Washington Township Senators 35+

They say all's well that ends well. Well, things didn't end well for the Washington Township Senators in the first of two versus the powerful Jersey Giants on Sunday, September 8th.

The Senators, behind the pitching of veteran Frank Rose, held onto a 1-0 lead, scored an insurance run in the top of the seventh, and then watched it all wash away in the bottom of the innings, as the Giants rallied for three runs to win.

Rose and the Giants Dan Hill hooked up from the start in a beautiful pitcher's duel on a beautiful day a Bob Meyer Field. Rose allowed just a first inning walk to Bob Fingerhut and a second inning single to Doug Kepple through four frustrating innings (for the Giants, that is).

Hill, meanwhile, allowed just a Chris Lawrence bunt single and an Emil Szymczak "excuse me" blooper through three before the Senators played "Dodger ball" to grab the lead.

Joe Leo dropped a bloop double down the left to start the fourth, and John Toyrk executed a perfect sacrifice to move him to third. Then Nick Frese skied the first pitch to left for the RBI sac fly and the lead.

And then the pitchers took over yet again.

Rose allowed just a singled to Rich Rocabaldo in the fifth and another to Joe Collis in the sixth, the latter being promptly rubbed out via a nice 5-4-3 DP -- which did nothing other than set the stage for a 7th inning disaster (for the Senators).

But first, some insurance. Frese singled to start the top of the inning, and after a Dan Laudisio fielder's choice -- on which the Senator backstop yanked a quad muscle -- Ted McKinney boomed a double to deep left and Laudisio mustered everything he had to circle the bases and plate the Senator's second run of the day. Unfortunately, Laudisio was unable to continue behind the plate, and manager Frese was forced to move Mckinney behind the dish to sub for his All-Star receiver.

Rose got Major Smith to fly to center for out #1 in the bottom of the inning, and everything looked rosy (pun intended)...except or the fact that the Giant heart of the order loomed.

Fingerhut got the fatal rally started with his sharp one-out single up the box. Then the hot Bob Blake cracked a double, scoring Fingerhut. Big Pete Dempsey then single to left, with Blake moving up to third. And the Senators were facing an ugly situation.

Rose then walked Kepple to load the sacks, bring up Rocobaldo.

The Giant outfield hit a semi-liner to short that Lawrence speared, but his throw to first trying to double Kepple was just a bit late -- unfortunately for the Senators.

Rose then did the unthinkable (for him), and walked Mick Anconetani to force in the tieing run. And Collis' bloop single to center quickly ended the contest.

It was a bitter loss for the Senators, in a season filled with them. But they were able to take some solace in staying with the Giants throughout -- a huge contrast to their first meeting, a 15-3 pasting.

Szymczak was the only Senators to collect multple hits, banging two singles. Frese, McKinney, Lawrence, Fitzgerald and Leo each had one. The Giants got two from Collis, and one each from Rocabaldo, Dempsey, Kepple, Blake, and Fingerhut.