The Westfield Leader Newspaper
The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

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THE WEEK IN SPORTS Check it out on the Web site! www. goleader. com Sports Section Pages 1113

GILMORE, NIES BASH 2 HR EACH; LIMERA HITS ONE

Sun Tavern Homers Damage Ferrara’s Auto Center, 124

By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Colossal home runs plunged deep into the trees beyond the fence at Brookside Park in Scotch Plains as the power men from the Sun Tavern dented Ferrara’s Auto Center, 124, in the second game of the Scotch Plains Softball League A Division Championships on August 9. On August 8 at Jerseyland Field, however, the Auto men did the pelting, winning the first game of the threegame series, 114.

Sun man Curtis Gilmore smashed two jawdropping home run shots and added a double to amass five RBI and Mark Nies also was not nice to the Auto men as he hammered two branch breaking homers and drove in four

runs. Winning pitcher Joe Limera lashed a solo shot and added a double and two singles and crafty teammate Fred Behr found an open spot on all four atbats with four singles.

Although the Sun men had 19 hits, Ferrara’s had some success with 16 hits. Leading the Auto men was Dan DiDario who had three singles and Dave Serido who had three RBI with his two singles.

The game was laden with brilliant defensive plays which were evenly divided between the two teams. Sun third baseman Dale Wirkus worked some miracles in the infield and Auto men Paul O’Sullivan and Mike Whalen combined for several run saving grabs at the fence in center

field and DiDario made a major league, chestsliding snag in left field.

Sun Tavern shined brightly with four runs in the top of the first. Gilmore walked, Limera singled and Nies launched a threerun shot into the trees in left. Andy Reale doubled to left and Wirkus wobbled an RBI single by third.

The Sun brightened even more with a run in both the second and third innings to take a 60 lead. Behr chopped a single over second and scored on Gilmore’s RBI double in the second then Nies nailed a staggering solo blast in the third.

Revving up their offensive engines, the Auto men scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Rob Tumolo singled and Phil Aiello doubled. DiDario walked and Mike Petersen lofted an RBI sacrifice fly. Dave Serido slapped an RBI single to center. Whalen lined a single to left and DiDario headed home and slid over home plate on a close play but the call went in favor of Sun Tavern.

Gilmore led off the fifth with a monumental solo blast to the Westfield border beyond center, boosting Sun’s lead to 72, then offensive famine thinned both teams until the top of the ninth when the Sun glared with five blinding runs. Behr and Rusty Meyer both singled, Dave Legg yanked an RBI single over first and Gilmore thumped a threerun shot over the center field fence. Limera jumped the lead to 122 with his solo homer down the right field line.

With some spunk, Ferrara’s responded with the final two runs. Aiello poked a single to center, DiDario ripped a single over third and Petersen punched a single to left. Dave Serido sailed a tworun single to center, but the Sun defense tightened and totally stalled the Auto men.

Sun Tavern 411 010 005 12 Ferrara’s Auto 000 200 002 4

REIPE RIPS 3 HITS, 2 RBI; MIRTO BANGS 3 HITS, 2 RBI

Matuska, St. Thomas Topple Haughty ‘James Gang’, 74

By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Rally quelling defensive plays coupled with a crafty pitching performance on the part of St. Thomas prevented the haughty St. “James Gang” from getting on their high horse and riding triumphantly into the sunset. Veteran pitcher Joe Matuska, with his higharching accuracy, kept the “Gang” offbalance and led the “Tom” boys to a 74

victory in St. Bart’s Oldtimers Softball League action at Brookside Park in Scotch Plains on August 10.

Aware of the “Gang’s” fire power, the St. Thomas defense rose to the occasion and pulled off several fine plays, including two paralyzing double plays. However, the “James Gang” also displayed their defensive prowess with two double plays.

Neither team was particularly without ammunition as St. Thomas had 13 hits and St. James had 11. Gerry

Reipe led St. Thomas with three hits, two RBI and two runs scored and teammate Mike Brennan slapped three singles and scored twice. Bill Mirto proved loyal to the “Gang” as he banged three singles and two RBI. “Gang” leader Jim Hoelzel led by example when he tomahawked two singles and scored twice.

Mike Brennan fired the first shot with a single in the bottom of the first, then Mike Rivera brought him

St. Bart’s Oldtimers Mens Softball League Results:

St. Patrick appears to be in firm control of the Saints Division with an impressive 143 record and the St. Louis “Posse” has been holding the lead in the Angels Division with a 136 record as of August 11.

