Monticello men’s softball league

Staying fit

Rockbar puts up its dukes but Fitness Factory remains undefeated

By RICHARD A. ROSS

MONTICELLO, NY — Sooner or later, Fitness Factory is bound to lose a game, although most nights it never seems that way. After all, they have already beaten Lewis Auto Parts, handing the men in black their only loss. The night before the game on June 22, they trounced Trotter’s 22-1.

But for the better part of the early going on June 22, it looked as if it might be Rockbar that could press Fitness Factory and eke out a win.

With a walk issued to Ashton Richards by Fitness pitcher JoJo Vankeuren to start the night, Rockbar got an RBI double from Victor Vargas to get out to a one-zip lead.

Rockbar pitcher John Wilhelm held the undefeated league leaders and defending champs scoreless in the first, but Fitness Factory got on top in the bottom of the second with a pair of runs, courtesy of hits by Jay Legenos (who promptly stole second), an E-8 issued to Denny Rivera and an RBI single from Mike Weiner.

Both pitchers blanked their opponents in the third. In fact, Vankeuren settled into a groove and shut out Rockbar for the next five innings, allowing only a sac fly in the top of the seventh. He pitched a four-hitter.

Not only does Fitness Factory have one of the league’s best pitchers in Vankeuren, they thrive on defense. With Legenos in center, an outfielder with tremendous range, Fitness Factory can afford to play a five-man infield while most teams use a fourth outfielder in short center. That allows fewer balls to get through and long flies are often tracked down by the team’s solid outfielders.

Fitness Factory’s bats looked a little slow early on, perhaps because this was not a game they anticipated playing.

But as the innings wore on, the team began to heat up. They scored two in the fourth, taking advantage of Aaron Dinkle’s leadoff double. Legenos had an RBI single, but was caught trying to steal second on a nice throw from catcher Adam Burkett to second baseman Matt Stoddard.

Rivera hit a blistering double over third and Weiner drove in the second run with a single.

With the game still close at 4-1, the team felt the urgency to get more runs to provide a cushion.

They got that in the bottom of the sixth with an outburst of five runs. A two-strike double by Legenos, a double by Alex Salazar, an E-9, singles by Vankeuren and Shane Connor and an RBI groundout by Keith Shaddock did the trick.

Fitness Factory improved to 9-0, while Rockbar fell to 3-6.

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