St. Johns Saints Baseball

DAD, YOU WERE ALWAYS MORE THAN A FATHER, YOU WERE AN INSPIRATION, A LOVING EAR, A CRITICAL VOICE, A FRIEND, A MENTOR, AND A HERO.  REST IN PEACE POPS; BECAUSE LIKE IN THE MOVIE; FIELD OF DREAMS, YOUR HEAVEN IS A BASEBALL DIAMOND.                      

MOM, YOU WERE MY GREATEST CHEERLEADER, ALWAYS ASKING ABOUT US AND GIVING US UNQUESTIONED SUPPORT.  NOW, YOU'RE WITH DAD.  WE WILL MISS THAT FIRST CALL AFTER EVERY GAME, BUT WILL NEVER FORGET ALL THE LOVE, KINDNESS AND SUPPORT.  THANKS FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF BOB MEYER; A BROTHER, A FATHER, A FRIEND.  YOU ARE MISSED TODAY AND EVERYDAY AS OUR PHYSICAL WORLD IS NOT THE SAME WITHOUT YOU.

WE LOST A PART OF OUR FAMILY TONIGHT, AS SATCH'S MOM LOST HER BATTLE WITH CANCER.  SHE IS IN ALL OF OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. ARLENE WILL REMAIN WITH US IN OUR MINDS AND HEARTS. MAY SHE REST IN PEACE; A SAINT FOREVER. 

RK....THE SAINTS LOST ONE OF OUR BIGGEST SUPPORTERS WITH THE LOSS OF RICKY KRIST'S FATHER.  WE ALL HAVE STRONG, LASTING MEMORIES OF RK BEING AT OUR GAMES FROM LEECH FARM TO BATTLE CREEK. HE WAS ALWAYS THERE AND WILLING TO GIVE US A SWIFT KICK IN THE ASS WHEN THINGS WENT WRONG.  OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO RICK AND HIS SISTER AND THEIR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES. RK WILL CERTAINLY BE MISSED.  RIP 

MYRTLE BEACH TOURNAMENT

ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S HAS ADDED ANOTHER AFFILIATION BY JOINING THE US ADULT BASEBALL LEAGUE.  MEMBERSHIP IN THIS GROUP DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH OUR NABF STATUS AND OPENS AVENUES TO PRE AND POST SEASON TOURNAMENTS.  WITH THAT IN MIND, THE SAINTS ARE LOOKING INTO A 25+ TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER IN MYRTLE BEACH. THE 25 AND UP CLASSIFICATION WILL ELIMINATE SOME OF OUR YOUNGER GUYS, BUT OPENS AVENUES TO SOME OTHERS.  MORE DETAILS WILL BE FORTHCOMING AS THINGS ARE FINALIZED.  IF ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONTACT ME. 

DISAPPOINTMENT REIGNS AS THE SAINTS FAIL TO RETURN TO BATTLE CREEK.

IN 2013, THE NABF WORLD SERIES WAS AWARDED TO BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.  THE 2012 RUNNER-UP, ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S TEAM RETURNED AND BROUGHT BACK THEIR FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.  ANOTHER RUNNER-UP FINISH OCCURRED IN 2014; FOLLOWED BY A QUARTER FINAL EXIT LAST SEASON.  THE BRIGHT HOPES FOR 2016 WERE DASHED AS THE SAINTS FELL IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES TO THE CLEVELAND BLACKWOLVES.

THE SAINTS PLAYED AS POORLY AS THE WEATHER. IN THE RAIN DELAYED OPENING ROUND, THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S SECURED AN 8-4 WIN, WHICH WAS ACHIEVED WITH A 6 RUN FINAL INNING RALLY.  GAME 2, WAS AN EMBARASSING 2-0 LOSS THAT BEGAN ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND FINISHED SUNDAY MORNING. THE SAINTS COULD ONLY MUSTER 3 HITS OFF A PITCHER THEY HAD HAD GREAT SUCCESS AGAINST DURING THE REGULAR SEASON.   

SAINT JOHNS-LEFTY'S WIN ANOTHER FEDERATION LEAGUE TITLE.

LAST SEASON, DUE TO WEATHER, THE FEDERATION LEAGUE ELIMINATED THE ANNUAL PLAYOFF TOURNAMENT USED TO DETERMINE THE LEAGUE CHAMPION, AND BELLEVUE BECAME THE LEAGUE CHAMPION DUE TO ITS REGULAR SEASON FIRST PLACE FINISH.  THIS SEASON, THE PLAYOFFS WERE ELIMINATED BECAUSE WE HAD ONLY A 4 TEAM LEAGUE.  SO, THE FIRST OF THE ANNUAL GOALS WAS TO WIN THE REGULAR SEASON.  THE SAINTS PROCEDED TO LOSE ONLY A SINGLE GAME ON THE SEASON COMPILING A 15-1-2 LEAGUE MARK.

ANDY BLACKWELL RETIRES.

THE FIRST OF THE ACTIVE SAINTS IN THE NATIONAL HALL OF FAME HAS CALLED IT A CAREER. ANDY BLACKWELL PUT IN A LONG AND REWARDING FEDERATION LEAGUE CAREER INITIALLY WITH NORTH PITTSBURGH, AND THEN WITH THE SAINTS AFTER THE NORTH SIDERS FOLDED.  ANDY WAS A STAPLE IN  HELPING TO ANCHOR THE SAINTS OUTFIELD AND LINEUP.  TWO YEARS AGO, ANDY WAS CONTEMPLATING RETIREMENT; HOWEVER, HE CAUGHT FIRE AT THE END OF THE SEASON AND HELPED CATIPULT THE SAINTS TO THE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP AND A SECOND PLACE FINISH IN THE WORLD SERIES, WHERE HE WAS NAMED AN NABF ALL AMERICAN.  NAGGING INJURIES HAUNTED ANDY LAST SEASON, HOWEVER, HE DID HELP THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S RETURN ONCE MORE TO BATTLE CREEK.  ANDY CITED INCREASED DEMANDS OF FOLLOWING HIS DAUGHTER'S AAU BASKETBALL CAREER AND THE GENERAL BREAKDOWN OF HIS BODY; AS WELL AS THE OVERWHELMING DESIRE TO CATCH THE BIGGEST FISH IN THE AREA; AS THE REASONS BEHIND HIS DECISION.  AB WAS, IS, AND WILL ALWAYS BE A SAINT. 

SAINTS OPEN THE SEASON WITH 3 VICTORIES.

ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S HAS GOTTEN OFF TO A SIZZLING START.  THE SAINTS WHO WERE SMARTING FROM AN UNCHARACTERISTIC WORLD SERIES PERFORMANCE AND A DISAPPOINTING REGULAR FEDERATION LEAGUE SEASON; HAVE OPENED THE SEASON SWINGING THE BATS.  IN THEIR 3 VICTORIES THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S HAVE SCORED 43 RUNS; WHILE POUNDING OUT AN EQUAL NUMBER OF HITS. 

ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S PITCHER SIGNS AMERICAN ASSOCIATION CONTRACT.

ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S RIGHTHANDER, CHRISTIAN HERSTINE, AGREED TO A CONTRACT WITH THE GARY SOUTH SHORE RAILCATS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL.  CHRISTIAN, WHO JOINED THE SAINTS THIS SEASON AND APPEARED IN THE INITIAL WIN OF THE SEASON OVER OHIO VALLEY, HAD COMPLETED HIS SENIOR SEASON AT MARIETTA.  CHRISTIAN EARNED THE MIDWEST REGION PITCHER OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR 2016.  WE WISH CHRISTIAN ALL THE BEST. 

SANSONE DRAFTED IN ROUND 8.

JOHN SANSONE WHO PLAYED SHORTSTOP ON THE 2012 NATIONAL RUNNERS-UP BEFORE METRICULATING TO FLORIDA STATE, WAS SELECTED IN THE 8TH ROUND OF THE 2016 MLB DRAFT BY THE CINCINNATI REDS.  SONNY, WHO CAPTAIN'S THE SEMINOLE BASEBALL TEAM, IS CURRENTLY PREPARING TO FACE OFF WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN THE NCAA SUPER REGIONALS.  A VICTORY OVER THE GATORS WILL ENABLE FSU TO PLAY IN THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES IN OMAHA.  WE WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE JOHN, AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY ON BEING DRAFTED; AS WELL AS BEING CHOSEN AN ALL AMERICAN. SONNY REMINDED ME WHEN WE SPOKE THIS EVENING, THAT HE WILL ALWAYS BE A SAINT!  BEST OF LUCK THIS WEEKEND, IN OMAHA, AND WITH THE REDS; WE ARE PROUD OF YOU.

OPENING GAME WITH BELLEVUE, SUNDAY MAY 22ND, HAS BEEN CANCELLED BECAUSE OF RAIN AND POOR FIELD CONDITIONS.

2016 HALL OF FAME CLASS EXPANDS REGIONAL INDUCTEES. 

THE NATIONAL SEMI-PRO BASEBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS FOR 2016 HAS EXPANDED IN THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA REGION.  IN DOING SO, THIS REGIONAL CLASS WILL RECOGNIZE DESERVING SEMI-PRO CANDIDATES FROM INDIANA COUNTY.  AS IS ALWAYS THE CASE, WE WELCOME NOMINATIONS FROM THROUGHOUT THE REGION FOR CONSIDERATION.  

