Lizards Topple Millers, Murder Hornets & Hustlers Tied After 10

Micah Winston delivers a single against the Millers Sunday at Mitchell Field.

Murder Hornets 6

Hustlers 6

Week three of TNB Fall Ball found the 1-1 Hustlers hosting the 1-1 Murder Hornets at a brisk Herlihy Field, with the Hornets looking to bounce back from their tough extra inning loss the previous week to the Lizards, while the Hustlers were looking to ride the momentum wave of their big win the previous week over the Millers.

With both squads featuring their premier starters, as the Hustlers Jeff "Whitey" Whitehead squared off against the Hornets Colin "Hos" Hosley (ironically the same matchup from last months TNB50 Championship Game), it was no surprise that the game was a tense, scoreless affair going into the 4th. But, in their half of the 4th the Hustlers finally broke through, putting up a three spot, taking advantage of a throwing error combined with three straight, strategically placed hits before Hosley was able to pitch his way out of the inning.

The Hornets waited until the 6th to get one back on a majestic two out bases loaded drive to the gap in right center by perennial bad guy Brian "Benji" Benjamin against relief pitcher Rick Stacy, to plate one, but a perfect relay throw to the plate by Hustler shortstop Bill Evans, just nabbed Jim "Kruk" Fogarty at the plate to limit the damage and end the inning with the Hornets only closing the gap to 3-1.

With the Hustlers still maintaining a 3-1 lead going into the 7th, and veteran TNB pitcher Ken Sloat on the hill to close it out, the Hornets dramatically rallied when centerfielder / relief pitcher Greg "E-Bomb" Elbaum helped himself with a lead off single, which was followed by a trio of bad hop hits combined with Hustler miscues to make it a one run game. Hornets skipper Eric "Noodles" Bennett then lined a pitch up the middle to tie the game at three, which was quickly followed by a bad hop hit by Fogarty that briefly gave the Hornets a one run lead. That is until the Hustlers manufactured a run of their own in the bottom of the 7th with Jack Wileden scoring on a clutch hit by Bob Mastorakis, knotting the score at 4.

After a scoreless 8th, and with both teams each plating their respective "zombie runners" in the 9th and 10th, players and fans alike were stunned when game abruptly ended when Jon "JR" Ross picked off a flat footed and shocked John Dusenberry off 1st to close out the contest as a 6-6 draw, leaving both teams with a record of 1-1-1.

On the hill, Colin Hosley (6 innings) and Greg E-Bomb (4 innings) both pitched great. Standouts at the dish for the Murder Hornets - both Noodles and Andy K each had 2 hits, a run scored and an RBI, and both Benji and Michael "Miguel" Ringler each had a pair of hits and an RBI.

The Hustlers' offense was led on the day by Brian Krylowicz (2-4, R), Ken Sloat (2-4, 2 RBI), and Jack Wileden (2-3, R). Other contributors were Chris Scanlon, who had a RBI and Bill Evans, who drove in 2.

Game photos courtesy of Jeff Whitehead

Lizards 7

Millers 4

The TNB 50+ Lizards improved to 3-0 with a workman-like 7-4 win over the Millers Sunday at Mitchell Field.

The Lizards jumped on Millers' starter, Eddie "Money" Esposito early, collecting 6 hits and 4 runs in the first to take the early lead.

Lizards' ace, Rick Fleurent was strong, giving up a single run in the first and leaving with a 6-1 lead after 3.

The Millers made a game of it in the 4th, scoring 3 runs on 5 hits, a walk, and an error, but Lizards' reliever, Steve Ostrowski got a key double-play ball to limit the damage and end the threat.

The Lizards led 6-4 after four and tacked on an extra insurance run in the 7th to cruise to their league-leading third victory.

Morriss Partee was the hero at the plate and on the mound, going 4-4 with 2 doubles, 4 RBIs and 2 runs, and earning the save with 2 perfect innings in relief. Ron Totten had 2 hits & 2 RBIs and Mark Fox had 2 hits, including a double, and scored a pair as well.

Leadoff man, Mike Dietlin paced the Millers offense, going 3-3 with a double and 3 runs scored. Tom Conway and Paul Iellamo combined for three scoreless innings of relief.