With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Kingston Recreation Softball Men’s A division could come down to the wire. Just two games separate the division’s top two teams, and Hometown Discount Beverage (10-4) and Deuire’s Trophies (8-6) will wrap the regular slate against each other on Thursday, Aug. 9.
The teams last met on Thursday, July 5, when Deuire’s won 6-3 with Ed Sickler on the mound. Matt Connors led Deuire’s with a home run, a double and a pair of runs batted in.
In the most recent round of A Division games, Deuire’s crushed Aero Star Petroleum 18-4 on Thursday, July 26, with Mikey Chang smashing a pair of homers and driving in seven runs. Jack Fortner and Luke Stauble helped the cause with three hits apiece, each hitting a homer in the process.
In other recent A action, Paramount Pirates inched by Aero Star Petroleum 15-11, with Mark Signore a homer shy of the cycle. Jae Redmond (double, two singles) and Dan Steers (double, three RBI) hit well, and Ryan Hamm, Bob James and Keith Berger all had two-baggers in the win.
Chris Bowers led Aero Star in a losing effort with a homer, a triple and three RBI. Mat Ryan (three singles, two RBI), Kyle Naccarato (triple), Ryan Naccarato (double, two RBI) and Jalen Palmer (triple, two RBI) also contributed.
With both teams swinging heavy bats, G-Squad just inched past the Paramount Pirates 18-17 in a recent A Division game. Kyle Petramale (two home runs, four RBI), Ryan McElrath (double, three RBI), Brandon Hamilton (three RBI) and Eric Molinaro (double, two singles, two RBI) combined to lead G-Squad.
As it is in A, two teams atop the B/C Division are separated by just two games, though Brinnier & Larios Wolfpack (11-2) and Al’s Smokin’ BBQ (9-4) won’t play each other again during the regular season.
Brinnier & Larios looked unlikely to take their collective foot off the gas in a recent 23-6 win over Copy Hut, with big offensive games from Pete Contredy (home run, triple, single, four RBI), Paul Larios (triple, two singles, two RBI), Shea Policastro (home run, triple, single, three RBI), Chris Ferraro (home run, two singles, three RBI), Riley Gogg (three singles, three RBI) and Ryan LaConture (three singles, three RBI).
The Men’s Upper D Division had three regular season games remaining as of press time, with just two games separating the top two teams. At 9-1, R&M sit atop the eight-team division, with Adam’s two games back at 7-3.
Both teams had big wins in recent games, with R&M cruising past Savona’s 15-5, and Adam’s trouncing Essential Fitness 17-5.
R&M’s Drew Baxter won the game on the mound, with offensive contributions from Ronnie Burns (double, two singles), Cat Bowens (double, two singles), Jared Mayr (home run, two RBI), Matt Moon (home run, three RBI) and Paul Renick (two RBI) all contributing.
Dave Wirhowski earned the win over Essential Fitness for Adam’s, helping his own cause with a double and an RBI. Joel Benicase (triple, RBI) and Kyle Chambers (triple) also made an impact on offense.
Now, this is a slugfest
In another wild result, Everett Motors beat Bowery Dugout 37-36 in recent Middle D action. The two teams combined for 55 hits. Everett was down 10-2 heading into the third before peeling off 12 runs of their own. Bowery pushed back in front with an eight-run top of the seventh before Everett again fought back, scoring two in the home half of the inning for the win.
Everett was led by Lenny Van Dyke and Lay Dee, who each drove in four runs in the win. J.R. Barnes homered twice, tripled, and singled four times, amassing seven RBI in a losing effort for Bowery.
Exciting finish in store for women’s Upper B
With a month remaining in the Kingston Recreation Women’s Upper B softball regular season, how the standings look heading into the playoffs is still very much a mystery. As of press time, five of the division’s nine teams are mathematically still in the mix for the top spot, with just 2 1/2 games separating first place Diamond Vets (9-2) and fifth place Lady Legends (6-4).
In recent action, Lady Legends stayed the course with a 20-6 win over AFCO. Stacey Franklin earned the win on the mound, giving herself a boost on offense with a double and a pair of RBI. Fallon Spriggs, who had four RBI, was also a double away from hitting for the cycle, while Farmatia Franklin (two RBI), Jen Esposito (double), Kelly Cherry (three singles) and Jen Crespino (three singles) also pitched in.
Second-place Hickory BBQ also won big, overwhelming VFW 19-7, with Red Fowler pitching and smacking three singles. Heather Swartz (triple, two doubles, four RBI), Jen Checksfield (home run, double, four RBI), Marissa Dolland (triple, three singles, four RBI), Shanee Lara (two doubles, two RBI), Tiffany Fowler-Watel (two RBI) and Angelina Fagerstrom (double) also contributed.
Spinnenweber’s offense stayed stuck on the 18-run mark in a pair of recent wins, with an 18-3 victory over Ridgeview Landscaping and an 18-6 result over VFW. Marie Sickler picked up the win on the mound in both games. Over two games, Gabby Waterman (four home runs, two doubles, single, 11 RBI) provided the hot bat for Spinnenweber.
In other Upper B action, Wine Hutch just edged AFCO 10-9, with Kathy Klosterman earning the win on the mound. Becky Konjas (double) helped propel the team’s offense.