On April 28th, the league began play and will conclude in mid September after a lengthy playoff battle. Between the two dates there will be plenty of softball action on the worn out diamond located on M Street between East Second and East First Streets.

There are twenty-one teams split into two divisions, which are the Sam Moran division and the John Feeney division. Both, Moran and Feeney, played key roles in the league's early success. The Moran division features the upper level teams - those who have tasted success at M Street or have shown that they are a competitive group. The Feeney division houses the teams that haven't reached those heights yet, have just started out, or are more about having fun than winning games.

In the Sam Moran division, the team to beat has to be the defending champions - Clock Tavern Sluggers (7-1). They have all the ingredients on what is required to win - pitching, hitting, fielding, and experience. Manager Tom Kazanowski does a great job at retaining talent while also recruiting new players. Their lineup is rarely the same as maestro "Kaz" mixes in the new with the old but it doesn't affect their play, as the end result is often a victory.

Lincoln Tavern (4-4) - sitting in the middle of the pack is the three-time former champion. Although they lack the depth on the mound, they still have all the pieces to make another run at the title. Former MVP pitcher, Chris Boyd, is thrown back into the starter role and is one of the very best when he's on his game. Lincoln also features three of the league's very best at the top of their order - Dave Corcoran, Connor Gleason, and Taylor Ferguson (8 HR already!). Manager, Sean Gorman has added Frankie Reyes (.500) and Kevin Powers (.542), which are two more weapons that will make them even tougher in the playoffs. Folks, this squad is deeper than you think - take my word for it.

Fat Baby (8-1) - early season success has this mid-pack squad on top in the standings. The number one reason for the turnaround is the addition of pitcher, Jimmy Pinkston. Pinkston comes over from the (folded) Simpson Club and has been dominate on the mound (6-1, 3.33 ERA). Sluggers Josh Rivera (.714) and Sam MacDonald (.524) have given them a boost at the plate but unlike the two teams mentioned above, Fat Baby still isn't as deep offensively and will rely heavily on Pinkston and his arm to carry them.

Telegraph Hill (5-2) - always a favorite at this address as they have consistently fielded competitive teams while also being outstanding league citizens. They are fundamentally sound in the field, have a steady pitcher in Mike Araujo, and can hit with the best of them. However, they lack power at the plate and when the games get tight it's usually the difference in the outcome. As of this writing, they have 4 total homeruns...Lincoln and Clock Tavern have hit 17 HR's each. In my view, that's just too much ground to make up in the field and on the mound.

Loco Stew Jays (3-4) - early season rainouts has this team playing catch up here in the early going but they are just hitting their stride. This is a very talented team that might be a player or two away from seriously competing for the championship. Pitcher, Brian Pacheco, is solid on the mound and will give them a chance to win every game.

Sam Adams (3-7) - perhaps playing in a division that is a bit out of their reach at the moment, we have to applaud this team for wanting to be placed here. They did have an option and the record isn't great at the moment but they have shown resilience and it paid off with a win over Fat Baby, who was undefeated at the time. John Rumney (.500) leads this group and is doing everything in his power to keep them competitive. Maybe a full season of competing against the league's best will strengthen this group into contenders - only time will tell.

Publico (3-5) - champions in the Feeney division and owners of the most league wins over the last four seasons, this team now finds itself at the bottom looking up. Paul Iasiello took over the reigns from Chris Peris and has faced some serious roster challenges. Specifically on the mound as their ace pitcher, Alberto Vasquez, has yet to throw a pitch. If things don't turnaround quickly, then this is going to be a season to forget for this club.

In the next article, we'll review the fourteen-team race going on in the Feeney division. M Street games are played Monday through Friday starting at 6pm, 730, & 9pm. Grab a cold drink and head to the park to catch the action. Keep swinging!