St. Patrick 6, St. Blaise 5

St. Patrick came through in the seventh inning. For Pat, Ron Del Prete went 3for3 with one RBI. David Hagen had two hits and one RBI. Rick Wustefeld also had two hits. Nick Barattucci was smooth on the mound and had an important RBI. For Blaise, Robert Stratton, Karl Grossmann and James Steger all had two hits. Harry Semple had a tworun single.

St. Thomas 7, St. Michael 2

For the “Toms”, Gerry Riepe went 3for3. Mike Brennan and Mark DiFrancesco each had two hits. Mike Rivera had two hits and four RBI. For the “Mikes”, Brian Williams went 3for3. James Cassidy had two hits and one RBI. Ken Larson and Pete DeCristofaro also had two hits.

St. Anne 12, St. Jude 8

St. Anne had a fiverun first which included a tworun homer from Jeff Friedlander, whom also had another hit. Robert Cummo had two singles, a double and an RBI. Howard Jones banged two hits and two RBI, as did Rich Varsolona. Fran Celardo had two hits and one RBI and Marc Reisberg had two hits. For St. Jude, Dave Rothenberg and Dennis Hercel had three hits and one RBI each, and Dan Perrine also had three hits. Fran Lienhard had three RBI and two hits, as did Matt Fugett.

St. Louis 13, St. James 5

Matt Hoelzel went 3for3. Terry Gallagher, Gerry Spitzer and Larry Szenyi each had two hits and two RBI. Tom Rutkowski had two hits. For St. James, Don Rowbotham led with three hits and two RBI. Bill Mirto had two hits. Jim Hoelzel, Ben Lobrace and Ed Marchelits each had one RBI.

St. Joseph 10, St. Paul 8

For St. Joseph, Stan Lesniewski went 4for4 with one RBI. Pete Vanderheyden had three hits and two RBI. Lou Balestriere had two hits and three RBI and Bill Hicks had two hits and one RBI. Kevin Woodring had two hits. St. Paul’s Paul Raphael went 4for4 with two RBI. Tom Engleman had two hits and two RBI. Bob Veeck, Phil Vellucci and Tony Giannaci all had two hits and one RBI.

St. Thomas 7, St. James 4

St. Thomas was led by Gerry Riepe with three hits and two RBI. Michael Brennan also had three hits. Mark DiFrancesco had two hits and two RBI. Art Hobble had two hits. Joe Matuska was great on the mound. For St. James, Bill Mirto had three home with an RBI single to center.

The magic of third baseman John “Brooks” Chupko’s glove prevented St. James from doing any damage in the second but St. Thomas was also silent in the lower half of the inning.

St. Thomas took a 20 lead in the third when Reipe yanked a single to left, Brennan singled to center and Mark DiFrancesco bashed an RBI single to right. Further scoring was halted, however, when pitcher Howard Bialos grabbed a grounder, tossed to

Ed Marchelitis at second for a force out, then Marchelitis fired to Mirto at first to complete the double play.

The “James Gang” secretly loaded their guns in the fourth and came out banging and blazing, hitting the target three times. Leading the breakout, Marchelitis and Hoelzel pushed singles past short, Bob Guy reached on a force play and Mirto tapped an RBI single. Don Rowbotham gave the “Gang” a 32 lead with a tworun single which ricocheted into right.

The “Toms” tied it in their half of the inning. Art Hobble whizzed a single to left, Tom McGall bounced into a force play then Matuska plopped a single over short. Paul Morello poked an RBI single to center, then the rally ended on the same sequence when Matuska was nailed attempting to slip into third.

St. Thomas pulled off its first double play in the fifth on a Matuska (pitcher) to Reipe (short) to Brennan (first) double play then added the second in the sixth when Reipe snagged a grounder, stepped on second and flicked to first.

The “James Gang’s” ammunition was low but the “Toms” had plenty of reserve and added two in each of fifth and sixth innings.

In the fifth, Reipe and Brennan both bopped singles, an error in center allowed Reipe to score and Rivera’s sacrifice fly scored Brennan. In the sixth, Chupko singled, Morello walked, Mike Hayeck singled and Reipe punched a tworun single.

Down to just a few rounds, the “Gang” tried to make the best of it in the seventh. Hoelzel smoked a single to left, tagged up on a fly out to left and scored on Mirto’s looping single. Click! Click! Bang! A final shot was lobbed toward shallow right, but the fleetfooted McGall tracked it down.

St. James 000 300 1 4 St. Thomas 101 122 x 7

hits and two RBI. Don Rowbotham had two hits and two RBI. Ed Marchelits, Jimmy Hoelzel and “Joltin” Jack Lynch all had two hits.