THE 2016 CLASS INCLUDES: TIM SZPANSKI--OF THE LAWRENCEVILLE TIGERS; MATT DESALVO--WHO HAS PITCHED FOR MANY TEAMS IN THE REGION, AS WELL AS MARIETTA COLLEGE AND THE NEW YORK YANKEES; DAN CUNNINGHAM--MANAGER AND LONG TIME COMMISSIONER OF THE BUTLER EAGLE COUNTY LEAGUE; JOHN BROWN--THE LATE, LONG TIME COMMISSONER OF THE GREATER PITTSBURGH FEDERATION LEAGUE; BRYAN LUCAS--FORMER PROFESSIONAL AND SEMI-PRO PITCHER FOR WEST MIFFLIN OF THE FEDERATION LEAGUE AND CLAIRTON OF THE DAILY NEWS LEAGUE; DANA WILLIAMS--EX-MAJOR LEAGUER WITH THE RED SOX AND OUTFIELDER FOR NORTH PITTSBURGH OF THE FEDERATION LEAGUE; CHRIS PETERS--EX-MAJOR LEAGUE PITCHER FOE PITTSBURGH AND OTHERS AND FORMERLY PITCHED FOR NORTH PITTSBURGH OF THE FEDERATION LEAGUE; BERNIE KLIS--MANAGER OF SOUTH SIDE AND EX-COMMISSIONER OF THE FEDERATION LEAGUE; GEORGE STRASBAUGH--PLAYER, MANAGER WITH SOUTH SIDE AND MT. LEBANON OF THE FEDERATION LEAGUE; CRAIG WHITE--OUTSTANDING SHORTSTOP FOR SOUTH HILLS OF THE FEDERATION LEAGUE; CLARKE WHITE--PLAYER WITH SOUTH HILLS AND ELLIOTT OF THE FEDERATION LEAGUE, MANAGER OF THE SOUTH HILLS SNAPPERS OF THE DAILY NEWS LEAGUE; LUKE KATICH--PITCHER/MANAGER OF BELLEVUE OF THE FEDERATION LEAGUE; DAVE FARINA--PITCHER FOR WEST MIFFLIN OF THE FEDERATION LEAGUE AND ITALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM; DOM FARINA--CATCHER FOR WEST MIFFLIN OF THE FEDERATION LEAGUE; MIKE BERTOLINO--LEGENDARY MANAGER OF WEST LEBANON OF THE INDIANA COUNTY LEAGUE; JOE PACCONI--MANAGER OF CREEKSIDE IN THE INDIANA COUNTY LEAGUE; TONY MORETTI--PLAYER/MANAGER OF CREEKSIDE OF THE INDIANA COUNTY LEAGUE; GARY WURM--PITCHER/INFIELDER, WEST LEBANON OF THE ICL; DAVE HOFF--PITCHER/FIRST BASEMAN, WEST LEBANON OF THE ICL; CHAD PUGH--CATCHER, WEST LEBANON OF ICL; J. T. YARD--INFIELDER FOR WEST LEBANON OF THE ICL; AND ERNIE PETERMAN--PITCHER/OUTFIELDER FOR WEST LEBANON OF THE ICL.  

AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF THESE GENTLEMEN, AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SEMI-PRO BASEBALL.

THE 2016 SCHEDULE IS FINALLY COMPLETE AND IS POSTED ON THE SCHEDULE PAGE, IT ONLY INCLUDES LEAGUE GAMES AT THIS MOMENT.

SAINTS 2016

AS ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S APPROACHES THE NEW SEASON, THERE ARE THE EXPECTED QUESTION MARKS THAT ARE ALWAYS EVIDENT.  SOME PLAYERS WILL NOT RETURN BECAUSE THEY ARE NO LONGER IN THE REGION. NEW PLAYERS WILL BE ADDED; WHILE SOME OLD FACES MIGHT RETURN.  ALL IN ALL, THE GOAL OF LEAGUE, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL SUCCESS REMAIN THE SAME.

IF YOU WERE A PART OF THE TEAM IN 2015 AND WILL NOT BE RETURNING, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.  I'D LIKE TO THANK DAN HUDECK AND FRANK VANCE FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE 2015 SAINTS. JOBS HAVE TAKEN BOTH GUYS OUT OF AREA AND THEY WILL NO LONGER BE A PLAYING PART OF THE TEAM. WE REMIND THEM OF THE TEAM MOTTO, "ONCE A SAINT ALWAYS A SAINT."

WE ANXIOUSLY AWAIT THE BIRTH OF BABY HERM, WHICH COULD HAPPEN AS EARLY AS MAY.  PERSONALLY, I NOW HAVE TWO RETIREMENT JOBS; BABYSITTING MY GRANDCHILD, BECKETT, AND USHERING AT THE CONSOL ENERGY CENTER; WHICH MEETS MY GOAL OF WATCHING ALL THE PENS GAMES.     

THE FEDERATION LEAGUE LIVES ON.......

DESPITE CONSISTENT RUMORS, THE GREATER PITTSBURGH FEDERATION LEAGUE WILL CONTINUE IN OPERATION FOR THE 2016 SEASON, HOWEVER, FAINT IT'S HEARTBEAT MAYBE. 

THE LEAGUE OFFICIALLY VOTED TO REVOKE THE FRANCHISES OF STEEL CITY AND MT. LEBANON AFTER THEY ABANDONED THE LEAGUE IN 2015.  THAT LEFT THE LEAGUE WITH THE 3 REMAINING FRANCHISES.  A NEW FRANCHISE WAS ADDED IN ROBINSON GIVING THE LEAGUE 4 TEAMS.  INCREASED EFFORTS WERE MADE TO SECURE ADDITIONAL FRANCHISES, BUT TO NO AVAIL FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON.  SO THE LEAGUE WILL OPERATE A REDUCED 18 GAME SEASON FOR THIS YEAR WITH THE HOPE OF SECURING FURTHER EXPANSION NEXT YEAR. 

DESPITE A GREAT SERIES START, THE SEASON ENDS IN A DISAPPOINTING FASHION.

A SEASON WHICH BEGAN WITH GREAT PROMISE; ENDED WITH EQUALLY GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT ON NICHOLS FIELD IN BATTLE CREEK AS THE SAINTS SUFFERED AN EMBARASSING 11-1 SPANKING AT THE HANDS OF BROOKLYN SPORTS FEVER.  I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK THOSE GUYS WHO MADE THE TRIP TO MICHIGAN AS WE ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE OUR RUN OF CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES. UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE TOO FEW IN NUMBER.

SO NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND REGROUP.  WE NEED TO RESTATE AND REEVALUATE THE NATURE OF THE WORD COMMITMENT.  HOLES HAVE BEEN CREATED ON THE CLUB BY INDIVIDUALS WHO NO LONGER MEET THE COMMITMENT THAT IS REQUIRED IF YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF OUR CLUB. PART OF THAT CONTAINS FACTORS WHICH THEY CAN'T CONTROL; LIKE JOBS. HOWEVER, I MUST DO A BETTER JOB OF IDENTIFYING THOSE INDIVIDUALS WE RECRUIT TO BE A PART OF THE TEAM.  SOME TIMES IT ISN'T THE MOST TALENTED OR HYPED PLAYER; BUT, RATHER THE MOST RELIABLE THAT HELPS GET US TO OUR GOALS.  THAT IS NOW MY JOB. THE JOB FOR OUR PLAYERS REMAINS THE SAME; PREPARING FOR EXCELLENCE. WE DO ASK THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS CLUB, THAT YOU CLEAR YOUR SUMMER SCHEDULE OF FAMILY AND WORK COMMITMENTS FOR THE LAST WEEKEND IN JULY AND FIRST WEEKEND IN AUGUST; THURSDAY THRU SUNDAY. THESE ARE THE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP DATES. WE WILL NEVER GO TO MICHIGAN AS SHORT-HANDED AS WE DID THIS YEAR, IT TOOK ALL THE FUN OUT OF IT.  DESPITE THE MASSIVE DISAPPOINTMENT, THE SAINTS STILL WERE RANKED 5TH IN THE FINAL POLL OF THE AMERICAN SEMI-PRO BASEBALL RANKINGS FOR 2015.

BATTLE CREEK  RUN-DOWN:

GAME 1...ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S--4   THERMAXX--0 

THE SERIES BEGAN FOR THE SAINTS ON THURSDAY AT NOON AGAINST THERMAXX OUT OF CONNECTICUT. AS IS ALWAYS THE CASE IN MICHIGAN, GAME 1 WAS THE GREG FREDERICK AND JIM PASQUINE SHOW.  FREDDY THREW 5 INNINGS OF 1 HIT BALL BEFORE THE SAINT BATS CAME TO LIFE.  IN THE 6TH, RICK KRIST AND ANDY BLACKWELL LEAD OFF WITH SINGLES.  AFTER A KEY SAC BUNT BY PICKUP, JONATHAN TASIS; PASQUINE LASHED A TRIPLE TO LEFT CENTER TO PLATE THE ONLY RUNS FREDDY AND THE SAINTS WOULD NEED ENROUTE TO A 4-0, 3-HIT MASTERPIECE BY FREDERICK.

GAME 2...ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S-4  DETRIOT JET BOX-2 

WE LAST PLAYED JET BOX IN LOUISVILLE IN '07, WHEN THEY BEAT US IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF OUR FIRST NABF TOURNAMENT.  A LOT OF WATER HAS RUN UNDER THE BRIDGE SINCE THEN, BUT BOTH TEAMS HAVE SEASONED VETS WHO REMEMBER THAT HOT SUNDAY IN KENTUCKY. JIM PASQUINE IS USUALLY OUR CLOSER, BUT THIS YEAR IN MICHIGAN, WE HAD TO ASK PAS TO START GAME 2 OF THE TOURNEY.  THAT WAS MORE THAN FINE FOR US AND HIM.  HE RESPONDED WITH A 9 INNING 6 HIT GEM. SAINT BATS, LED BY A 3 HIT EFFORT BY GREG STOKES, PROVIDED JUST ENOUGH TO PRODUCE THE MARGIN OF VICTORY. THURSDAY PROVED TO BE OUR LAST BIG DAY OF THE SEASON.

