Washington Township Senators 35+

The Washington Township Senators are expected to add Bill Alvaro, Jr., Washington Township High School Head Baseball Coach, to the 38+ roster for the 2006 season. Senator GM Nick Frese says a press conference is scheduled for Friday. "You all know we've been trying to lure Billy out of retirement," Frese said today. "Well, the signs are starting to look favorable. Billy has thrown a lot of BP this year to his kids, and he reports that his arm feels great. "And of course, we are always looking to add experienced winners like #32 to the fold. Even better that we have a positive history with Billy." Frese hopes the addition of a proven starter like Alvaro will help offset the loss of starting catcher Danny Laudisio, who underwent surgery to repair a torn achillies tendon on Tuesday of this week. "No kidding, losing Danny is a blow," the GM stated. "But we have to play some baseball and live without him this year. If something positive happens, and his rehab moves more quickly than we anticipate, that would be a plus. But for now, we have to assume he won't be playing in 2006. Hopefully a solid starter like Billy will help keep the other teams in check." The Senators open the season on April 23, opponent and location to be announced.

Well, the season is NOT off to a rollicking start. The Senators are very unhappy to announce that starting catcher and 2004 Team MVP Danny Laudisio will be out for a minimum of eight weeks due to a torn achillies tendor and calf muscle. Laudisio will have surgery on Tuesday, April 4. He is being told that he will face two months of down-time followed by three months of rehab. On the plus side, our old friend Jim Toth had the same surgery, and he recovered quickly and well. So let's all hope Danny does the same! Hence, Miles Reader will step into the regular catching job, with Chris Lawrence backing him up. We are indeed fortunate to have two guys able hold down the fort while Danny works his way back. Also, pitcher/outfielder Dale Amos has a left hand injury which could limit his abilities in the early part of the season. Hopefully that won't be a long-term problem as well. I understand the hand is NOT broken, but am awaiting further information as to the extent of this.

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Opening day is just a few short weeks away, as the Senators prepare to defend their 2005 SJMSBL 38+ Division title. Work has already begun, and the Senators have spent several weeks indoors honing the hitting and pitching skills, and looking forward to a day outdoors in the sun sometime soon. We have a target date of March 18 for the first outdoor gathering, and an exhibition game against the O-28 Senators is hoped for April 2nd -- maybe we can get some O-18 Senators to help us out, too! The talent in the 38+ Division continues to improve, as the Marlton Athletics and Sewell Sharks move up from the 28+ Division to enjoy their intial seasons at this level. The Delco Astros, already formidable in 2005, have added Mike Evangelist and Dean Condadina to the squad. And the Cherry Hill Tigers are picking up a few SJ Giant castoffs, such as Doug Kepple, Pete Dempsey, Rich Dickinson, Rob Nishi and Mike Coffey. So they will be very strong. It's never easy to repeat in any sport, in any league. And roster moves like those above only make things more challenging. But then, that's the way we like it here in Senatorville! Nick GM Over 18 Senators site Over 28 Senators site Over 48 Senators site SJMSBL site Kelly Investment Baseball site

Joe Pavlik, 1957-2006

The Senator family mourns the passing of one of our own, Joe Pavlik, who played for the club from 1996-1999. Joe lost his battle with cancer on Monday, Feb. 13. he will be sorely missed by all who knew him. In Joe's honor, both the Senator O-28 and O-38 clubs will wear his #41 on our caps during the 2006 season, which will be dedicated to his memory. Farewell, old friend. May there be plenty of baseball Up There for you. And may the curve ball be biting.

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Trailing 5-2 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Senators did what they did all year: refuse to submit. Four clutch hits tied the game, and the Nats delivered a 6-5 win in the bottom of the 10th! After Ken Bevenour and Jim McAllister both lined out sharply to the infield to start the fateful 9th, Miles Reader hit a sharp grounder to short that apparently hit a pebble and hopped over Giant shortstop Jeff Behrend's head and went into left for a bad-hop single. Nick Frese then took two called strikes and ripped a single down the right-field line, sending Reader to third. Frank Rose worked himself a 2-1 count and then slugged a double into the gap in right-center to score Reader and send Frese to third, bringing pitcher John DiPietro to the dish. DiPietro battled Doug Kepple to full count and then absolutely RIPPED a single down near the left field line to plate the tying runs. Kepple retired Bill Trotman on a grounder to third to send the game to extra innings, but the damage was done. In the 10th, Mark Alessandrini led off with a double down the left field line, his second double of the game. Chris Lawrence executed a perfect sacrifice to move Alessandrini to third. At this point, Behrend relieved Kepple on the mound, and the Giant righty induced Dan Laudisio to pop to third. But Bevenour had his back. After falling behind in the count, the Nat cleanup hitter lofted a soft, semi-check-swing flopper to right that found the soft turf at Lindenwold Park for a game-winning, season-ending, Championship-nabbing single -- the first-ever time a Senators Championship has ever been won in walk-off fashion. For the complete story of the game, visit the Schedule link at left and seek out the September 11 game. May the winter be short and warm!! Nick GM