St. Joseph 13, St. Anne 2

The “Joe” boys rose in the third. Frank Del Re rapped four hits and four RBI. Kevin Woodring had three hits, one a round tripper, and two RBI. David Bell and Stan Lesniewski each had three hits and one RBI. Marv Scherb and Dean Talcott each had two hits and two RBI. Lou Balestriere had a triple, a double and one RBI. Pete Vanderheyden pitched a gem. For Anne, Marc Reisberg hammered a home run. Bobby Pielhau had an RBI double. Jeff Friedlander also had a double.

St. Louis 26, St. Michael 13

For St. Lou, Tom Reade crushed a threerun homer and John Reynolds smacked three hits. Marty Marks had two hits and three RBI. Norm Hansen and Matt Hoelzel each had two hits and two RBI. Erik Baum tapped two hits and had one RBI. Gerry Spitzer and Tom Rutkowski each had two hits. Terry Gallagher launched two threerun homers. St. Mike got a homer, two hits and five

RBI from Tom Straniero. Tony Perconte scored four runs, poked three hits and had one RBI. Pete DeCristofaro had three hits and scored each time. Ken Larson had two hits and three RBI. Nate Mangris had two hits and two RBI. Joe Metzger and Emmett O’Hara each had two hits and one RBI.

Angels Division:

TEAM W L Pct. St. Louis 13 6 .682 St. Michael 11 8 .580 St. James 10 9 .526 St. Joseph 10 10 .500 St. Blaise 6 13 .318

Saints Division:

TEAM W L Pct. St. Patrick 14 3 .824 St. Anne 11 8 .580 St. Thomas 8 12 .400 St. Jude 8 13 .381 St. Paul 5 13 .278

Erin Cockren Captures Rutgers Jr. Golf Crown

By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Westfield High School junior Erin Cockren captured the 23rd annual Rutgers Girls’ Junior Open Golf Tournament by one shot with an evenpar 72 on August 11 at the 5,461yard Rutgers University Golf Course. Cockren tied the tournament record set in 1991 by Diana D’Alessio of Dover and edged Katie Kennedy of Annandale, who shot a 73.

Down three strokes to Kennedy after nine holes, Cockren caught fire and shot a 34 on the back nine and finished with a tournament record six birdies on the day – two on the front nine and four on the back nine.

Cockren feels that the turning point actually began on the par 3, 11th hole

which she birdied. “I messed up on the ninth hole and I doubled (double bogie) on the 10th because I was nervous,” said Cockren. “I chipped away and birdied the 11th then birdied the par 5 12th. That got me going.”

Two other notable putts kept her in contention. “On the eighth green, I had a long birdie putt. I was just trying to get close but it kept going and going and went in. Then on the 14th, I hit another long birdie putt.”

Additionally Erin hit most of the greens in regulation and noted the importance.

“If I got on the green in regulation, in my head I knew that if I played safe, I could make the putts,” said

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

‘Old Time’ Base Ball Will Reappear at Echo Lake

The Elizabeth Resolutes, a team which wears uniforms from and plays with rules of the middle 1800s, will reappear in September at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside with a series of games. The Resolutes consist of players from Westfield, Scotch Plains, Mountainside and Garwood and pre viously played the Atlantic Base Ball

Club (ABBC) from Brooklyn at Echo Lake on June 17, unfortunately losing, 51.

Along with the rules and original style uniforms of the mid1800s, the players use original style wooden

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times Erin Cockren – Rutgers Jr. Golf Champion

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times TAKING A MIGHTY CUT… Westfield’s Paul Salamone of the Elizabeth Resolutes takes a mighty cut at the ball.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times POKING IT SUCCESSFULLY… Brian Williams pokes the ball successfully to the outfield during the recent St. Bart’s AllStar Game. Catcher Howard Jones and umpire Paul Morello observe.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times BEATING THE THROW TO SECOND… Mike Brennan of St. Thomas slides safely into second before the throw gets to “James Gang” leader Jim Hoelzel.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times JUST UNDER THE TAG… Tom McGall of St. Thomas slips just under the tag of St. James catcher Bob Brennan. St. Thomas halted the “James Gang”, 74, at Brookside Park in Scotch Plains on August 10.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times DISPUTING THE UMPIRES CALL… Dan DiDario, left, of Ferrara’s Auto Center can not believe the umpire’s out call on a play at home in a championship game against Sun Tavern. Catcher Tom Peninpede, right, made the tag. See another picture on page 12.

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