GAME 3...BROOKLYN SPORTS FEVER--9   ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S--5

OUR LACK OF PITCHING SHOWS UP.  WHEN MOST OF YOUR REGIONAL ARMS CAN'T MAKE IT, IT ALWAYS SHOWS UP IN A TOURNAMENT. AFTER OUR THURSDAY START, THE SAINTS WERE ASSURED OF GOING ON TO THE SATURDAY SINGLE ELIMINATION PHASE OF THE TOURNAMENT.  SO THE DECISION WAS MADE TO HOLD CORRY RYAN BACK FOR SATURDAY, BECAUSE WE KNEW WE'D GET THERE AND HE AND MATT LITZINGER, WHO WAS COMING UP, COULD GET US BACK TO FREDDY ON SUNDAY, SO WE TOOK THE FIELD AGAINST BROOKLYN WITHOUT ANY PITCHING. RICK KRIST DECIDED IT WOULD BE THROW BACK DAY FOR HIM, BACK TO HIS EARLY FED LEAGUE DAYS AND THE GLORY DAYS ON THE BUMP FOR CAL STATE. RICK SCATTERED 8 HITS OVER THE FIRST 5 1/3 INNINGS OF THE GAME BEFORE HIS ARM GAVE OUT.  DESPITE THOSE HITS, BROOKLYN FAILED TO SCORE IN THE THOSE FIRST 6 INNINGS AND THE SAINTS NURSED A 2-0 LEAD INTO THE THE 7TH.  HOWEVER, AFTER 2 QUICK OUTS, A DROPPED THROW AT FIRST EXTENDED BROOKLYN'S INNING. THE ERROR WAS FOLLOWED BY 5 CONSECUTIVE HITS; THE LAST OF WHICH WAS A 3 RUN JACK AND 6 UNEARNED RUNS LATER, THE SAINTS TRAILED 6-2.  SAINT RALLIES PLATED 2 IN THE 7TH AND ANOTHER IN THE 8TH.  HOWEVER, A PASSED BALL AND A COUPLE SEEING EYE SINGLES PRODUCED 3 MORE SPORTS FEVER RUNS IN THE 9TH TO PROVIDE THE FINAL MARGIN OF VICTORY.  DESPITE THE LOSS, THE SAINTS WERE CROWNED POOL CHAMPIONS AND WOULD TAKE ON THE FIRST WILD CARD TEAM SATURDAY AT 2....BROOKLYN!TO THE 7TH.  HOWEVER, AFTER 2 OUTS IN THE TOP OF

QUARTERFINALS...BROOKLYN SPORTS FEVER--11     ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S--1

IN A YEAR WHICH FEATURED SOME LOW POINTS IN RECENT ST. JOHNS HISTORY; THIS GAME THREW ANOTHER LOG ON THE FIRE.  THE SAINTS WERE HAPLESS AND HOPELESS AGAINST BROOKLYN.  SPORTS FEVER HIT EVERYTHING MATT LITZINGER THREW IN.  THEY NOT ONLY HIT IT, BUT, HIT IT HARD.  AFTER 2 INNINGS, THE SAINTS TRAILED 9-0 AND OF THE 6 OUTS LITZ AND CORRY RYAN GOT, 3 WERE SACRAFICES.  THEN AFTER GETTING 3 OUTS, CORRY TAKES A LINE DRIVE OF THE ANKLE, BREAKING IT.  FREDDY HAD TO COME IN OFF THE BENCH AND STOP THE MADNESS. WE WERE NEVER ABLE TO REPOND, AND THE SEASON ENDED QUIETLY.

OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO SAINTS GREG STOKES AND GREG FREDERICK WHO WERE BOTH CHOSEN TO THE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM, AND THUS, BECAME NABF ALL-AMERICANS.

WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE OR GOOD FRIEND PAUL WOLF AND HIS BATTISTONI DIESEL TEAM OUT OF BUFFALO FOR WINNING THEIR FIRST NATIONAL TITLE. 

 

IT IS WORLD SERIES TIME!!!!!!

THE SAINTS WILL OPEN THEIR QUEST FOR A SECOND NABF TITLE IN 3 YEARS ON THURSDAY AT NOON AGAINST THERMAXX OUT OF THE WEST HAVEN TWILIGHT LEAGUE.  THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S WILL THEN FACE OLD FOE, THE DETRIOT JET BOX AT 6 ON THURSDAY.  THE FINAL POOL GAME IS A FRIDAY REMATCH WITH BROOKLYN SPORTS FEVER AT 3:30. THE SAINTS ELIMINATED BROOKLYN IN LAST YEAR'S QUARTERFINAL ACTION. 

SAINTS RIDE WAVE OF REGIONAL SUCCESS TO BATTLE CREEK FOR WORLD SERIES.

ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S FLIPPED THE SWITCH AND WERE ABLE TO PUT A DISAPPOINTING REGULAR SEASON BEHIND THEM AND SWEPT THRU THE PITTSBURGH REGIONAL TO MAKE THEIR 4TH STRAIGHT WORLD SERIES APPEARANCE.  BEHIND THE COMPLETE GAME PERFORMANCES OF GREG FREDERICK, JOHN BACHMAN, AND MATT LITZINGER; THE SAINTS FACED THE LAKE ERIE BUCKEYES FOR THE REGIONAL TITLE.  THE TRIO OF RICKY RARAIGH, MATT BARNES, AND JIM PASQUINE HELD THE BUCKS AT BAY, WHILE THE SAINTS POUNDED OUT 17 HITS FOR THE VICTORY.  THE KEY BLOW WAS A 2-RUN HOMER BY EX-BUCKEYE DAN HUDECK, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BUCKS HAS CLOSED THE SCORE TO 6-4.  

THE CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY FOLLOWED A 13-1 PASTING OF REGULAR SEASON FEDERATION LEAGUE CHAMPION BELLEVUE IN THE QUARTERFINALS. THERE WAS NO FEDERATION LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS SEASON BECAUSE THE LEAGUE CHAMPION IS CROWNED FOLLOWING THE PLAYOFFS WHICH WERE CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER. STILL, BELLEVUE TRANSFORMED THEMSELVES AND HAD AN OUTSTANDING YEAR AND WE CONGRATULATE THEM ON THEIR REGULAR SEASON TITLE. 

THE SAINTS TO HOST THE LAKE ERIE BUCKEYES IN THE NABF PITTSBURGH REGIONAL FINAL AUGUST 2 AT BURKETT FIELD AT NOON.

 NABF REGIONALS--BURKETT FIELD--JULY 30 THRU AUGUST 2

THE NABF REGIONALS WILL BEGIN THIS THURSDAY AT 2 PM, WITH LEAGUE 3RD PLACE FINISHER OHIO VALLEY HOSTING THE WINKING LIZARDS FROM THE STRONGSVILLE, OHIO LEAGUE.  AT 5, ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S WILL PLAY THE WARREN CARDINALS FROM THE WARREN AA LEAGUE.  AT 8, TOP SEEDED BELLEVUE WILL TAKE ON THE LAKE ERIE BUCKEYES FROM THE CLEVELAND ADULT BASEBALL LEAGUE. ALL GAMES WILL BE PLAYED AT BURKETT FIELD AND THE DOUBLE ELIMINATION REGIONAL IS SCHEDULED TO CONCLUDE ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2ND WITH THE WINNER ADVANCING TO THE NABF WORLD SERIES IN BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN AUGUST 6TH THRU 9TH.

THE FED LEAGUE SEASON CONCLUDES.

I HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE GREATER PITTSBURGH FEDERATION LEAGUE FOR 42 YEARS.  I HAVE SEEN SO MANY PLAYERS AND TEAMS COME AND GO, BUT NOTHING IN ALL THOSE YEARS HAS EVER REACHED THE CURRENT SITUATION. UNFORTUNATELY, IF THINGS DON'T IMPROVE THE ACTIONS OF A FEW SELFISH INDIVIDUALS COULD SPELL THE END OF THE BEST SEMI PRO LEAGUE IN THE REGION.  BECAUSE OF THE INACTION OF MT. LEBANON AND STEEL CITY, FORFEITS BECAME THE STANDARD RATHER THAN WHAT WAS ALWAYS THE EXCEPTION.  WHAT IS EQUALLY TROUBLING IS THAT THESE TWO ORGANIZATIONS BENEFITTED FROM THE LEAGUE WIDE RAFFLE DESIGNED TO SECURE MONEY TO PAY UMPIRES, AND THEY CANCELLED MOST OF THEIR GAMES.  THEN, TO TOP IT OFF, THEY EACH HAVE TRIED TO BLAME THE LEAGUE FOR THEIR TROUBLES.  LIKE I SAID SELFISH PEOPLE DOING SELFISH THINGS.  BOTH OF THESE TEAMS ARE PULLING OUT OF THE LEAGUE, WHICH LEAVES ONLY 3 TEAMS LEFT FOR SURE.  UNLESS OTHER INTERESTING TEAMS JOIN, THE GREATER PITTSBURGH FEDERATION LEAGUE AND ITS LONG HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE WILL PASS AWAY.  I ONLY HOPE THAT OTHER LOCAL LEAGUE, THE DAILY NEWS LEAGUE AND THE BUTLER EAGLE COUNTY LEAGUE, WILL THINK TWICE BEFORE ADMITTING EITHER OF THESE TEAMS.

THE DYSFUNCTIONAL SAINTS MANEUVER THRU AN EQUALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL SEASON.

WEATHER, INJURIES, INCONSISTENT PLAY, AND ATTENDANCE HAVE PLAYED HAVOC WITH THE SAINTS SEASON.  AFTER A 7-1 START, THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S DROPPED A 3-2 GAME TO STEEL CITY.  THEN THE RAINS CAME AND AN OVER 2 WEEK SPAN WHERE NO GAMES WERE PLAYED.  THE LEAGUE TO TAKE THE UNPRECEDENT DECISION TO CANCEL THE PLAYOFFS SO THE REGULAR SEASON COULD BE MADE UP. UNFOERTUNATELY FOR THE SAINTS, OUR BATS AND ARMS REMAINED DORMANT FOLLOWING THE ENDS OF THE RAINS, AND DROPPED 3 STRAIGHT GAMES, FALLING OUT OF FIRST PLACE.  THE SHIP HAS BEEN RIGHTED AS THE SAINTS ENTER THE FINAL FULL WEEK OF THE SEASON WINNERS OF 4 OF OUR LAST 5. LOOKING AT 7 GAMES TO PLAY IN A 9 DAY SPAN, THE BOYS ARE STILL IN THE HUNT FOR 1ST.  THE SEASON RESUMES TOMORROW WITH A 4PM DOUBLEHEADER WITH MT. LEBANON AT AVONWORTH, A RARE CASE OF BEING ON THE ROAD AT HOME AS LEBO NEEDS FIELD TIME.

WEATHER PLAYS HAVOC WITH THE LAST WEEK AS SAINTS ISSMPROVE TO 7-2.

THE SAINTS WERE ONLY ABLE TO GET 3 GAMES IN LAST WEEK AND ONE OF THOSE WAS A FORFEIT AS THE RAINS PLAYED THE MAJOR ROLE IN THE WEEK'S SCHEDULE.  AFTER A SUNDAY VICTORY OVER BELLEVUE, THE RAINS CAME ON MONDAY.  DESPITE THE ELEMENTS, THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S SQUEEZED IN A GAME TUESDAY AGAINST STEEL CITY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SAINT BATS COULD NPOT PRODUCE THE KEY HIT AND THE SAINTS STRANDED DOUBLE DIGIT RUNNERS IN A 3-2 LOSS.  THEN, AS THE SAINTS PREPARED FOR A BOUNCE BACK GAME THURSDAY NIGHT, WORD CAME FROM THE LEBO COACH THAT THEY COULD NOT FIELD A TEAM FOR THAT NIGHT.  SO AFTER A LONG BATTING PRACTICE UNTIL 10, THE RAINS HIT AGAIN, WASHING OUT FRIDAY'S GAME WITH OHIO VALLEY AND SUNDAY'S CONTEST WITH STEEL CITY.

