back and willed them to the W! The Swashbucklers got contributions from everyone in the line-up, while working a little shorthanded, as were the Amerks!
An ominous start, when a 2-base faux pas, a walk and double bag swipe had the Patriots poised to strike with 2nd & 3rd and no outs! Big E then dug in and got a punchout, and 2 pop-ups to make like Houdini and escape untattered. He then took the offense into his own hands with a ribby bingle to plate Carlo Bileci, after his knock and pilfer of 2nd.
Americans broke through in the 3rd, taking the lead on a free pass, a Mike Aiello single and stolen base, and a Fred Muller 2-bagger, the first on his 3-hit nite, to push the Americans out in front 2-1. On the bump, Dan Durback was inducing some weak contact, retiring 8 of 9 Bucs into 2-outs in the bottom of frame four. A booming John Haff rocket to right for a stand-up 2B, was followed by a Dane Dostie run scoring single, who came around on a Nick Kanellis base hit, for a Pirates edge at 3-2.
The lead was short-lived as Sundwall would bend but not break. After a lead off walk, Muller again came through with a run scoring single to knot things at 3-3. Singles by Durback and Phil Golderman had the bases drunk with Amerks, but Sundwall induced a 1-3 comebacker to end the threat.
The WFAN turning point of the game came in the home half with Tony Sgambelluri igniting the Bucs with a lead off single followed by a fielder's choice/error, and both runners advancing on a wild pitch for 2nd and 3rd with no outs. A Jimmie Dalton safety squeeze knock, loaded them up, and Frenchie Ring delivered an rbi ground out with the Bucs retaking the lead 4-3. Back to back singles by Bileci and Brad Maione tallied two more, and a Sundwall Sac Fly closed out a 4 run rally. The Amerks with no quit in them, answered right back with 1-out, after an error and free stroll, Sundwall was able to bear down with a K, before the Offense of the Nite, Muller rapped in his 4th run scorer to close the margin to 7-4.
Pirates not content to sit on the lead and run out the clock like football, used a Dostie double, Kanellis single, and Tom Bain single, and some small ball, to tack on three more for a 10-4 advantage.
Sundwall, picked a great time for his first 1-2-3, setting the Americans down in order in the final frame, with the help of The Good Hands Play of the Day, presented by AllState. John Haff, in NYS Hall of Famer Randy Craft-like ease, ranged deep in the hole to backhand a ball ticketed for left field, and threw a strike for a big 1st out to get the leading lady. Sundwall then notched his 4th strikeout and a pop-up to seal the deal!
