Sports
By Don Lyons
Published: August 21, 2008
Softball finals loom
To no one's surprise, not to deny disappointment, the Brewhas and Hurricanes go head to head in the finals of the Men's Softball League playoffs at Veterans Park, Tisbury. The second game of the best two out of three series is tonight at 6:30.
To reach the finals, the Hurricanes had to get by the Land Sharks. Their first game, last Thursday, was a defensive gem from which the Canes emerged with a 4-3 win.
Photos by Ralph Stewart
The second game, Monday, was a high-scoring affair won by the Hurricanes, 14-8.
Neither team scored in the first inning. The Canes took a 3-0 lead in the second and made it four in the top of the third. But the Sharks batted around in the bottom of the third, posting six runs to lead, 6-4.
The fourth inning was scoreless.
In the fifth, the Canes edged ahead adding three runs, two driven in by Bill Jackson's home run. The Sharks responded with two of their own in the bottom of the inning, retaking the lead, 8-7.
But the last two innings belonged to the Canes. They scored three in the sixth and four in the seventh while keeping the Sharks at bay. Final score: Hurricanes 14, Land Sharks 8.
The Brewhas faced the Highlanders in the other semi-final series. The Brewhas won the first game, Thursday, 16-12.
Eric Hatt had the game's only round-tripper for the Brews.
Monday, after keeping the Brewhas scoreless in the top of the first inning, the Highlanders exploded with six runs in the bottom of the inning.
After a scoreless second, the Brewhas posted three runs in the third, all driven in by a Tim Andrews home run.
The Highlanders got two back in the bottom of the fourth and neither team scored in the fifth. With two innings remaining the Highlanders held a seeming comfortable 8-3 lead.
The Brewhas scored one run in the sixth and six in the seventh, the six all riding home on homers by Tim Andrews, his second of the game, and Karl Kallinich.
For the first time in the game, the Highlanders found themselves trailing. They needed to score twice to stay alive and that's precisely what they did. Jeremy Scheffer and Chris Menne drove in the tying runs and the game went to extra innings.
The eighth inning was scoreless.
In the top of the ninth John Custer cleared the fence, driving in two runs.
In the bottom of the inning, Ben Gunn doubled and scored when Russ Hodson singled to left. The tying run was on base but Scheffer and Kurth flied out, ending the game. Brewhas 12, Highlanders 11.
The Canes vs. Brewhas final series began last night and continues tonight at 6:30 pm. If needed, a third game will be played Monday.
Women's softball
The final four of the women's single-elimination playoffs met Tuesday at Veterans Park in Tisbury.
The first game had to be labeled upset as the Swingers defeated the league leading Snaps, 9-6.
The Swingers pushed two runs across the plate in the top of the first inning and even though the Snaps responded with one of their own, they didn't catch up. They really never did.
The second inning was scoreless but the third produced six runs, three apiece. The Swingers hung on to their one-run advantage. Unable to score in the fourth or fifth, they played tight enough defense to keep the Snaps off the board, too.
In the top of the sixth, the Swingers loaded the bases on walks then proceeded to score twice, pulling ahead 7-4. But the Snaps, who could not catch up, could keep pace. They scored twice, too.
With one inning left in regulation play, the Swingers led 7-6. In the top of the seventh inning they added two more to extend their lead to 9-6.
The meat of the Snaps batting order was due. If the Snaps could make a move on the leaders the time was now. There would be no tomorrow. But Jackie Meehan lined out to short. Liane Dixon popped out to third and Ryan Gold's lazy fly was caught in left center.
Swingers 9, Snaps 6.
Creamers vs. Honeys
Tuesday's second game was a worthy companion piece to the first.
The Honeys were held scoreless in the top of the first inning by the Creamers who, in the bottom of the first, sent nine batters to the plate and scored five runs.
The Honeys replied with four runs in the top of the second and held the Creamers scoreless in their half.
After two innings it was 5-4, Creamers ahead.
The rest of the game was a defensive dual. The Creamers added single runs in the third and fourth. The Swingers scored once in the fifth. But that was it. The last two innings added goose eggs to the scoreboard and the Creamers were more than satisfied to walk away with a 7-5 win.
The final game to determine the league champions will pit the Swingers against the Creamers on Tuesday at 7 pm.
Farr 40s at EYC
The Farr 40 class East Coast Championship regatta was sailed at the Edgartown Yacht Club Sunday with six boats competing in eight races.
Regatta winner was Barking Mad skippered by Jim Richardson of the New York YC. Richardson finished first in six of the eight races and second in the other two.
In second place was Doug Douglas in Goombay Smash with five seconds and one win, also of NYYC.
Infinity sailed by John B. Thomson of the Storm Trysail Club was third. Followed by (4) Hunt Lawrence and Neil Williamson in Nimbus Black of Oak Cliff YC (5) Hunt Lawrence and Mark Disanti in Nimbus Blue of Oak Cliff YC, and (6) Shout.
Mon Stars drop Hustlers, claim Men's League title
The Stone Cold Hustlers reached the end of the summer basketball season with a clean record but in the final round of the championship playoffs, Friday, lost to the Mon Stars, 76-60.
The Hustlers maintained an edge in the early going but when Bob "Bubba" Brown left the game with an injury that required five stitches under his eye, the Hustlers lost their advantage and the second half clearly belonged to the Mon Stars.
The final count was Mon Stars 76, Stone Cold Hustlers 60.
High scorers for the Stars were Matt Rivers, Terrell Johnson, and John Swann. Nick Viera, Chris Joyce, and Ben Ciciora led the Hustlers.
Photos by Ralph Stewart
