With only four weeks left in the Lake Orion Men’s Softball League’s regular season, the American League and National League leaders have secured playoff spots while a bevy of other squads fight for the final positions.
Hamlin Pub/Taco Bell improved to 11-1 overall with a 24-20 victory over Anderson Financial (6-6 record). Hamlin Pub/Taco Bell clinched the American League championship and the No. 1 seed in that division with its victory, a game held one week before the All-Star game (July 5th).
For Hamlin Pub/Taco Bell, Bruce Fox hit a home run and finished with five hits, Mike Lanfeer (home run) and coach Matt Moulder had four hits apiece, and Ryan Thebert chipped in three hits and a long ball, too.
Anderson Financial received five hits apiece from Brian McCall, Chris Teague and Keith Bergum.
Also in the American League, TLC/Gentry Painting moved into a three-way tie for second place, with a hard-fought 9-6 victory over the Lake Orion Eagles. Those two teams, and Anderson Financial, are tied for the final three playoff spots in that division with identical 6-6 records, as only four weeks remain in the regular season.
TLC/Gentry Painting managed just 16 hits in 36 at bats, as seven players had two hits each. Tommy Holcomb and Ed Buxton went 2-3 at the plate for the winning team.
Eight players from the Eagles’ team had two hits apiece, and Brett Powell led the way with a 2-2 showing.
BW3’s also kept its playoff hopes alive in the American League with a 19-3 triumph over Sports Explosion, which fell to 1-11 with its ninth-straight setback. BW3’s was paced by coach Reed Nelson and Matt Sliwa ‘Nelson went 3-4 from the plate with three scores and Sliwa led the team with four hits.
BW3’s now sits just one game out of the final playoff spot, chasing Anderson Financial, TLC/Gentry Painting and the Lake Orion Eagles.
One of the lone bright spots for Sports Explosion heading into the All-Star break was Mike Chamarro, who went 3-4 behind the dish. Ricky Slater and Ron Bigs each had two hits.
In the National League race, Cobra Computers/G & G Tree defeated division leader SteelMaster Transfer/Christi’s, 18-10. The victors now trail the division leaders by just one game, as Cobra Computers improved to 8-4 and SteelMaster Transfer/Christi’s now sits at 9-3.
Leading the way for the winning team was coach Erik Davenport, who had four hits in six trips to the plate. Phil Damico (two home runs) and Steve Griffen also chipped in four hits each, and scored three and four times, respectively. Scott Lawless also had four hits.
SteelMaster Transfer/Christi’s ended up with five home runs, but managed only 10 runs to go with its 20 hits. They were paced by coach Buster Krueger’s two home runs (three hits, three scores), as Kevin Boyt, Matt Morris and Justin Hanning also hit long balls for the division leaders.
It’s also turning out to be a tight race for the final pair of playoff spots in the National League. Gilligan’s Pizzeria upped its record to 7-5 with an 11-6 win over DeanoMac’s/RLC.
DeanoMac’s/RLC and Ruby Tuesday/Guinn Construction, which defeated VFW Post 334/State Farm (1-11 record), 23-9, are currently tied for the final playoff spot in the National League with 6-6 records.
But, those two teams are just two games behind Cobra Computers/G & G Tree with four to play, and Ruby Tuesday/Guinn Construction plays Cobra Computers/G & G Tree in an 8 p.m. nightcap July 12.
Gilligan’s Pizzeria had a 4-4 performance from Steve Bailey, as Darrin Lamphier, Tim Scribner and Wayne Fallis each had three hits.
For DeanoMac’s/RLC, Jimmy Hoffman (home run) and Jason Bailey had three hits apiece.
Ruby Tuesday/Guinn Construction had four of its nine home runs this season in its game against VFW Post 334/State Farm, as Donny Barnes, Adam Olanger, Eric Brittingham and coach Derek Stark hit long balls.
Jay Traylor had five hits for the winning team, and so did Greg Poulin and Olanger.
Ron Brunson and John Vackaro had four and three hits, respectively, for VFW Post 334/State Farm.