Playoffs

There are only four teams remaining in the M Street Softball playoffs and it shouldn't come as a surprise that they all finished at the top of the Lucas (elite) division this year. Shennanigan's (16-2), Sidewalk Café (14-4), The Playwright II (12-5-1), and The Playwright (9-9) all have the ingredients to win it all this season. As of this writing, the Sidewalk Café and the Playwright II series was tied 1-1 while The Playwright led Shennanigan's 1-0. Here's a look at how the week unfolded in the M Street Softball League.

There was only one game scheduled on Monday as the Junction was looking to complete the upset and knock off the defending champion, Shennanigan's in their best of three series. But Shennanigan's wouldn't have any of that as they sent twelve men to the plate and scored eight runs in the top of the first inning.

The onslaught was highlighted by John Smith's two run triple and Steve Stalcup's bases clearing triple to deep center field. Stalcup's bomb ended the evening for pitcher Jim McNiff, who had pitched brilliantly in game one of the series. This would be Shennanigan's night as they ran away with it, 14-2, to tie the series and force a game three.

Again, the Junction and Shennanigan's had the spotlight as they were the only series going. The Junction plays out of the Feeney Division and were trying to knock off the league's best team. Prior to the start you could tell that this one would be a close game as the players were all very focused and prepared for the task at hand, win one more game.

The Junction's Jim Lambert opened the scoring in the first with a homerun to left, 1-0. The lead wouldn't last long though as Brian Pacheco tied it an inning later with a double to right that scored John Smith (2 singles) from first, 1-1.

The Junction would take the lead again in the third when Mike Archembault ripped a RBI single to right field, 2-1. However, that would be the last hit that pitcher Dominic Lamarra would allow as he got stronger as the game wore on and was aided by several outstanding defensive plays. Shennanigan's Dan Brown made two great plays at third and Steve Stalcup turned two inning ending double plays at second base.

With the Junction clinging to a 2-1 lead in the fourth, Shennanigan's John Smith stroked his second single of the game to left which scored Dan Brown from second to tie the game, 2-2. Pacheco then delivered in the clutch again with his second RBI of the game. This time it was a sacrifice fly to center that put Shennanigan's ahead to stay at 3-2. The durable outfielder would come through again in the sixth with an RBI double making it 4-2.

The two run lead was more than enough for Lamarra who would finish the game allowing only three hits while striking out five batters. The win completed the best of three series and put Shennanigan's on course to face the team they beat in the finals last year, the Playwright.

With all of the quarter-final series completed the league didn't take any time off in between and moved right into the start of the best of five semi-finals on Wednesday evening. The dream pairings had been talked about for awhile now and tonight they would finally kickoff.

The early game had the Sidewalk Café taking on the Playwright II where it was a pitching matchup of two of the league's all time strikeout leaders in 63 year old, George Pratt and the Playwright II's Joey Venuti. Venuti had passed Pratt's former strikeout record of 117 batters in a season just last week.

The Playwright and Venuti built a 2-1 lead in the third when Daryle Alexander singled home Nick Manning from second and later scored on Josh Newly's first double of the game (more from him later).

The game would move into the bottom of the fifth inning where Sidewalk would get some key hits from the bottom of their order. Andrew White doubled home Jim Ladio to tie the game, 2-2 and then scored the go ahead run on Dave Seermon's homerun to right field. Sidewalk took a 4-2 lead going into the sixth inning.

With one out and his team down by two, slugger Rob Rogers connected for a homerun to left making it a 4-3 game. Venuti then threw a scoreless inning which gave the Playwright II one more chance to tie the game.

In the seventh, Alexander and Charlie Conners both singled which brought up Josh Newly with two outs and the game on the line. The rookie came through with a double to center that scored both runners giving the Playwright II a 5-4 lead. The inning would end a batter later but the damage was done. Sidewalk would put a runner on in the seventh before Venuti set the last two batters down to earn the come from behind dramatic game one victory.

Wow, what a great start to the semi-finals. The night wasn't done though as the marquee series of the playoffs was set to begin next. The two teams battled for seven memorable games in the finals last year before Shennanigan's finally knocked off the Playwright. This time the series would be a best of five format with the winner moving on to the finals.

From the outset it appears that the two teams have picked up right where they left off in last year's series. Both teams are making great defensive plays while getting tremendous pitching from Dominic Lamarra and Keith Zewiey. The game quickly moves to the sixth inning with the Playwright clinging to a 3-2 lead.

Unfortunately for Shennanigan's it appeared that Lamarra had injured himself between innings as he hobbled out to the mound to start the seventh. With Lamarra ailing, the Playwright quickly went to work as Zewiey (3 hits) and Michael Broderick both single sharply to center. Peter Drummey then follows with a missile to right center that scores both runners, 5-2. Drummey then scored from second on Joe Broderick's single to center, 6-2.

However, Shennanigan's didn't go quietly in the seventh as they had runners on the corners with two outs and their lead off hitter at the plate in Al Martin. On a 1-2 count, Martin hit a sinking liner to center where Joey Broderick made a nice diving catch to end the well played game.

Prior to the seventh inning, this was a defensive game with the Playwright's defense making several great plays. Some of them include Billy MacDougal's throw to nail Juan Rivera (2 hits), who had singled and was trying to get himself into scoring position. Joe Broderick's great running catch to take away a game tying homerun from Dan Brown in the bottom of the sixth inning. And Michael Broderick's outstanding running catches at second base.

The semi-finals continued on Thursday with the Playwright II looking to extend their series lead and put Sidewalk Café in a deep hole.

Sidewalk opened the scoring in the first when Adam Ralston (2 doubles, 2 RBI) smoked a double to center field making it 2-0. The Playwright II answered in the bottom of the third when Nick Manning singled up the middle to make it 2-1.

However, the hot hitting Jimmy Ladio got that run back for Sidewalk when he homered to left in the fourth, 3-1. The score would remain that way until the bottom of the sixth inning as the two teams were locked in a defensive battle.

In the sixth, Pat Pickup led the inning off with a pinch hit homerun to left field making, it 3-2. Pickup's blast had appeared to turn the momentum and it was looking like the Playwright II was going to take one away in the late innings just as they did in game one.

Sidewalk's offense would answer in the seventh when Mark Senna (3 hits, double) led the seventh off with a double to right center and later scored on Kevin Ohara's (3 hits, double, 2 RBI) bases clearing double, 5-2. The scoring continued with a sacrifice fly by Mike Mercier that plated Ohara to give Sidewalk a comfortable 6-2 lead. Ralston would follow with another double and score on a fielder's choice to make it 7-2. The five run cushion was more than enough for Senna, who picked up the win on the mound and evened the series at a game a piece.

Thursday's nightcap featured game two of the Shennanigan's vs. Playwright series. Seven innings wouldn't be enough tonight as the clubs battled back and fourth with either team giving an inch. With the score tied 6-6, the game moved into extra innings where the game would be suspended for reasons we would rather not get into here. Emotions run high in these very competitive games but sometimes a little common sense needs to prevail. Instead, they will have the weekend to think it over then finish the game on Tuesday.

Fall softball - there are still a few openings for the fall league whish is set to begin on or around September 15th. Individual players and teams are encouraged to sign up through the league's web site: www.sbsports.com.

Upcoming games - game five of the semi-finals was scheduled to play tonight (Thursday, Aug. 26) with game times starting at 6:30 and 8:30. The finals would start next week with games starting at 8:00pm (Mon-Thurs).