Friday September 12, 2025 (Playoffs)

Michael's 34 - A&R 16

Michael's broke an 8-game losing streak to defeat A&R 34-16. Stats for Michael's: Mike Lynch 6-6 (4rs3rbi3B), Ben Anker 5-6 (3rs3rbi), Jack Baxter 5-6 (4rs4rbi), Joe Barbarito 5-5 (2rs3rbi), Stan Smilkstein 5-6 (4rs5rbi), Eddie Smilkstein4-6 (2rs4rbi), Ralph Bondi 4-6 (4rs2rbi), Frank McHugh 3-4 (3rs5rbiHR), Mike Muffs 3-5 (2rs2rbi3B), Joe DeMaria 3-4 (2rbi), Angelo DiGregorio 2-5 (3rs), Bobby Joy 2-5 (2rsWinning Pitcher).

For those of you who are not amused and entertained by the creative and often rambling prose of our very own Stan Silverman, STOP READING NOW! For the other 3 of you, please continue.

Some observations from Stan Silverman, sideline reporter for the Hudson Valley Senior Softball Gazette. Most people laughed with me (at me?) so don’t take anything mentioned seriously.

The 9:30 game started promptly at 10:11

It was The Battle of the Walking Wounded

Bob Joy- 1-Hitting is the best part of playing               

2- Lunch is number two

Again Bob Joy - Play in teams can and have gone all the way to the championship

And then again, jeez, doesn’t Bob ever stop talking? - One game at a time

Anonymous - We will win if the good lord is willing

It’s not who starts the season that counts, it’s who finishes it

Never say two dead

Ed Bergamini told me that he gets paid to not show up

Dan Zoller - In response to me wishing him Good Luck. He said, “Luck doesn’t come into it when you are this good.”

Dan wasn’t going to play because, guess what, he’s hurt again, but the manager begged him to “just play catcher.” Dan did a great job behind the dish and caught several throws to nab Michael’s players trying to score.

Joe (Pug) Pennachio explained to me that by league unwritten rules, no games can be played without at least one “Joe” on the field.

Dan Zoller- Small change can often be found beneath seat cushions

Home plate umpire, George Hammer, called time to find out on what base the potential fifth run was occupying. Jim Thorne threw the pitch anyway. The batter swung anyway, fouling it off. When George got back into position, there was some disagreement on the count. Jack Baxter wisely announced that “since there was no umpire, lets argue about it.”

Jim Thorne came off of the mound after the top of the first to tell us that “that sucked.”

Dan Sopchak said, “No Comment.”

Greg Miller not only said that he didn’t want to be quoted, but he tried to burn my pen.

Mike Lynch made a gutsy hustle into second base for a double.

Rick Sierra to Larry Stewart to Dan Zoller for a rare short to first to home double play.

Frank McHough made a terrific catch in right field on a Rod Whitby fly ball and then fell down and held onto the ball. Frank made some other great plays, and he hit really well. When I complimented Frank, he said, “Go on. No, seriously, go on. Keep complimenting me.”

After one of his catches, Frank alertly tried to throw to first and found nobody covering first. Maybe we should get Nobody a uniform.

Rod Whitby played a gutsy game on a bad foot.

Joe Napolitano asked me if A&R reminded me of the Bad News Bears. I let him know that if they did the Full Monty, I could change it to Bad News Bares

Dan Sopchak finally admitted that it was a nice day

Joe (Olives) DeMaria was asked if he took his medication after running from first to second on a pop fly with one out. Joe thought that there were two out.

Steve Lynch was seen taking pictures of the game.

As the eighth inning started, Larry Stewart told me that I might be a witness to the Greatest Comeback That Ever Happened. I might still be, but it didn’t happen today.

Thank you to George Hammer, Tony Dalia and Doug McCracken for umpiring.

That’s all for now. See you on the field of battle.

Respectfully submitted,

Stan