Washington Township Senators 35+

The Senators sleep-walked through six innings, and then woke up just in time to pound 11 hits and score 10 runs in the last three frames to beat the Cherry Hill Bombers 11-8. Pat Dewechter got the win in relief of John DiPietro, and Dewechter added a single, double, two walks and two RBI to the mixture. Frank Izzi and Miles Reader collected two hits and three RBI each, while Nick Frese, Bill Trotman, Dale Amos, and Danny Laudisio all had two hits.

On the strength of this win, combined with a Marlin win over the Astros and an Astro win over the A's later in the day, the Senators take second place and get a first-round playoff bye next week. They will meet the Delco Astros on the weekend of August 11 in a best-of-three match-up.

The Sens will take a week off before resuming batting practice on Wednesday, August 8 at WTHS. Playoff lineups, pitching and defense will be discussed as we get closer to game day.

The Washington Township Senators allowed an uncharacteristic NINE bases on balls, threw in two key errors, and the arbiter added one very hurtful blown call to hand the Marlton Athletics a 10-7 decision in a night game at Lindenwold Park. Frank Rose gave the Nats a quality start, but the bullpen and defense let it all slip away. Nick Frese led the offense with two doubles, a walk, two runs scored and an RBI. Dale Amos, Dan Laudsio, Ken Bevenour and Rose also chipped in with two hits each. The Senators were a bit hamstrung, missing THREE starting pitchers (John DiPietro, Pat Dewecheter and Chris Lawrence) for the game, plus centerfielder Mark Alessandrini. Additionally, Bevenour came up lame with fluid on his knee after a collision at third base. All fingers are crossed that this will not affect his playoff status. Next week, the Nats travel to Cherry Hill Babe Ruth Field for a match against the suddenly hot Cherry Hill Bombers. DiPietro is expected have the starting nod, but manager Frese is likely to use all available pitchers in this playoff tune-up. The Nats await their playoff seedings, as everything will depend upon the out come of the Astro, Athletic and Senator games next Sunday.

The Delco Astros had three 3-run innings in the first five frames and held on to beat the Senators by a 9-7 score on a hot Sunday at Township. Jim DeCorso used an assortment of off-speed offerings to stymie the Senator bats. Pat Dewechter took the loss, but a knee injury forced him to exit the game after facing just five batters. The righty felt he would be fine in several weeks, but simply couldn't push off the leg and felt it was in the best interests of the club to take the rest of the day off (the Club agrees wholeheartedly). Chris Lawrence had two hits and two RBI, but he was the only Senator to get multiple safties. Ace John DiPietro looked to be at the top of his game in a relief role -- great news for the team -- while Dale Amos and Doug Crowe both threw excellent innings in relief, so it looks like the Nats should have some serious pitching depth as the playoffs approach. Next up: the Senators face the Marlton Athletics at Washington Township High School. Lawrence is expected to get the starting nod for this one.

The Senators broke out the lumber Sunday, scoring 24 runs and sweeping a doubleheader from local rivals the Sewell Sharks by scores of 10-9 and 14-0. The Nats enjoyed a 10-3 lead in the last inning of game one, but almost let the Sharks tie it in a nightmare-ish 7th that included four hits, three walks and two hit batsmen. But Pat Dewechter got the save via a 3-2, sacks loaded strikeout to end the game, and the Nats never let the Sharks get close again on the day. In game #2, Chris Lawrence simply overwhelmed the Shark offense, tossing a three-hit shutout and enjoying a 14-run offensive explosion that featured bat-arounds in back-to-back innings by the Senator offense. Other heros on the day include: Frank Izzi, who blasted five hits and drove in six runs; Jim Stefano, who had his best day as a Senator, collecting four hits and driving in three runs; Doug Crowe, who started his Senator career with consecutive RBI singles; Mark Alessandrini, who continued a quietly spectacular season by getting four hits, walking twice, scoring three runs and stealing two bases; Dan Barbara, who doubled twice and singled; and Miles Reader who remained white-hot with two singles and a double. The Nats collected 28 hits in the twin-bill, and made just three meaningless errors. They managed to win game one despire four HORRIFIC calls made against them by the base umpire. Next up: the Nats take a week off for the All-Star break before returning home to meet the Delco Astros on July 15. Congrats to the Senator All-Star representatives, who will travel to Bernie Robbins Stadium in Atlantic City next Saturday for a 1:00 PM match against their Shore Division MSBL rivals. The lucky Senators includes: Nick Frese (Mgr.)
Mark Alessandrini (OF)
Frank Izzi (1B)
Dan Laudisio (C)
Chris Lawrence (P)
Miles Reader (OF):

Doug Crowe is expected to take the field for the first time as a Washington Township Senator on Sunday at Washington Lake Park, as the Senators take on the Sewell Sharks in doubleheader action. Crowe, primarily a middle infielder, is coming off the 60-day disabled list. The Nat rookie was sidelined with diverticulitis, plus a stress fracture of the back. "We're very happy to get Doug on the field, finally," said Senator GM Nick Frese. "He brings some youth and depth to our middle infield, and that can only help us going forward". Crowe can also toss the rock, and Frese is more than ready to add him into the already deep pitching mixture. "We're blessed with a pretty deep staff this year," Frese said. "John DiPietro has been his usual solid self, and Pat Dewechter has been a nice addition. And we also have Chris Lawrence, who is now healthy -- and a member of the All-Star Team this year as well. Add Crowe to that threesome and you've got a pretty deep staff to get you through the playoffs." The Senators would be even deeper on the hill if Rich Kulikowki hadn't gone down with season-ending surgery. "It would have been great to have the lefty option," Frese said, "but, hey, it gives us something to look forward to in the Fall and 2008." The Senators are sitting in second place, just a game ahead of both the Athletics and Marlins in the all-important loss column. A doubleheader sweep Sunday would go long way towards helping their playing seeding.