Monticello Men’s Softball League

Staying alive

Rockbar stays in the playoff hunt with a win over Ratner Paving

By RICHARD A. ROSS

MONTICELLO, NY - In the twilight hours of the Monticello Men’s softball regular season, below the spotlight of the top contenders, two teams fought for their playoff existence on July 25 as Rockbar sought to stave off a hot Ratner Paving squad.

At stake was the sixth playoff spot, which is still up for grabs amid the ever-shifting sands of team standings.

Ratner Paving got out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, fueled by an RBI double from Aaron Bertholf, who drove in Ellis Garcia. Ratner Paving hurler Tom Malone held Rockbar scoreless in the bottom of the frame, and Ratner extended its lead in the second with two more runs on a double by Joey Bertholf. Ratner Paving has been on a hitting tear and had won its previous three games.

But Rockbar has some major sticks of its own, and in the bottom of the second, they ignited. John Rusin led off with a home run and Corey Pazzalia and Adam Burkitt singled. Jesse Carlucci brought in another run with a single. Up next was Mike Cook, who shot a thunderous homer over the right field fence, a jolt upwards of 265 feet, bringing in three runs. After Josh Edwards got on with a double and stole third, Ashton Richards brought him in on a sac fly.

They never trailed again.

Ratner got two back in the top of the third on a triple by Josh Lowitz. Ratner’s inning ended abruptly on a great 8-4-2 relay from Rusin to Richards, who pivoted and threw to the plate without setting himself. Corey Pazzalia applied the tag to Lowitz, who tried to stretch the triple into a four-bagger.

Rockbar picked up a run in the bottom of the frame as Jesse Carlucci brought in Burkitt, who had singled and advanced on a passed ball. That afforded Rockbar a 7-5 lead after three.

Rockbar pitcher Adam Lake worked a 1-2-3 fourth inning and his teammates extended the lead with a five-run outburst in the bottom of the inning. Rusin drove in two runs, adding to RBI courtesy of Casey Pazzalia and Carlucci.

Now leading 12-5, Rockbar settled into a defensive mode, holding Ratner to one run over the next two innings on an RBI single by Lowitz.

Rockbar got its final two runs on a homer from Lake in the fifth.

Heading into the seventh and trailing 14-6, Ratner made one final push to save its season by erupting for five runs. The scoring possibilities began with a leadoff walk to Doug Brown and Brian Brandes reaching on an E-2. Both runners scored, as did Jay Bertholf. Ed Inzauto walked with the bases loaded to bring in a run. Garcia’s arrival at first on an E-5 gave Ratner Paving their 11th and final run.

Rockbar improved to 7-7 and currently occupies the sixth and final spot in the playoff array. Ratner Paving fell to 6-11 and, while not mathematically eliminated at this juncture, find themselves clinging to an extremely dim hope of making it to the promised land.

In the upcoming playoffs, slated to begin August 7, the top two teams (Fitness Factory and Lewis Auto Parts) will get a first round bye. Sullivan Sports, which is ranked third, will take on the sixth place team while Ma-N-Pas will lock horns with the Port Jervis rival Mustangs.

Rockbar plays four games this week and holds destiny in its hands. They need to win two of those games for a chance to enter the playoffs.

Visit riverreportersports.com for a photo album of the game.