No offense, but this one was all about offense. If you showed up to the show down, to pine for a good old fashioned pitchers duel, you must be still be flinching from all the ping, ping, ping sounds that kept ringing loudly off the aluminum thundersticks wielded by both red hot offenses on a red hot night at Bill Vinci Memorial Field in Rome, as Smith Post outlasted previously unbeaten Utica Post 15-14.
When the pings were finally silenced, not by the opposing pitchers but by the onset of darkness, some gaudy numbers were flashed on the electronic scoreboard that overlooks left field.
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How about this numeric laundry list? In a six inning game 29 runs, 24 hits and 9 errors made their way up in lights. The player who really lit up the night was Smith Post Designated Hitter Andrew "Drew" DeBlasiis, or maybe it should be DeBlastis?
All big number 28 did was drive in 4 runs for the home team, score two runs and rip a single and best of all, a three run homer in the home second that gave his team a 7-1 lead and all kinds of momentum, as the Romans plated 7 runs on 5 hits to pull away to what looked like a cushy 6 run lead after two innings of play.
(Smith Post 24's Andrew DeBlassis (28) launches a second inning bomb to put his team up 7-1. The three run homer helped Drew earn the US Army “A” For Effort Player of the Game Award.)
How long did the momentum last? Not long! Utica Post entered the league matchup having won 10 straight games. You knew Greg Gatea's crew would answer. Answer, that's an understatement.
Post 229 sent 16 men to the plate and speaking of plates, plated 10 runs to go up 11-7.
Smith Post starter Brendan Bertrand was sent to the showers, on a night a cold one would have felt pretty good, as the temperatures pushed there way to the mid 90's.
The righty starter lasted just 2 2/3 innings, yielded 6 hits, 10 runs, walked 4 and struck out 2 Utica Post batters.
It was not a night to be a starting pitcher. Both offenses acted as if they were angry and on a mission.
(Tom DeBernardis gets the start for Utica Post 229 in Rome.)
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Hitters were digging in like angry bulls getting ready to run through the streets of Pamplona in Spain, or like an amped up Spanish soccer fan. You get my point, it was pointless to try and establish any kind of rhythm on the mound on Wednesday night.
Tom DeBernardis, who entered the contest on a roll on the hill, had a short night as well. The crafty lefty lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing 11 hits, 11 runs, while striking out 3 and walking 1.
Mike King came on to close it out for Utica Post and took the loss. For Smith Post Derek Murphy did a solid job in relief to pick up the win for the home team.
There were just three half innings in which the pitchers were in complete control. Rome's Bertrand had a one-two-three second frame in an inning that saw smooth fielding short stop Steve Eychner make all three assists, having three straight ground balls hit his way in the inning.
In the top of the fifth Smith reliever Derek Murphy did the trick, setting down Utica Post one-two-three as well. Mike King had a relativley easy inning facing five Smith Post batters and setting down the last three in order.
(That's a mouth full...Utica Post's Matt Scotellaro slides into third base and the tag of Smith Post shortstop Steve Eychner during 5th inning action.)
Other than that, this one run thriller, was a score keepers nightmare. Let's just concentrate on the biggest of the big innings.
The seven run seventh for Smith Post and the 10 run third for Utica Post 229. Several players had a week's worth of offense in just one game.
Smith Post sent 10 men to the plate and scored 7 runs on five hits. The highlights of the early blitz was the three run shot off the bat of Drew DeBlassis that sped its way over the fence in left center field and turned a 4-1 lead into a 7-1 lead in the blink of an eye.
When the broad shouldered DH crossed the plate, Henry P. Smith Post 24 fans thought it would be a big night.
Other key hits in the third came off the bats of Josh Jones, who laced an RBI single to left and then later scored to make it 3-1 Smith. Center fielder Tim Saccento joined the hit parade with an RBI single of his own.
Not to be outdone, Tim Abone drove two teammates home with a sharp single up the middle and later scored his teams fifth run. When the dust settled it was 7-1 Smith.
Now it's Utica Post's turn to set the offensive carousel in motion. Let's recap their 10 run inning to see who did the damage.
Know wonder this game lasted 3 hours and 55 minutes.
It's time consuming to watch 16 batters come to the plate and the time flies by when ten runners find their way home in one at bat.
The biggest at bats were these: Mike Scotellaro drove in a run with a sac fly to right, as Mike King trotted home with run number 4 for Utica Post. Catcher Mike Obernesser joined the hit parade, as he muscled one of the lower portion of his bat to drive in a run.
(Henry P Smith Post Starter Brandon Bertrand wheels and delivers.)
Gary McConnell beat out an infield single to force a run home and then short stop Justin Hall gave his team an 8-7 lead with an RBI base hit of his own.
Mike Lackey, who had a big night, drove in a pair or runs with a hit to the right side. Matt Scotellaro and Ryan Donovan drove in runs as well. When Utica ran out of ups they lead 11-7.
In fact, Utica Post looked to be in line for league win number 11, as they led 14-11, heading to what turned out to be the game deciding sixth inning.
As the sunlight started to fade away, Smith plated four big sixth inning runs to secure the wild and whacky 15-14 win. It was the Smith bench who got a chance to shine as the sunshine faded.
Hard working Smith Post catcher Tracy Jones, who did a great job bailing out pitchers who had trouble finding the plate, also had a big night on offense.
To start the winning rally, Jones worked out a walk and then gave way to pinch runner Josh Mazzaferro who came on and later scored one of the four runs that led to the win.
Tim Saccento scored the 15th and winning run as he was sent home by Tim Abone who had the game winning run batted in and 3 RBI on the night.
The win helps Smith improve to 7-6 in the Gold Division standings, just two games out of first place. The loss, the first of the season in league play for Post 229, drops Utica Post to 11-1 in league play.
Too bad the sun went down, the seventh inning probably would have been another wild one.
Smith Post 15 Utica Post 14
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Utica Post 1 0 10 3 0 0 X 14 14 5
Smith Post 0 7 2 2 0 4 X 15 10 4
Offensive Stars:
Utica Post
Mike Lackey 3 hits-2 RBI-2 runs scored
Ryan Donovan-2 hits-1 RBI-1 run scored
Matt Scotellaro-1-hit-1 run scored-4 RBI
Mike King-1 single-1 RBI-2 runs scored
Mike Scotellaro-2 RBI
Mike Obernesser-1 single-1 RBI-1 run scored
Gary McConnell-1 single-1 RBI-1 run scored
Justin Hall-2 singles-1 RBI-1 run scored
Vin Gaetano-1 RBI
Smith Post
Andrew DeBlassis-1 homerun-1 single-4 RBI-2 runs scored
Tim Abone-1 single-3 RBI-1 run scored
Tim Saccento-1 single-1 RBI-2 runs scored
Jason Riggleman-2 RBI
Josh Jones-1 single-2 RBI-2 runs scored
Troy Jones-2 singles-2 runs scored
Steve Eychner-2 singles-2 runs scored
Nate Mallinder-1 single
Mark Capponi-1 single-1 run scored
