Washington Township Senators 35+

Talk about your game of inches. A Dennis Gulla bloop single sailed exactly one inch above Jim McAllister's glove in short left-center, and thus John DiPietro was deprived of a no-hitter. But such is life in baseball, and the Senators will happily take the one-hit, 8-2 win and a doubleheader sweep of the Medford Angels. DiPietro was perfect through 3-2/3 innings, before walking Rocky Capristo. Gulla followed with the blooper that just eluded McAllister. Jimmy Mac felt it was a play he should have made, but everyone else knows it was a VERY tough chance, and a clean, if somewhat lucky, single. The Senator offense fired up 11 hits in the opener, and followed that up with a 14-hit effort in Game #2, an 11-6 comeback win. Chris Lawrence survived some early shaky defense and control problems to pitch a very strong game. After the second inning, the Senators righty allowed just three harmless singles in shutting down the Angel offense. The Senators hit up and down the lineup in both games, with Miles "Bad Knee" Reader leading the way with a 5-for-6, 2 RBI performance. Bill Trotman added a 3-for-6, 3 RBI day to the potent mixture. Mark Alessandrini was 3-for-7 with two steals, and hit the ball on the nose six of seven times up there. Jim McAllister was also 3-for-7 with three steals and one RBI. Frank Izzi pounded out a 4-for-7 morning. Next up: the Nats travel to Sun Valley High School for a match-up with the Delco Astros. If he is available, John DiPietro will get the starting nod. If John cannot make it, Frank Rose will go, with either Pat Dewechter or Chris Lawrence in the pen, along with anyone else who can help there. The tentative lineup: 1. Alessandrini-OF
2. Amos-OF
3. Laudisio-C
4. Izzi-1B
5. Barbara-2B
6. Bevenour-3B
7. Reader-OF
8. Lawrence-SS
9. Stefano-OF
10. Rose-P or 2B
11. Frese or DiPietro or Dewechter Dale will have to leave after one or two ABs to tend to his district team.

Second year Senator Dale Amos is the 2006 Senator 38+ MVP. Amos did it all in '06, batting a lofty .480 with an on-base percentage of .600. He added 10 RBI to the mix and stole 13 bases to boot. A complete player, Dale was even lights-out as a hurler during the playoffs, single-handedly keeping the Nats in a game against the Sewell Sharks, and winning another start against the Marlins. And his fun-loving -- but competitive -- spirit was felt by all Senators as he helped the club to its second consecutive SJMSBL 38+ title.

For the second consecutive season, John DiPietro is the 38+ Senator Cy Young Award Winner. DiPietro is likely to spoil his teammates, as his success has come to be an afterthought. In '06, the righthander went 4-2 with a miniscule 1.60 ERA, fanning 46 batters in 53-1/3 innings of work, while walking only 19. He did his best work in the championship game, shutting out the heavy-hitting Tabernacle Tigers 3-0 as the Nats won it for the second year in a row.

With a little warm weather cometh the offense. The Senators pounded out 10 hits and drew 11 walks, handing the Moorestown Marlins a bitter 13-0 defeat at Washington Township High School. John DiPietro tossed a complete game shutout -- 7-innings via the mercy rule -- allowing just four singles to the Marlin offense. The Marlins also hurt themselves with five errors. Dan Barbara was the offensive big gun, pounding an RBI single -- which would have been a double if the big guy with the bad back was able to run -- and a majestic, towering 3-run homer to left off Don Davis, a blow which Davis claims is the first homer ever hit off him in all his years of pitching. Davis again struggled with his control, walking six Senators in two innings of work. Mark Alessandrini chipped in with a single, two walks, two steals and two runs. Frank Izzi and Jim McAllister each clubbed a single and a double. Dan Laudisio reached base all four times with an RBI single, two walks and an RE, and Nick Frese was on three of four times via the base on balls. And the Senators were very short-handed, missing Jim Stefano, Pat Dewecher, Ken Bevenour, Miles Reader and Dale Amos (for eight innings). But it didn't matter a lick. Next week, the Senators face the Marlton Angels in a twin bill to be played either at Washington Lake Park or the WTHS JV field, depending upon availability. Pitching plans and lineups TBA as we get closer to game day.

A great job by Chris Lawrence, who proved that his shoulder is sound by working through a 148-pitch marathon in the wind to pick up a 3-2 win vs. the Athletics yesterday at Notre Dame Field in Delran. Those conditions were not fit for man nor beast -- only football players. And kudos to a defense that made just one error on that very difficult field. Special high marks to Frank Rose for his solid shortstop play. No idea how Danny Barbara was able to drive that ball to center through the wind, but I'm sure glad he could! Once again, that's a game that would have been pretty easy to lose. Good teams, though, find a way to win. The bats have no yet gotten on track here in 2007, but the manager is in no way worried. With the warmer weather will come the hits. And a 3-0 record with that unusually low team BA can only bode well going forward. The 28 Senators continued their dismal start yesterday, dropping a 4-0 decision to the Ventnor Dodgers. The (somewhat) young Sens have now scored just one run in their last THREE outings, a stunning development. Championships are not won or lost in April or May, but the 28s will need to get back on track to even get into the playoffs this year, as only teams with a .500 or better record will be eligible. The 18s continued their sloppy defensive play, dropping an 11-7 decision to the Red Sox. The kids are living up to their reputation as slow starters. Hopefully the warmer weather finds them playing better, too. And the 47s lost a one-run affair as well, making our 38 club the only Senator team to collect a win yesterday. Next week, the Moorestown Marlins come to our place for return engagement. John DiPietro is expect to be there to take the baseball, and I know Ken Beavenor will be unavailable. If anyone else can't make it, please let me know. The tentative lineup, subject to change based upon availability and the whims of the manager: 1. Alessandrini-OF
2. Amos-OF
3. Laudisio-C
4. Izzi-RF/1B
5. Barbara-1B/EH
6. McAllister-SS
7. Lawrence-3B/RF
8. Rose-EH/3B
9. Frese-EH/RF
10. DiPietro-P
11. Trotman-2B