Monticello Men’s Softball Playoffs

Fitness Factory lives a charmed life

Gritty guys in orange and blue find a way to win over Lewis Auto Parts, again

By RICHARD A. ROSS

MONTICELLO, NY — It could have been billed as “The Clash of the Titans” but given the outcome of the first playoff game between Lewis Auto Parts and Fitness Factory on August 11, the game could more aptly be dubbed, “The Life of the Charmed.” For the third straight time this year—including both of their regular season meetings—Fitness Factory found a way to beat the heavy hitters of Lewis Auto Parts (15-3) by a single run and to keep their undefeated (16-0) streak alive.

Admittedly Lewis gave Fitness plenty of help. Despite getting a sterling start from hurler Tim ‘Chopper’ Ackermann, the Lewis defense often looked more like The Bad News Bears in the field than the crisp, slick super-squad many observers felt would win it all this season.

Of the ten runs scored by Fitness, seven were unearned according to catcher Glen Rosenberger. Giving a talented team like Fitness Factory, extra outs in an inning is a prescription for disaster. For their part Fitness Factory wasn’t all that sharp in the field, either making a number of misjudgments on fly balls and not handling liners with their usual finesse. They made up for it, however, with timely hitting and an intractable spirit that refuses to lose.

While neither team brought its ‘A’ game to the series opener, Fitness also lacked their ‘A’ pitcher JoJo Vankeuren, who had a prior engagement. With Fitness Factory’s Shane Conner, who is a competent but not overpowering on the mound, Lewis got plenty of good swings, getting out a 2-0 lead in the top of the first propelled by an RBI triple from Mike Weir and an RBI double from Chris Reichmann. Chopper held the Factory scoreless in the bottom, striking out Jay Legenos looking and inducing a fly ball from Fitness captain Edwin Rodriguez.

But Lewis couldn’t put the hammer down. It seemed to this writer that their tendency to rely on bunts has begun to bite them. The love of the sacrifice essentially hands over an out to their opponents when in fact swinging their bats is apt to do far more damage. With runners on first and second in the second behind singles by Billy Smith and Bob Glassel, Glen Rosenberger’s attempt to move the runners up went awry as charging first baseman Desmond Gonzalez caught a popped-up bunt for one out and fired to first to catch Glassel off the bag for a double play. John Fanning drove in one run, but the inning should have been a big one.

The Factory took a 5-3 lead in the third but quickly gave it back in the top of the fourth as the Lewis team began to look more like themselves. Fannings’s two run triple and RBI’s from Chris Hubert and Mike Weir gave Lewis the 7-5 edge. Chopper delivered two first-rate scoreless innings, and when Lewis scored twice more in the top of the sixth, they led 9-5 and looked to be on the verge of handing Fitness Factory their first ‘L’ of the season.

Factory got one run in the bottom of the sixth to draw within three. Conner pitched a scoreless seventh, setting up Factory’s last licks needing three to tie and four to win. Factory players must have been mulling over catcher Keith Shaddock’s constant chatter: “Lotta game left here. Keep your heads up,” he said, urging his teammates all night.

In the inning when it all mattered they heeded his call. Mike Weiner led off with a single and Shaddock drove him to third with a double. Conner’s single got one run in, Gallos drove in the next with a base hit and Legenos tied the game with a single of his own. Edwin Rodgriguez drew the intentional walk to load the bases before Alex Salazar won the game with a single. As the teams shook hands anticipating their next meeting, several Lewis players were heard to say, “What do we need to do beat these guys?” Frank Exner answered back, “Score more runs.” Chopper added, “And give them only three outs in an inning not five.”

It sounds like a plan but if Fitness Factory continues to draw on their seemingly endless supply of mojo, Lewis’ talent and grit just might not be enough. Rain soaked fields postponed the August 15 double-header that would have decided which of these two great teams will head into the final round.