Saugerties is a sports town, and not just for the kids. While youth leagues tend to rule the roost at the Cantine complex, grownups get in on the action through the Saugerties Athletic Association. In the summertime, that means softball.
On the men’s side, there are five separate divisions representing various levels of intensity, with 35 teams in total. The women’s side has three divisions, with eleven teams overall. With weekly games and a playoff schedule that runs deep into August, the impression may be that there are softball games happening all the time.
With that in mind, it can be tough to stand out in the crowd. But that’s exactly what Tommy Sperl did on Monday, June 25. Sperl, who pitches for Supreme Builders in the men’s A division, hurled that rarest of treats, a perfect gamer, in his team’s 19-0 rout over Benson Steel/Bart Hill Tree Service. Sperl secured eleven fly balls out of the 15 straight batters he retired.
While Sperl and the Supreme Builders defense played lights-out in the field, the team’s bats were hot. Joe Dellamorte smashed a pair of home runs and a triple to drive in five runs. Jimmy Shook (home run, double, two singles), John Surrano (four singles), Mark Palazzo (two-run home run, two singles), Brett Wrixon (double, two singles), and Keith Hoyt (home run, single, three RBI) all contributed.
The two teams battled again on Monday, July 2 with Supreme Builders winning by a more modest 7-0 result.
The win left Supreme Builders at 6-3 overall, just one game back of Augustine Nursery in the four-team A division. Augustine Nursery lost a 6-5 nail biter to Seamon-Wilsey Funeral Home/Exchange on Monday night, with Jared Mayr earning the win on the mound. Seamon-Wilsey led 6-1 going into the bottom of the sixth before Augustine Nursery made it interesting, scoring three runs in the frame. Augustine tacked on one more in the bottom of the seventh.
Dan Koegel homered, doubled and scored twice for Seamon-Wilsey, while Tom Sickler went three for four with a double, three RBI and two runs. Mayr also had a pair of singles and an RBI to help his own cause.
E division results
On Friday, June 29, Jake’s Bombers used an eight-run sixth inning to roll over the Asbury Fire Dept. 17-5. The Bombers unloaded with nine straight hits in the sixth and 22 hits overall. Scott Grandstaff (double, two singles, four RBI), Ray Krom (four singles), Neko DeJesus (double, two singles, two RBI), Jim Ferrendino (double, two singles) and Nick Gruccio (double, single, three RBI) all contributed.
The E-division-leading Other Guys cruised past Woodstock American Legion 20-4, with winning pitcher Derrick Hoger helping his team with a bat as well. He had a double, a pair of singles and two runs batted in. Eugene Sullivan was a homer away from hitting for the cycle for the Other Guys, and Kevin Brocco (triple, double, three RBI), Austin Dreher (home run, triple), Tom Basciano (home run, single, two RBI) and Jeremy LaChance (two singles, three RBI) helping out.
Family of Hope/Pro Printers stayed just a half game behind the Other Guys with an 11-3 win over the Gotham City Knights on Friday. Eric Holmes (home run, two doubles), Gianni DeCicco (two doubles, three RBI), John Hanley (three singles) and Devan McGill (three singles) also pitched in.
With The Other Guys (8-1) and Family of Hope (8-2) already a lock for the playoffs, Jake’s Bombers (4-5), Asbury Fire Dept. (4-5), Renner’s/Sawyer Energy (4-5) and the Woodstock American Legion (4-6) are battling for the two remaining postseason slots. At 1-9, Gotham City Knights are out of the running.
C division play
C division also took the field last Friday, with Mirabella’s/Torok Excavating winning its seventh straight, creating a three-team tie for first place by beating Sue’s Restaurant/Rip’s Auto Parts 8-2. Manorville Mill is also at 7-3. There are just three games left in the regular season.
Mirabella’s/Torok saw winning pitcher Lance Salmi give up eight hits, with just one for extra bases. Chris Gage doubles and smacked a pair of singles for the winning side, while Kyle Gentile and Mark Fabiano each accumulated a pair of singles.
Olympic Diner remained in the playoff hunt with a 9-3 win over Mirabella’s Sports Bar — two C division teams sponsored by Mirabella’s — with both teams battling for the fourth and final slot in the postseason with 6-4 records. John Solian led Olympic Diner with three singles and a pair of RBI, while Clint Heathwood smashed a two-run dinger. Chris Wilson earned the win on the mound, giving up seven hits, just one of which went for extra bases.
Manorville Mill outlasted Mt. Marion Fire Dept. 8-6 on Friday, with Chris Caitch hitting a home run and a single, and driving in a pair of runs. Patrick VanWagenen (double, single, three RBI), Seth LaBounty (double, single) and Nick Bernard (double, single) all helped out.
Bannen Landscaping stayed in the postseason conversation on Friday with a 14-2 win over the Senior Stallions, a team sponsored by Hudson Valley Property Inspections, Praetorius & Conrad, and Stella’s. Jesse Daly was a double shy of the cycle, driving in five runs in the process. Brett Bannen, Chris Fricke and Dan Fricke each had a pair of hits for Bannen Landscaping. Larry Swart allowed just seven singles in the win.