A LIMITED NUMBER OF GRAY OR KHAKI SAINTS BEACH/FISHERMAN'S BUCKET HATS REMAIN FTOR $10. PLAYERS NEED TO PICK UP THEIR 10 TICKETS FOR THE GUN RAFFLE, $10 EACH, WHICH WILL DEFRAY THE COSTS OF THE NEW SHIRTS AND PANTS.

OTHER NEW SAINTS ADD TO 5-1 START TO THE SEASON.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BECOME A TRADEMARK OF THE FRANCHISE HAS BEEN CONSITENCY.  THIS APPLIES GREATLY WHEN SPEAKING ABOUT OUR ROSTER. ALTHOUGH MANY OF THE ROSTER'S FAMILIAR FACES REMAIN, THERE HAVE BEEN THE USUAL TWEEKS TO THE ROSTER WHICH BRINGS NECESSARY DEPTH AND FILLING OF KEY HOLES. ALTHOUGH SOME ADDITIONS HAVE NOT MADE APPEARANCES; SUCH AS MARIETTA'S RYAN HANAHAN, RIGHTY JIMMY DEVINE, AND LEFTY JOEL MARTIN; OTHER NEWCOMERS HAVE MADE THEMSELVES WELCOME ON THE CLUB.  VETERAN RIGHTY MATT BARNES HAS MADE TWO RELIEF APPEARANCES, EARNING A KEY SAVE IN A RECENT 3-0 VICTORY OVER BELLEVUE.  FIRSTBASEMAN RICK DEVEREAUX IS WORKING BACK INTO BASEBALL CONDITION AFTER TAKING A YEAR OFF FOR WORK.  GREG SCHNEIDER HAS MADE HIS LONG ANTICIPATED SAINTS APPEARANCE, PRODUCING A 3-HIT NIGHT AGAINST BELLEVUE.  DAN HUDECK HAS DONE EVERYTHING EXPECTED OF HIM AS A KEY MIDDLE OF THE LINEUP PERFORMER.  KYLE LUCOT PROVIDES KEY DEPTH AND SPEED TO THE ROSTER.  BRANDON BERGSTROM HAS FIT INTO THE REVOLVING DOOR WHICH HAS BEEN THE SAINTS SS POSITION OVER THE YEARS.  BRANDON HAS BEEN EXCELLENT IN THE FIELD AND SOLID IN THE TWO-HOLE OF THE ORDER.

EVEN WITH THE NEW ADDITIONS, THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S STILL RELY ON THEIR STABLE OF ARMS AND VETERAN CORE TO GET THINGS DONE.  THE STAFF HAS PERFORMED MARVELOUSLY IN THE EARLY STRETCH; WITH A SINGLE HICCUP AGAINST OHIO VALLEY WHEN THE DEFENSE OFFERED LITTLE SUPPORT, LEADING TO 5 UNEARNED RUNS.  IN THE FIRST 6 GAMES, THE STAFF HAS CRAFTED 3 SHUTOUT EFFORTS.  RICK KRIST HAS RETURNED FROM LAST SEASON'S LEG INJURY TO AGAIN MAN LEFTFIELD. ANDY BLACKWELL'S RETIREMENT LASTED ALL OF 3 MONTHS, AS HE AGAIN ADDS SPEED AND DEPENDABILITY TO THE LINEUP.  IN LIMITED ACTION, RICH SATCHO HAS ALREADY PRODUCED 6 RBI.  CONSISTENCY CONTINUES TO HIGHLIGHT THE LINEUP.

AS THE ROSTER SOLIDIFIES THROUGHOUT THE MONTH, BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS ARE EXPECTED. 

NEW ADDITON TO THE ROSTER.....

 THE SAINTS WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME INFIELDER/CATCHER DAN HUDECK TO PITTSBURGH AND OUR ROSTER.  DAN PLAYS FOR THE LAKE ERIE BUCKEYES AND RECENTLY MOVED INTO OUR AREA AND WILL JOIN THE CLUB.  LIKE MANY OF THE SAINTS, DAN IS A SLIPPERY ROCK GRAD, WHO PLAYED THERE WITH THE CARDINAL'S MATT ADAMS. WELCOME TO THE CLUB HUDIE.                                   THERE ARE OTHER NEW MEMBERS, AND SOME FORMER SAINTS WHO WILL BE RETURNING IN 2015.

THE SAINTS WILL HOST THE LAKE ERIE BUCKEYES IN A DOUBLEHEADER, MAY 9TH.  DETAILS TO FOLLOW. 

SAINTS TO OPEN 2015 FEDERATION LEAGUE SEASON MAY 24TH.

THE ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S SAINTS WILL OPEN THE 2015 SEASON BY TACKLING THE NEWLY FORMED OHIO VALLEY TEAM ON MAY 24th AT 10 AM AT MOON PARK. OHIO VALLEY AND SOUTH HILLS JOINED TOGETHER FOR THIS SEASON.  THE SAINTS WILL PLAY EACH TEAM 6 TIMES IN THE EFFORT TO WIN THEIR 14TH LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP IN A ROW.  LAST SEASON, ST. JOHNS SAW THEIR REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP STREAK END BEFORE THEY SWEPT THE POST SEASON FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP.  

2o15 PITTSBURGH CONTINGENT SELECTED FOR THE NATIONAL SEMI PRO BASEBALL HALL OF FAME.

 The 2015 National Semi Pro Baseball Hall of Fame class will be formally inducted on Sunday, October 11th in Evansville, Indiana.  A very distinguished, and deserving group of 24 Pittsburghers will be added to this growing Hall representing Semi Pro baseball.

H.A. "BEGGS" SNYDER, LEO MACKEY, BILLY FUCHS, SYLVESTER "BUZZ" GARLICH, NORM FRY, JACK BRICK, THOMAS "PIDGE" McCARTHY, WILLIAM "SCRAPPY" ALLEN, ELMER "DUTCH" GRAY, BILLY CARNEGIE, TERRY BETHUNE, ART HOWE, KEN MACHA, TIM CONROY, BILL DEVINE, PAUL WESTWOOD, BILL HERSCHMAN, BLAIR LOVE, LOU MURACO, DAVID LEE JR, DANA WILLIAMS, JOHN STUPER, LOU ABEL, AND CURTIS LESKANIC.

Congratulations to this outstanding group and welcome to the National Semi Pro Baseball Hall of Fame. 

 

NUMEROUS SAINTS AMONG THOSE INDUCED AT THE NATIONAL SEMI-PRO HALL OF FAME INDUCTION BANQUET.

 ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REPRESENTED AT THE FIRST ANNUAL NATIONAL SEMI-PRO INDUCTION BANQUET.  ALTHOUGH, I WAS PUT IN THE HALL LAST YEAR, THE OFFICIAL INDUCTION TOOK PLACE NOVEMBER 29TH IN EVANSVILLE, INDIANA. JIM JASKOWSKI, GREG STOKES, RICH SATCHO, AND ANDY BLACKWELL; ALL WERE IN ATTENDANCE AND WERE OFFICIALLY ENSHIRENED.  RICK KRIST, NATE THIMONS, TODD SCHIFFHAUER, ROB FESTER, AND THE LATE CHUCK DeJOHN WERE ALSO INDUCTED; HOWEVER, NEITHER THEY NOR MEMBERS OF CHUCK'S FAMILY WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND. ALSO ATTENDING AND INDUCTED, WERE FEDERATION LEGEND BOB STOTSKY, FORMER SOUTH SIDE AND NORTH PITTSBURGH CATCHER AND COLORADO ROCKIES SCOUT ED SANTA, EX-NORTH PITTSBURGH CATCHER AND MANAGER JOE SCOTT, AND FORMER NORTH PITTSBURGH MANAGER LOU SHAPER.  A SPECIAL INDUCTION WAS GIVEN TO LOU'S WIFE, BARBARA FOR HER SERVICE TO SEMI-PRO BASEBALL. OTHERS WHO WERE INDUCTED, BUT UNABLE TO ATTEND, INCLUDED MONROEVILLE MAULER LEGEND JOHN MAZUR, THE GREAT JOE DELSARDO OF 20TH WARD, LONG TIME 20TH WARD MANAGER PHIL BICKEL, BELLEVUE MANAGER AND FORMER COMMISSIONER, THE LATE PAUL PAULSON, AND OUR CURRENT COMMISSIONER, PATTY PAULSON.  DESPITE ALL EFFORTS, WE COULD NOT REACH DREW MALAGISE OF NORTH PITTSBURGH TO INFORM HIM OF HIS SELECTION.  

SPECIAL RECOGNITION GOES OUT TO TIM TURPIN FOR ALL HIS EFFORTS IN LAUNCHING THIS HALL OF FAME AND THE BANQUET.  I WILL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH TIM IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD TO HELP MAKE THIS DREAM A REALITY, AND FOR NEXT YEARS INDUCTION CLASS.  ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE CONSIDERED FOR INDUCTION SHOULD CONTACT ME.  

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK LOU SHAPER FOR HIS RECOGNITION THAT "ST. JOHNS HAS DONE OK SINCE 2000", AND ALL THOSE KIND PERSONAL WORDS ABOUT ME YOU SHARED WITH MY GUYS, THEY MEAN SO MUCH. 

GOOD BYE DEAR FRIEND.......

ON MONDAY, AUGUST 18, WE SAID GOOD BYE TO PIRATE SCOUT, AND A GREAT FRIEND OF MOM AND DAD; THE LEGENDARY ELMER GRAY.  ANYONE WHO KNEW MR. GRAY, I COULD NEVER BRING MYSELF TO CALL HIM ELMER, QUICKLY CAME TO REALIZE THE TYPE OF INDIVIDUAL HE WAS.  AS A SCOUT FOR THE REDS, HE SIGNED A GOOD FRIEND FROM MY THIEL TEAM, LYNN JONES, WHO PLAYED FOR BOTH THE REDS AND ROYALS AND HAD OTHER BIG LEAGUE COACHING STINTS. MOSTLY, ELMER AND HIS WIFE, BUTCH, WHO PASSED IN'97, WERE JUST AS GOOD AS ANYONE YOU MIGHT KNOW.  I KNOW THAT YOU, DAD, AND SCRAPPY ARE NOW DISCUSSING SOME BALLGAME IN HEAVEN.

