Monticello Men’s Softball League

Port pride

Ma-n-Pa’s wins the battle of Port Jervis rivals with late game surge

By RICHARD A. ROSS

MONTICELLO, NY - When two teams with playoff aspirations meet for the first time in a season, there’s always a charge in the air. Amp that up to dangerous high voltage when you have a match up between Port Jervis rivals the Mountainview Mustangs and Ma-n-Pa’s.

It’s a strong competitive rivalry that has been fueled in part by past friction. Mustang pitcher Mike Schultz was a member of the Ma-n-Pa’s team that lost to Fitness Factory in the finals last year, but a falling out with longtime friend Vinnie Radesca led to Schultz’s switch to the Mustangs. Schultz says they’re still friends, but when the teams play each other the gloves come off and it’s an all-out battle.

The teams hail from different divisions. Ma-n-Pa’s came in sporting an impressive 8-3 record, which had them in second place in the Culligan Division behind Fitness Factory, with a 9-0 record and a third place overall standing in the league.

The Mustangs entered the game at 7-3 after beating Sullivan Sports with a seventh inning comeback in the night’s opener to top the men in blue 9-8. They were stoked to do the same against a team they yearned to beat.

Ma-n-Pas got on the board first with a two-run opening frame. After Schultz issued a leadoff walk to Josh Card, Billy Schutz got the scoring started with an RBI single. A second run scored on an errant throw on Brian Kowal’s flyout.

The Mustangs came back and tied it up with a two-run single by Thomas VanDunk that drove in Jerry Sacco and Josh Davies.

Schultz kept Ma-n-Pa’s scoreless for the second and third inning while his team got the lead with a run in the second and the third. Gary (Foot) Predmore, known for his size-20 shoes, followed Shane Gorr’s double with an RBI double in the second inning. Sacco had an RBI double in the third to stake the Mustangs to a 4-2 lead.

Ma-n-Pa’s pulled within one with a run in the fourth as John Corrie brought in Austin Carrol with an RBI single.

The Mustangs got that run right back with a double by VanHorn that drove in Gorr.

Both teams erupted for four runs apiece in the fifth inning. Ma-n-Pa’s jumped on Schultz for three straight hits, including a bunt single by Card, and RBI doubles by John Jimenez and Schutz. The other runs scored on an E-9 hit by Kowal and a sac fly from Radesca.

A smoldering Mustangs team answered right back by sending nine men to the plate against Ma-n-Pa’s pitcher Anthony Filone.

Staging a two-out rally, the Mustangs got things started when Mike Sobolewsky reached on an E-9 and advanced on a passed ball. Sacco drove him in. Davies singled and VanDunk plated a run by reaching on an E-4 before Schultz helped his own cause with a two-run single that reinstated the Mustangs’ lead at 9-8 heading into the sixth.

Ma-n-Pa’s took the lead again, this time for good, with a three-run sixth fueled by singles galore. After loading the bases with hits by Carrol, Kenny Halupka and Mike (aka Girth) Paulia, Filone, Card and Jimenez had consecutive RBI singles off Schultz.

The Mustangs went down one-two-three in the sixth but still only trailed by two.

What they needed was to hold down their rivals in the seventh to afford themselves the opportunity for a last inning win just like they had earlier in the evening versus Sullivan Sports.

But Ma-n-Pa’s had a different idea, namely to tack on insurance runs. They did that by getting five big ones in the top of the seventh. Kowal drew a leadoff walk, and a single to Radesca. Another walk to Alex Rodriquez loaded the bases with no one out. Carrol hit an RBI single and Corrie knocked in two more. Ma-n-Pa’s iced things off with two more runs scored on outs before the Mustangs (made up of many Port Jervis fireman) could finally put out the flames.

When the smoke cleared, the damage looked nearly irreparable. Facing an uphill climb with a deficit of seven runs, the Mustangs came to the plate to try and salvage the game.

They did get a pair of runs in the inning, including an RBI double from Tom Butler, but the game ended with Ma-n-Pa’s holding the 15-11 edge.

Ma-n-Pa’s improved to 9-3 with the win, while the Mustangs slipped to 7-4.

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