Michael Swendsen Benefit Softball Tourney

Davis Excavating takes Swendsen tournament title

American Electric fails in comeback bid as community supports ailing carpenter

By RICHARD A. ROSS

COCHETON CENTER, NY — There was no shortage of rallying spirit at the softball benefit tournament for Michael Swendsen, a local carpenter rebounding from a May diagnosis of brain cancer and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Swendsen, who is lively and positive, was on hand for nearly every inning of the September 16 and 17, eight-team tournament, organized by Ron Canfield of Ronny’s Ringers.

Akin to Swendsen’s rallying verve, the teams locked in the final two-game battle for the title had their own comeback stories. American Electric, which benefited from the acquisition of standout pitcher Tim “Chopper” Ackermann and the leadoff hitting of Billy Nordenhold, played the best softball of the young team’s history.

After defeating M+M Waste Removal and Ronny’s Ringers, American Electric lost to Davis Excavating. They got another crack at them by defeating Ronny’s Ringers 11-7 in the losers’ bracket final. Davis had arrived in the championship game with wins over Mike Davis and Lake Huntington Garage.

The first championship game resulted in a 16-6 win by American Electric via the 10-run rule that ended the game after six innings. American Electric capitalized on a five-run second inning and six-run fourth inning to do the damage. Key in the assault was MVP Logan Cole, who drove in a pair of runs and went two-for-three. The men in red and white also got RBI from Jay Henry, Gavin Salzburg, Rob Taylor, Mike Popolillo, Pat Hammett and Nordenhold.

In game two, American Electric got out to a 6-2 lead after three innings riding RBI from Taylor, Mike Cookingham and Popolillo.

But Davis Excavating, fielding a team with tournament experience, fought back with two runs in the third, three in the fourth and two more in the fifth to tie the game at seven up on a two-run homer from Joel Turner. American Electric had added a run in the bottom of the fourth on a sac fly from Salzburg.

Davis increased its lead with two runs in the sixth and another in the top of the seventh to take a 10-7 lead. American Electric had last licks.

With one out, the team staged a rally with consecutive hits by Hammett, Nordenhold, Evan Kraack and Henry. The latter two knocked in one and two runs respectively to tie the game. Taylor and Popolillo were intentionally walked to load the bases.

That brought up Cookingham and all American Electric needed was a sac fly to win the tournament.

Then it happened.

Cookingham fouled off a pitch from Kyle Rizzi Jr. that ricocheted against his temple. Woozy and dazed, he shook it off and continued his at-bat. He hit a sizzler to third base that was snagged by the outstanding play of T.J. Branning, who stepped on third for the force and fired to first for the inning-ending double play.

Davis went on to score a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning on a sac fly by Mike Cole and a single by Josh Smith. American Electric went quietly in the bottom of the inning and Davis Excavating was crowned tournament champion.

Pitcher Jim Davis was named tournament MVP.

The weekend was a stellar success with raffles galore. Swendsen, who is responding to the treatment he is receiving at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA, was upbeat and moved by the support.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this. You really find out how much love there is from family and friends,” he said. Swendsen, who is from Tyler Hill, was stricken by bouts of dizziness last May and after initial treatment for vertigo, the tumor was diagnosed by Dr. Yvonne Newland-Pagan of Liberty.

Like the two teams he posed with in the tournament-ending pictures, Swendsen refuses to give up.

The tournament provided an inspiring finish to a softball season that was marked by numerous benefits that rallied community members to support one another in times of need.

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of tournament weekend pictures.