A SAD DAY.

LAST SUNDAY IN BATTLE CREEK PRODUCED ONE OF THE SADDEST DAYS IN RECENT SAINTS HISTORY, AND IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FAILURE TO REPEAT AS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.

ANDY BLACKWELL PLAYED HIS FINAL GAME AS A SAINT.  ANDY HAS BEEN A QUIET LEADER OF THIS CLUB SINCE HE JOINED US.  HE HELPED TO CARRY US DOWN THE STRETCH THROUGH THIS YEAR'S PLAYOFFS AND INTO BATTLE CREEK.  FITTINGLY, ANDY WAS NAMED TO THE NABF WORLD SERIES ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM.

WE SHALL ATTEMPT TO TALK AB OUT OF IT, BUT HE WILL CARRY OUR SLOGAN WITH HIM.

"ONCE A SAINT, ALWAYS A SAINT!" 

GREG STOKES AND ANDY BLACKWELL ARE ADDED TO NASPBA HALL OF FAME FOR 2014.

TWO ADDITIONAL SAINTS WERE LATE ADDITIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2014 FOR THE NASPBA HALL OF FAME. GREG STOKES AND ANDY BLACKWELL WILL JOIN CURRENT SAINT TEAMMATES; RICK KRIST, JIM JASKOWSKI, RICK SATCHO, AND NATE THIMONS. ALSO, SAINT'S LEGEND TODD SCHIFFHAUER WILL BE INDUCTED INTO THE EVANSVILLE BASED HALL IN LATE NOVEMBER. 

ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S NABF RUNNER-UP.

FOR THE 3RD YEAR IN A ROW, YOUR ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S SAINTS HAVE MADE IT TO THE NABF FINALS. HOWEVER, THEIR QUEST TO REPEAT FELL SHORT, AS THE SAINTS LOST TO THE STRATFORD STORM, 4-0.

FIVE SAINTS WERE CHOSEN FOR THE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM; GREG FREDERICK-P, JIM PASQUINE-P & 3RD BASEMAN, RONNIE BERNICK-SS, ANDREW HECK-OF, AND ANDY BLACKWELL-OF.

GAME 1---SAINTS--5                 HBC-BEHNKE--0

GREG FREDERICK OPENED THE TOURNAMENT WITH A 3-HIT, 11 STRIKEOUT SHUTOUT.  JIM PASQUINE PROVIDED THE BIG HIT WITH A BASES LOADED, 3 RUN TRIPLE IN THE 7TH INNING.  NATE THIMONS, WHO FOLLOWED PASQUINE'S TRIPLE WITH AN RBI SINGLE, HAD THE ONLY MULTI-HIT GAME.  

GAME 2---SAINTS--3              BRUNSWICK ORIOLES--12

IN GOLF, THEY CALL IT A MULLIGAN; IF SO, THE BRUNSWICK GAME WAS OUR MULLIGAN.  THE SAINTS COMPLETED THEIR WORST GAME OF THE YEAR, BY ALLOWING 12 RUNS, 14 HITS, 7 WALKS AND 5 HIT BATSMEN.  THE ORIOLES BROKE OPEN A 4-3 GAME IN THE 4TH AND NEVER LOOKED BACK.  THE SAINTS, WHO HAD 12 HITS OF THEIR OWN, WERE LED BY JIM PASQUINE WITH 3, WHILE NATE THIMONS, GREG STOKES, AND ANDY BLACKWELL, EACH HAD A PAIR.

GAME 3---SAINTS--17            CINCINNATI CHIEFS--4

SOMEBODY HAD TO PAY FOR THE POOR SHOWING AGAINST BRUNSWICK.  UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS OUR FRIENDS FROM CINCINNATI.  THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S PLATED 13 RUNS IN THE FIRST 3 INNINGS AND COASTED TO A 17-4 VICTORY.  RICKY RARAIGH MATCHED GREG FREDERICK BY TOSSING A 3 HITTER, AND STRIKING OUT 7.  jIM PASQUINE WENT 4 FOR 4, WITH 2 WALKS; WHILE ERIC MORRISON WAS 4 FOR 5.  ANDREW HECK AND MIKE HERMANN CONTRIBUTED 2 HITS APIECE TO THE SAINT'S 19 HIT ATTACK.  JIM JASKOWSKI HAD 3 RBI, AND HECK, PASQUINE, THIMONS, HERMANN, AND MORRISON EACH HAD 2. AS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT, GREG FREDERICK KNOCKED IN THE 17TH AND FINAL RUN, WITH HIS 8TH INNING PINCH HIT SINGLE.

GAME 4--- SAINTS--12       BROOKLYN SPORTS FEVER--2

THE SERIES MOVED ON FROM POOL PLAY INTO THE SINGLE ELIMINATION PHASE OF THE TOURNAMENT. AS POOL A RUNNER-UP, THE SAINTS TOOK ON  THE POOL C RUNNER'S UP FROM BROOKLYN SPORTS FEVER.  IN A GAME SIMILAR TO THE CHIEF'S GAME, ST. JOHNS STRUCK FOR 12 RUNS OVER THE FIRST 4 INNINGS AND CRUISED TO THE 7 INNING RUN RULE VICTORY.  BRIAN WARHEIT SCATTERED 8 HITS IN HIS COMPLETE GAME VICTORY.  ANDREW HECK WAS 3 FOR 3 WITH 2 WALKS, AND 4 RBI.  RONNIE BERNICK WAS ALSO 3 FOR 3.  ERIC MORRISON AND NATE THIMONS CONTRIBUTED 2 HITS APIECE.  THIMONS ALSO HAD 3 RBI.

GAME 5---SAINTS--5              STEEL CITY BLACK SOX--4

THE TWO FEDERATION LEAGUE "RIVALS" TRAVELED TO BATTLE CREEK AND PRODUCED THE UNQUESTIONED BEST GAME OF THE TOURNAMENT. THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S CONTINUED THEIR SERIES DOMINATION, WITH A 12 INNING 5-4 VICTORY OVER THE BLACK SOX.  JOE AUL FLARED A SINGLE OVER A DRAWN IN SC INFIELD WITH 1 OUT IN THE 12TH.  JIM PASQUINE ENTERED THE GAME IN THE 7TH INNING AND GAVE UP ONLY 3 HITS OVER THE FINAL 6 INNINGS; WHILE FANNING 5. ANDREW HECK JOINED JOE AUL WITH 3 HITS ON THE NIGHT; WHILE MIKE HERMANN HAD 2; INCLUDING THE KEY HIT WHICH OPENED THE BOTTOM OF THE 12TH.

GAME 6---SAINTS--0                STRATFORD STORM--4

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

DID THE EMOTION OF THE STEEL CITY GAME DRAIN THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S?  WHO KNOWS?  IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPEAT; AND WE FAILED TO MEET THE CHALLENGE.  MUCH CREDIT NEEDS TO GO TO STRATFORD AND THEIR PITCHER.  EVEN THOUGH EACH TEAM HAD 6 HITS; THE STORM USED STOLEN BASES AND PINPOINT EXECUTION TO GARNER THEIR TITLE. 

SAINTS JOINED BY STEEL CITY IN NABF WORLD SERIES.

THE STEEL CITY BLACK SOX DEFEATED THE CLEVELAND BLACK WOLVES IN 10 INNINGS TO WIN THE NABF PITTSBURGH REGIONAL.  WITH THIS VICTORY, STEEL CITY WILL JOIN YOUR SAINTS IN BATTLE CREEK, MI FOR THE NABF WORLD SERIES, AUGUST 13 THRU 17. 

 NINTH STRAIGHT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP GRABBED BY THE SAINTS AS THEY SWEEP THE POST-SEASON.

YOUR SAINTS DID WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING SINCE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY; THAT IS COMING UP BIG IN THE PLAYOFFS.  FOR THE 13TH TIME IN THE LAST 15 YEARS, AND 9 CONSECUTIVE SEASONS, ST. JOHNS IS THE FEDERATION LEAGUE CHAMPION .

THIS YEARS VERSION STARTED WITH A PAIR OF 5-4 VICTORIES OVER BELLEVUE. SPARKED BY TWO STRONG STARTS BY GREG FREDERICK AND JOHN BACHMAN; AND CLUTCH RELIEF OUTINGS FROM JIM PASQUINE AND NATE ANTONE, THE SAINTS SWEPT THE ANGELS FROM THE PLAYOFFS.

THE FINALS SAW THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S PLAYING THE HIGH FLYING BLACK SOX FROM STEEL CITY.  STEEL CITY HAD SECURED THE REGULAR SEASON TITLE AND TOP PLAYOFF SEED; DESPITE LOSING 3 OF 4 FROM THE SAINTS DURING THE SAINTS INCONSISTENT REGULAR SEASON.  HOWEVER, THE REGULAR SEASON PROVED TO BE FAIRLY ACCURATE AS THE SAINTS CONTINUED THEIR MASTERY OF THE BLACK SOX BY SWEEPING THEM BY THE SCORES OF 9-2, 5-2, AND 11-4.

THE BLACK SOX AND BELLEVUE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE NABF PITTSBURGH REGIONAL ON AUGUST 7TH. THE SAINTS; BY VIRTURE OF THEIR NABF CHAMPIONSHIP, MOVE DIRECTLY TO THE NATIONAL WORLD SERIES AUGUST 13TH IN BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN. 

REGULAR SEASON STREAK COMES TO AN END.

THE SAINTS FINISHED THE REGULAR SEASON WITH A CONVINCING 11-2 VICTORY OF REGULAR SEASON CHAMPION, STEEL CITY.  HOWEVER, A LATE SEASON LOST TO OHIO VALLEY AND A TIE WITH SOUTH HILLS; AS WELL AS GAMES AGAINST MT. LEBANON AND BELLEVUE THAT WERE NOT RESCHEDULED; PUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP OUT OF REACH.

THE PLAYOFFS WERE SCHEDULED WITH TOP SEEDED STEEL CITY HOSTING 4TH SEEDED SOUTH HILLS.  THE SAINTS WILL PLAY HOST TO 3RD SEEDED BELLEVUE. THE FIRST ROUND SERIES ARE BEST OF 3; WITH THE FINALS BEING BEST OF 5.  

 ACHILLES HEEL PUTS CONSECUTIVE STREAK IN JEOPARDY.

THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S HAVE FASHIONED OUR YEARS OF WINNING WITH STRONG PITCHING AND AN OPPORTUNISTIC OFFENSE.  DEFENSE BEHIND THAT STRONG PITCHING AT TIMES HAS BEEN QUESTIONABLE.  USUALLY, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OVERCOME IT.  THIS SEASON, HAS PROVED TO BE AN EXCEPTION.  EARLY IN THE SEASON, THE SAINTS DROPPED AN 8-7 DECISION TO ALLEGHENY VALLEY, AS THE BUCS PLATED 3 UNEARNED RUNS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE LAST INNING.  THIS WEEK, WE SAW UNEARNED RUNS COST THE SAINTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN GAMES AGAINST BELLEVUE AND STEEL CITY.  AN 8TH INNING THROWING ERROR, LED TO BELLEVUE SCORING THE GO AHEAD RUN IN A 3-2 ANGEL VICTORY.  THEN A 1ST INNING, 2-0UT THROWING ERROR PERMITTED STEEL CITY TO PLATE 2 RUNS; AS THE BLACK SOX HUNG ON TO A 3-2 VICTORY TO GAIN A CRITICAL SPLIT IN OUR DOUBLEHEADER.

THE SAINTS CURRENTLY HAVE A LEAGUE RECORD OF 14-4-1, WITH 5 GAMES REMAINING.  STEEL CITY HAS ONLY LOST 3 GAMES AND THE SAINTS AND BLACK SOX HAVE ONLY 1 REMAINING GAME.  WE NOW NEED SOMEONE TO TIE OR BEAT STEEL CITY AND WE SWEEP OUT THE SEASON TO MAINTAIN THE REGULAR SEASON STREAK.  IT SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING FINAL 2 WEEKS OF THE REGULAR SEASON. 

SEASON OPENS IN A SPOTTY FASHION.

LIFE HAS BEEN VERY HECTIC WITH MY TEACHING RETIREMENT AND THE SEASON OVERLAPPING; I'M SORRY THE WEBSITE HAS SUFFERED.  I WILL DO A BRIEF RECAP TO OUR 8-2-1 START TO THE SEASON. WE HAVE YET TO PLAY AS GOODAS WE CAN, NOR HAVE WE PLAYED A GAME WITH A FULL LINE-UP.  A LEG INJURY HAS REMOVED PLAYER/COACH RICK KRIST MOST LIKELY FOR THE SEASON.  INFIELDER DERRIK ZEROSKI HAS BEEN OUT FOR OVER TWO WEEKS WITH A HIGH ANKLE SPRAIN.  STILL, WE HAVE TO ELIMINATE THOSE ERRORS IN ALL PHASES OF OUR GAME WHICH COST US IN OUR 3 ROAD BUMPS.  WE MUST MAINTAIN CURRENT FOCUS AND NOT FIND OURSELVES LOOKING FORWARD TO AUGUST AND BATTLE CREEK.  INDIVIDUAL GAME SCORES AND STATISTICS ARE LOCATED ON THOSE PAGES.

CONGRATULATIONS NATE.....

We would like to take a moment to recognize Nate Thimons. Not only was Nate selected to enter into the National Semi Pro Hall of Fame in late November; but we have received word that he will honored with admission to the Slippery Rock University Hall of Fame on September 6 and was also selected for the Bethel Park High School Hall of Fame on December 19th.  Congratulations Big Dog; to Jen and the girls and Mom and Dad; there is no one who is more desereving of these honors. 

WITH THE ILLNESS AND PASSING OF MY MOTHER, I HAVE NEGLECTED ADDING HOLIDAY AND NEW YEARS GREETINGS AND SOME OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS; HOPEFULLY; WE CAN CATCH UP.

SIX CURRENT SAINTS, TWO EX-PLAYERS, AND AN EX-COACH ARE AMONGST THE 17 LOCALS CHOSEN TO ENTER THE NASPBA HALL OF FAME FOR 2014.

CURRENT SAINTS RICK KRIST, JIM JASKOWSKI, NATE THIMONS,ANDY BLACKWELL, GREG STOKES, AND RICK SATCHO; ALONG WITH FORMER SAINT PITCHERS TODD SCHIFFHAUER AND ROB FESTER; AND EX-SAINT COACH AND WEST PITTSBURGH MANAGER CHUCK DEJOHN WERE SELECTED TO THE 2014 CLASS OF THE NATIONAL AMERICAN SEMI-PRO BASEBALL ASSOCIATION AS ANNOUNCED BY HALL DIRECTOR TIM TURPIN.  THEY  WILL JOIN 2013 INDUCTEE TOM McCARTHY AT THEIR INDUCTION CEREMONY NEXT NOVEMBER IN EVANSVILLE, INDIANA. THE HALL IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND WILL BE DEDICATED THEN.  IN ADDITION TO THESE SEVEN WITH TIES TO ST. JOHNS; 8 OTHER LOCALS WERE HONORED FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN SUPPORT OF SEMI-PRO BASEBALL.  THE COMPLETE LIST OF AREA INDUCTEES FOLLOWS.

 RICK KRIST--SPONSOR, ASS'T. COACH, PLAYER--ST. JOHNS, JIM JASKOWSKI--PITCHER, DESIGNATED HITTER--MT. LEBANON, AND ST. JOHNS, NATE THIMONS--FIRST BASE/OUTFIELD--MT. LEBANON, NORTH PITTSBURGH, AND ST. JOHNS, ANDY BLACKWELL--OUTFIELD--NORTH PITTSBURGH, AND ST. JOHNS, GREG STOKES--INFIELD/OUTFIELD--GREENTREE, AND ST. JOHNS, RICK SATCHO--CATCHER--BELLEVUE, NORTH PITTSBURGH, AND ST. JOHNS, TODD SCHIFFHAUER--PITCHER/INFIELD-NORTH PITTSBURGH, AND ST. JOHNS,ROB FESTER--PITCHER--BANKSVILLE, WEST PITTSBURGH, NORTH PITTSBURGH, ST. JOHNS, AND MARS OF THE BUTLER EAGLE COUNTY LEAGUE, CHUCK DE JOHN--(DECEASED)--MANAGER, WEST PITTSBURGH, AND COACH, ST. JOHNS, PHIL BICKEL--MANAGER, 20TH. WARD, FEDERATION LEAGUE, JOE DEL SARDO--OUTFIELDER--20TH. WARD, BOB STOSKY--OUTFIELDER--20TH. WARD, AND WEST PITTSBURGH, JOHN MAZUR--CATCHER--MONROEVILLE, FEDERATION LEAGUE, LOU SHAPER--MANAGER--NORTH PITTSBURGH, FEDERATION LEAGUE, DREW MALAGISE--THIRD BASEMAN--NORTH PITTSBURGH, PAUL PAULSEN--(DECEASED)--MANAGER, BELLEVUE, FEDERATION LEAGUE, AND COMMISSIONER, FEDERATION LEAGUE, AND, PATTY PAULSEN--COMMISSIONER, FEDERATION LEAGUE 

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL NEW INDUCTEES. 

SAINTS CAPTURE 2013 NABF NATIONAL TITLE

BY GOING 6-0 AT THE WORLD SERIES IN BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, YOUR BOYS FROM LEFTY'S CAPTURE THEIR FIRST NATIONAL TITLE IN 3 TRIES. PITCHER GREG FREDERICK AND THIRD BASEMAN JIM PASQUINE WERE NAMED CO-MVP'S OF THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT. PASQUINE ALSO WON THE SILVER SLUGGER AWARD AS THE TOURNAMENT'S TOP HITTER.  PAS AND FREDDY WERE JOINED ON THE ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM BY FIRST BASEMAN NATE THIMONS AND DESIGNATED HITTER JIM JASKOWSKI.

THIS MARKED THE THIRD TIME IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS THAT THE SAINTS PLAYED IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.  THEY ARE THE ONLY TEAM IN THAT PERIOD TO ACCOMPLISH THAT ACHIEVEMENT.

TOURNAMENT RE-CAP:

GAME 1---SAINTS 3   CHICAGO CLOUT 0

THE SAINTS FOUND THEMSELVES IN THE SAME POOL AS THE CLOUT TEAM WHICH HAD DEFEATED THEM FOR THE NATIONAL TITLE LAST SEASON, IN ADDITION, THEY WOULD BE OPENING THE TOURNAMENT WITH THE CHICAGO CLUB. THIS YEAR WOULD BE DIFFERENT.

GREG FREDERICK WAS MASTERFUL SCATTERING 4 SINGLES ACROSS THE FIRST 5 INNINGS AND THEN HOLDING THE WINDY CITY CLUB HITLESS OVER THE FINAL 4 INNINGS.  THE SAINTS COULD MUSTER ONLY 7 HITS, BUT COMBINED 2 OF THOSE HITS AND 3 WALKS TO PLATE 3 RUNS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 5TH. JIM PASQUINE WOULD GO 2 FOR 4 AND KNOCK IN 2 OF THE SAINT RUNS.

GAME 2---SAINTS 12  BATTLE CREEK MERCHANTS  0

RICKY RARAIGH TOOK THE BUMP AGAINST THE SECOND PLACE TEAM FROM BATTLE CREEK. RICK WAS EQUALLY AS GOOD AS FREDDY HAD BEEN.  HE HELD THE MERCHANTS TO JUST 4 HITS; WHILE FANNING 10.

THE SAINT OFFENSE STARTED SLOW; BUT EXPLODED FOR 5 IN THE THIRD.  MIKE HERMANN WENT 4 FOR 4, WHILE JIM PASQUINE WAS 3 FOR 3. NATE THIMONS CLUBBED A MERCY RULE ENDING GRAND SLAM; WHICH COMPLETED THE SCORING.  ON THE DAY, NATE DROVE IN 6 RUNS; WHILE HERMANN AND ERIC MORRISON CHIPPED IN WITH 2 EACH.

GAME 3--- SAINTS 14        BAY BROOK REMODELERS  4 

THE REMODELERS WERE A SURPRISING 2-0 AFTER UPSETTING CHICAGO AND WERE LOOKING TO CAPTURE POOL B WITH A WIN; THE SAINTS HOWEVER, HAD OTHER IDEAS. IN A GAME THAT CLOSELY MIRRORED THE AM GAME, THE SAINTS TRAILED 1-0 AFTER 1 INNING.  HOWEVER, THE SAINTS WOULD SENT 10 BATTERS TO THE PLATE IN THE TOP OF THE SECOND AND PLATED 7 RUNS. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE INNING WAS A MAMMOUTH 2-RUN HOMER BY JIM PASQUINE WHICH EASILY CLEARED THE 395 MARK IN DEAD CENTER. AS NATE DID IN THE FIRST GAME OF THE DAY, PAS WOULD CONCLUDE HIS DAY GOING 4 FOR 5, WITH 6 RBI. RICK KRIST, GREG STOKES, AND DERRICK ZEROSKI; EACH HAD MULTI-HIT GAMES.

WITH THE WIN, YOUR BOYS FROM LEFTY'S CONCLUDED POOL PLAY WITH A 3-0 RECORD AND THE TOP SEED IN POOL B. 

GAME 4---SAINTS 5    FT. WAYNE JACKERS 2 

THE SAINTS MOVED INTO THE 8-TEAM SINGLE ELIMINATION PHASE OF THE TOURNAMENT AGAINST THE FIRST WILD CARD FROM FT. WAYNE. THE JACKERS STRUCK QUICKLY WITH 2 IN THE FIRST OFF CORRY RYAN. HOWEVER, CORRY SETTLED DOWN AND WOULD HOLD THE FT. WAYNE CREW SCORELESS THROUGH 5.

AS IS OFTEN THE CASE, THE SAINTS KEPT THEIR COOL, BY SCORING 1 IN THE SECOND AND WHEN JIM JASKOWSKI SINGLED AGAINST A DRAWN IN INFIELD; JIM PASQUINE AND NATE THIMONS PUT THE SAINTS AHEAD IN THE TOP OF THE SIXTH.

THE SAINTS IMMEDIATELY WENT TO CLOSER JIM PASQUINE, WHO HELD FT. WAYNE TO A SINGLE HIT OVER THE FINAL 4 INNINGS; AFTER THE SAINTS HAD ADDED 2 INSURANCE RUNS IN THE 7TH. JASKOWSKI WOULD BE 2 FOR 2; WITH THOSE TWO KEY RBI, AND PASQUINE WOULD ALSO CHIP IN 2 SAFTIES; AS THE SAINTS MOVED INTO SUNDAY'S SEMI-FINALS.  

GAME 5--SEMI-FINALS

SAINTS  6     BAY BROOK REMODELERS 0

THE SAINTS WERE SURPRISED TO SE BAY BROOK,WHO HAD UPSET THE JOLIET DIRTBAGS.  WE HAD TO QUICKLY ERASE THE 14-4 VICTORY AND FORCUS ON THE TASK AT HAND. IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG AS A NATE THIMONS DOUBLE SCORED DERRIK ZEROSKI, WHO HAD WALKED, IN THE FIRST AS THE SAINTS JUMPED AHEAD. MIKE HERMANN SCORED ON A RICK KRIST SAC FLY TO STRETCH THE LEAD TO 2-0 IN THE SECOND. TWO BAY BROOK ERRORS, 3 WALKS, AND A ZEROSKI TRIPLE ADDED 4 MORE IN THE 6TH.

ANDREW RAFALSKI WAS MASTERFUL HOLDING THE WEST HAVEN CREW TO 5 HITS; AND NEVER FACING MORE THAN 4 BATTERS IN ANY ONE INNING.

GAME 6--FINALS

SAINTS  10       FEDELL'S MECHANICS  1

THE SAINTS HAD PREPARED TO FACE EITHER CLIFTON OR BUFFALO IN THE FINAL.  HOWEVER, THE STRONG LEFTHANDED BATS FROM BRIDGEPORT, CT POWERED THEIR WAY TO THE FINAL. SURPRISINGLY,THE GAME WAS ALL BUT OVER AFTER 5 MINUTES AND 4 SAINT BATTERS.

THE SPEEDY DERRIK ZEROSKI LEAD OFF THE GAME WITH A SINGLE DEEP IN THE HOLE. GREG STOKES FOLLOWED WITH A SINGLE TO LEFT. WHEN JIM PASQUINE SINGLED TO RIGHT, ZEROSKI SPRINTED HOME WITH THE OPENING RUN. NATE THIMONS LASHED A SHOT INTO THE RIGHTFIELD CORNER, AND WHEN THE THROW TO PLATE, UNWISELY TRYING TO GET PASQUINE, SKIPPED INTO THE SAINTS DUGOUT; THIMONS WAS AWARDED HOME AND THE SAINTS HAD A COMMANDING 4-0 LEAD.

THOSE WOULD BE ALL THE RUNS SAINTS ACE, GREG FREDERICK WOULD NEED.  HE SCATTERED 8 HITS, AND FANNED 8 IN SECURING HIS SECOND COMPLETE GAME VICTORY OF THE TOURNAMENT. FREDDY WOULD YIELD ONLY A RUN SCORING BLOOP IN THE 7TH; AS THE SAINTS ADDED A RUN IN THE 2ND AND 6TH; AS WELL AS 2 RUNS IN EACH OF THE 5TH AND 7TH.  ERIC MORRISON LED THE 16 HIT ATTACK WITH 3 HITS; WHILE ZEROSKI, PASQUINE, THIMONS, AND RICH SATCHO ADDED 2 EACH. NATE AND SATCH EACH HAD 2 RBI.                                                                 

AS WE CLOSE THIS, OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL YEAR, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THANK ALL OUR FRIENDS FROM ACROSS THE FED LEAG

BUFFALO REGIONAL:

GAMES BEGIN AUGUST 4TH.

WE WILL STAY AT:

HYATT REGENCY

2 FOUNTAIN PLAZA

(716) 856-1234

GAME 1-----ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S VS ORCHARD PARK @ NORTHTOWN CENTER----1 PM

YOUNGSTOWN REGIONAL GAME SUMMARIES

GAME 1. AKRON LASIKS V. ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S

GAME CENTERED FULLY ON PITCHING AS WAGLER FOR LASIKS AND RAFALSKI FOR THE SAINTS DUELED IN A 7 INNING CONTEST THAT LASTED AN HOUR AND A HALF.  IN THE END LASIKS SCORED ON A WALK AND TWO 2-OUT SINGLES TO SCORE THE LONE RUN OF THE GAME; AS BOTH TEAMS SCATTERED 5 HITS.

GAME 2--SAINTS V. CLEVELAND BLACK WOLVES

THE WOLVES HAD BEATEN THE SAINTS IN AN EXHIBITION GAME LAST YEAR, BUT THAT WAS NOT ON THE MINDS, AS THIS SEASON'S MATCH-UP WAS FOR REGIONAL SURVIVAL.  THE SAINTS WERE CONFIDENT WITH CLAYTON HAMILTON ON THE BUMP.  THEY WOULD NOT BE DISAPPOINTED, AS CLAYTON HELD THE CLEVELANDERS TO 4 HITS, WHILE FANNING 11.  ANDREW HECK HAD 2 HITS AND SCORED BOTH SAINT RUNS.  JIM JASKOWSKI AND JIM PASQUINE ALSO HAD TWO SAFETIES AS THE SAINTS SURVIVED, 2-1.

GAME 3--SAINTS V. LAKE ERIE BUCKEYES

LUKE KATICH TOOK THE MOUND IN THE FINAL OF THE 7 INNING GAMES AND ALLOWED ONLY 3 HITS IN 5 INNINGS OF WORK.  THE SAINTS RALLIED AFTER BEING DOWN 2-0, WITH 5 IN THE SECOND KEYED BY A NATE THIMONS HOME RUN AND A DOUBLES BY WES WHITE AND ANDREW HECK.  THIMONS, ERIC MORRISON, AND WES WHITE EACH HAD 2 HITS.  WHITE HAD 2 RBI.

GAME 4--SAINTS V. BEREA BLUE SOX

THE SOX HAD KNOCKED LASIKS OUT OF THE TOURNAMENT THE DAY BEFORE, SO THE SAINTS HAD SOMETHING TO PROVE IN THIS 9 INNING CONTEST.  JOHN BACHMAN WAS OUTSTANDING SCATTERING 7 HITS, YIELDING NO MULTIPLE HIT INNINGS.  OFFENSIVELY, THE KEY BLOW WAS A BASES CLEARING 3 RUN DOUBLE BY ANDREW HECK IN THE 3RD.  WHITE AND HECK HAD MULTIPLE HIT GAMES.

GAME 5--SEMI-FINAL--SAINTS V. OHIO TITANS

THE RIVALRY IS ON PAPER AND GOES A COUPLE YEARS BACK, NOT MUCH RESPECT ON EITHER SIDE.  THIS WOULD BE THE WILDEST GAME OF THE TOURNAMENT AS THE SAINTS USED A TWO-RUN JIM PASQUINE INSIDE THE PARK HOME RUN TO HELP CRAFT AN 8-2 LEAD.  HOWEVER, THE TITANS POUNDED THEIR WAY BACK INTO THE GAME TO TIE THE SCORE 8-8 AFTER 7 INNINGS.  HOWEVER, PASQUINE ENTERED THE GAME AND STRUCK OUT 5 IN INNINGS 8 AND 9.  IN THE TOP OF THE 9TH, WHITE LEAD OFF WITH A WALK, WAS SACRIFICED TO SECOND BY MORRISON; A HECK GROUNDOUT MOVED HIM TO 3RD AND WES SCORED THE WINNING RUN ON A WILD PITCH.  THE GAME INTENSIFIED WHEN THE BOTTOM OF THE 9TH BEGAN WITH A 2 BASE THROWING ERROR; HOWEVER, PASQUINE FANNED 3 STRAIGHT TO SECURE THE WIN.

GAME 6--CHAMPIONSHIP--SAINTS V. ROTH

WE HAD A FEELING LONG AGO IT MIGHT COME DOWN TO THIS, AS ROTH LOADED UP WITH CANTON STALLIONS FOR THE TOURNAMENT.  DUE TO THE EARLIER LOSS, THE SAINTS HAD TO BEAT ROTH TWICE.  IT WOULD NOT BE IN THE CARDS.  STRIKE ZONES WERE DIFFERENT FOR EACH CLUB AND DESPITE HAVING THE SAME UMPIRE BEHIND THE PLATE THE DAY BEFORE, THE ZONE WAS DIFFERENT THIS DAY.  A BUTCHERED CALL IN THE INFIELD COST THE SAINTS AN EARLY RUN TO KEEP IT CLOSE; BUT THE Y-TOWN BOYS SCORED 4 IN THE 6TH TO OPEN IT UP.  MAC AND SATCH BOTH GOT TOSSED AND THE SAINTS RECEIVED ANOTHER RUNNER UP TROPHY.  RICKY AND PASQUINE EACH HAD 3 HITS AND SATCH 2.  

JIM PASQUINE HAD A MONSTER TOURNAMENT GOING 10 FOR 18 WITH 4 RBI AND THE STELLER PITCHING PERFORMANCE AGAINST THE TITANS.

VERY PROUD OF ALL THE GUYS, AS WE HAD 23 GUYS ON THE BENCH FOR THE FINAL, DESPITE ONLY HAVING A 21 MAN ROSTER.  THANKS TO ALL, ESPECIALLY TO OUR VETS WHO ALWAYS MAKE IT WORTH WHILE.  TO OUR YOUNGER GUYS WHO MAKE THE FUTURE BRIGHT, AND OF COURSE TO RICK WHO REALLY MAKES IT GO SO SMOOTHLY.

WE'LL BE BACK........SOMEWHERE?????  

SCORES AND NOTES:

 SAINTS DEFEATED STEVE SPORTS......4-1

AFTER FALLING BEHIND 1-0, AND FACING A PERFECT GAME, THE SAINTS SCORED A PAIR OF RUNS IN THE 5TH AND 6TH INNINGS.  DERRIK ZEROSKI REPLACED AN INJURED DAVID LEE IN THE 5TH WITH THE BASES LOADED AND 1 OUT.  HE INDUCED A RARE 3 TO 2 DOUBLE PLAY AND THEN STRUCK OUT THE TYING RUN WITH 2 ON IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 7TH TO SAVE THE VICTORY. 

SAINTS DEFEATED YOUNGSTOWN ROTH BROTHERS....8-0

WITH STEVE LONG ON THE BUMP, THE SAINTS BROKE OPEN A 2-0 GAME WITH 6 RUNS IN THE 6TH TO DEFEAT THE HOST TEAM.  GREG STOKES AND DERRIK ZEROSKI EACH HAD 2 HITS; WHILE MIKE HERMANN ADDED A 4TH INNING HOME RUN.  THE VICTORY ENABLED THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S TO SECURE A 3RD ROUND BYE.

ROUND 4....BATTLE OF UNBEATENS....SAINTS SCORE 2 IN BOTTOM OF 9TH. TO DEFEAT BRUNSWICK 5 TO 4.

BRUNSWICK FINISHED THIRD AT LOUISVILLE LAST YEAR AND CAME TO YOUNGSTOWN BEEMING WITH CONFIDENCE AND THEIR BRAL CHAMPIONSHIP, LIKE THE SAINTS THEY HAD RECEIVED A BYE AND WON THEIR INITIAL GAMES.  WITH THEIR ACE ON THE HILL, THE SAINTS STRUCK FOR 3 RUNS IN THE FIRST.  BEHIND THE LIGHTS OUT PITCHING OF RICK AUSTIN, THE LEAD HELD UNTIL THE 7TH, WHEN THE BIRDS SCORED A PAIR, WHICH WERE FOLLOWED WITH 2 MORE UNEARNED RUNS OFF JOHN BACHMAN IN THE 8TH.  HOWEVER, THE NEVER SAY DIE SAINTS, DIDN'T DIE.  IN THE 9TH, ANDY BLACKWELL WALKED, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY JON ZILLES PERFECTLY PLACED BUNT SINGLE. AFTER AN AB STEAL OF THIRD AND A FLY OUT, A SWINGING BUNT BY RICK KRIST LOADED THE SACKS FOR JIM JASKOWSKI.  TRUE TO FORM JAZ RIFLED A SHOT OVER THE LEFTFIELDER'S HEAD AND THE SAINTS PLATED 2 FOR THE VICTORY.  ST. JOHNS HEADED INTO SATURDAY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AS THE ONLY UNBEATEN TEAM.  

ROUND 5....CHANCE TO WRAP IT UP GOES BY THE WAYSIDE...CANTON SMACKS THE SAINTS 8 TO 1.

TWO WINS AWAY AND LUKE KATICH ON THE HILL, THINGS LOOKED GOOD FOR THE SAINTS AS THEY TRIED TO ELIMINATE CANTON.  2 YEARS AGO IN A SIMILAR SITUATION, THE SAINTS SENT WALTHERS HOME BY WAY OF A 14 INNING GEM.  LAST SEASON, WALTHERS SENT THE SAINTS INTO THE LOSERS BRACKET, SO THERE IS HISTORY HERE.  WALTHERS SCORED 2 IN THE FIRST, AFTER 2 OUTS, AIDED BY A WIDE PITCH.  THE LEAD WAS WIDENED WITH 3 UNEARNED, 2 OUT RUNS IN THE 4TH.  ANOTHER PAIR OF UNEARNED RUNS WERE TACKED ON, AFTER 2 OUTS, IN THE 8TH, AS THE SAINTS DID NOTHING WITH THE CANTON RIGHTHANDER.  AFTER ANOTHER RUN SCORED ON A FIELDER'S CHOICE, THE SAINTS SCORED THEIR ONLY RUN WHEN ERIC McGOUGH, RUNNING FOR PINCH HITTER RICH SATCHO, WHO HAD WALKED, SCORED FROM 1ST ON A MIKE HERMANN DOUBLE.  THOUGH THE SAINTS HAD 8 HITS, THEY COULD NEVER PUT TWO HITS TOGETHER IN A SINGLE INNING.  DESPITE THE LOSS, THE SAINTS STILL STOOD 2 VICTORIES AWAY FROM LOUISVILLE.

BRUNSWICK ROUND II.  SECOND VERSE, SAME AS THE FIRST.

THE BRASH ORIOLES WERE STILL CONFIDENT THAT THEIR TRIP TO OHIO WOULD BEAR NABF FRUIT, THEY WERE WRONG.  DESPITE AN OUTSTANDING PITCHING PERFORMANCE, BRUNSWICK FOUND THEMSELVES OUT HIT AND IN A 1 TO 1 TIE IN THE TOP OF THE 9TH.  WITH 1 OUT, WES WHITE SINGLED AND STOLE 2ND.  FOLLOWING A FLY OUT, UP STEPPED FRIDAY'S HERO, JIM JASKOWSKI.  EVEN WITH 1ST BASE OPEN, THE BIRDS MISTAKENLY CHOSE TO PITCH TO JAZ, WHO RIPPED A SINGLE UP THE MIDDLE SCORING WES WITH THE GAME WINNER.  JIM PASQUINE SHUT THE DOOR IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 9TH, AIDED BY OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYS BY 2ND BASEMAN WHITE AND 3RD BASEMAN MIKE HERMANN.  THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S MOVED ON TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

CANTON ROUND II; UNFORTUNATELY, DIFFERENT VERSE SAME AS THE FIRST.

THE SAINTS LOADED THE BASES IN THE 1ST INNING WITH ONLY 1 OUT, BUT A STRIKEOUT AND GROUNDOUT OPENED THE DOOR FOR CANTON.  WALTHERS CAFE SCORED 3 UNEARNED RUNS, 2 AFTER 2 WERE OUT; ENROUTE TO THEIR 6-1 VICTORY IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP.  OF THE 14 RUNS SCORED BY CANTON AGAINST THE SAINTS, ONLY 6 WERE EARNED.  DESPITE 9 HITS, THE SAINTS COULD PLATE ONLY 1 OF 11 RUNNERS; WHILE CANTON SCORED 6 OF THEIR 9 RUNNERS.  JIM JASKOWSKI CONTINUED HIS RESURGENCE WITH 3 HITS.

IT'S A WRAP...........

I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO PLAYED FOR THE SAINTS THIS SEASON.  THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WITH REGARD TO RICKY, LUKE, STEVO, WES, AND JIMMY WHO HELPED US IN Y-TOWN AS WE TRIED TO MAKE THAT ELUSIVE TRIP BACK TO LOUISVILLE.  WE'D LIKE TO THANK OUR ENTOURAGE....AB'S "GAWNA TIE UP" CLAN, THE SATCHO'S, THIMONS FAMILY AND THE LITTLE ONE ON THE WAY, THE STOKES FAMILY, THE ZILLES', HERM, JEFF'S DAD, RICKY'S "SETTLE-DOWN" FATHER, CHIZ, SCHWARTZ, AND MATTY FOR ALL THEIR HELP AND ANNUAL SUPPORT.  SPECIAL THANKS TO THE WIVES, KIDS, COMING KIDS, AND GIRLFRIENDS...WHO SURELY REALIZE THAT BASEBALL WAS THERE BEFORE THEM AND IN SOME CASES, WILL BE THERE AFTER THEM.  SARA'S SCOREKEEPING. 

TO THE GUYS, A SPECIAL THANKS AND SOME HOPES............A WATCH, A WORKING CELL PHONE, AND A BETTER CAR FOR DZ; RESTED FEET FOR JEFF, BETTER HAIR DYE FOR HERM, RUBBER HELMETS FOR STOKES & AB, AN EARLIER VACATION FOR SATCH, A JOB IN PGH FOR PAS, HEALTH FOR JOHNNY AND FED, INNINGS FOR EMAC, BACH'S GAMES TO START IN THE 2ND INNING, AND THE BP JOB FOR JAZ & SHALER FOR SCHIFF.

SPECIAL THANKS TO NATE AND JIMMY FOR MAKING THE TRIP UP FOR THE SEEDING MEETING.  TO SCHIFF FOR THE ENDLESS CALLS AND SUPPORT.  FINALLY TO RICKY, WITHOUT YOU IT COULDN'T ALL BE DONE.  YOU ARE ALL INVALUABLE TO ME.  THANKS FOR AWARD, IT AS DO YOU, WILL ALWAYS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.

 

1. GREG STOKES          12. JIM JASKOWSKI

2. DERRIK ZEROSKI  13. BRANDAN FEDERICI 

3. ERIC McGOUGH    14. LUKE KATICH

4. MIKE HERMANN   15. RICH SATCHO

5. STEVE LONG       16. DAVID LEE

6. ANDY BLACKWELL  17. JOHN ASTFALK

7. JON ZILLES        18. RICK AUSTIN

8. RICK KRIST         19. NATE THIMONS

9. ANDREW RAFALSKI  20. JOHN BACHMAN

10. JIM PASQUINE     21. WES WHITE 

11. JEFF MARTIN

MANAGER--TOM McCARTHY

ASS'T. COACH--RICK KRIST 

ASS'T. COACH--SCOTT MILLER

ASS'T. COACH--TODD SCHIFFHAUER

10 SAINT PLAYERS   6 SAINT PITCHERS 

               5 LEAGUE PICK-UPS