Three Blowouts on ‘Al’s Diner Softball Night’ at Iverson
By Tim “Shoe” Sullivan
“This wasn’t our finest hour,” mused Devin Lehman of Post Road Pub.
Devin made her comment after game one of the triple-header softball action at Iverson Park Thursday night. The Portage County Women’s Softball League officially named the evening “Al’s Diner Softball Night” because Gayle Guzman of Al’s provided 30 $10 gift certificates to be awarded during the games.
The first game wasn’t exactly a thriller as Rookie’s Royals (5-0) lambasted PRP, 30-2. The Royals amassed 30 hits (including 29 singles) and everyone who had a hit scored. Post Road’s second-baseman Jean Higdon commented, “I was getting dizzy watching all their runners going by. It seemed like Grand Central Station out there.”
For the record, Samantha Zommers of Rookie’s Royals scored five runs while Katie Steinbach and Kara Kurszewski both tallied four runs and Nicole Kirsch, Amy Kurszewski, Valerie Folan, Beke Blue, and Jodi Napiwocki each crossed the plate three times.
“The night wasn’t a total disaster,” said Post Road Pub outfielder Kendyl Ott. “Desiree Lehman, Shantell Zdroik, and I all won Al’s Diner gift certificates for being the first players at the game.”
League Commissioner Erin Laffe said, “It was awesome what Gayle Guzman of Al’s did for us; what a great contribution.”
Post Road Pub did manage to come up with 10 hits including two each by Alishea Johnson and Laura Waltenberg, and their two runs came in the fourth inning on back-to-back doubles by Johnson and Toni Gaddo and Wendy Johnston’s RBI single. Rookie’s Royals scored three runs in the first, 12 in the second, two in the third, three in the fourth, and 10 in the fifth.
Scoreboard operator Eugene Waltenberg commented, “I was getting worn out pushing all them run buttons.”
ROOKIE’S ROYALS BATTING STATS: Katie Steinbach: four singles; Samantha Zommers: five singles; Nicole Kirsch: two singles, double, walk; Amy Kurszewski: five singles; Valerie Folan: two singles; Beke Blue: two singles; Kara Kurszewski: three singles; Bailey Hinderman: three singles; Jodi Napiwocki: three singles; Kayla Perez: walk. POST ROAD PUB BATTING STATS: Kristin DeVogel: walk; Jean Higdon: single; Tiffany Feltz: walk; Alishea Johnson: single, double; Toni Gaddo: double; Desiree Lehman: single; Wendy Johnston: single; Devin Lehman: single; Laura Waltenberg: two singles; Shantell Zdroik: single.
TIME OF GAME: One hour (never reached the sixth inning).
Team Biadasz (2-3) hammered PRP, 20-5, in the third game of the triple-header. For the evening, Post Road Pub was outscored 50-7. Team Biadasz connected for 26 hits in the rout. They scored three runs in the first, six in the second, ten in the third, and one in the fourth.
The highlight came in the second when Post Road Pub outfielder Kendyl Ott was dancing to “The Twist” over the loudspeaker and got drilled by a routine fly-ball.
Kendyl observed, “I lost it in the lights.”
Home plate umpire Jesse Higgins said, “She was really rocking it out there.”
Amanda Kawlewski (four for four) and Melissa Dombrowski (four for four) and Britt Mae (three for three and a walk) were a perfect 11 for 11 at the plate. Everyone in the Team Biadasz lineup had at least two hits. And for the third game in a row, Amber Hintz socked a one-foot single.
She explained: “I really got that down. I knock the ball so it lands right in front of the plate and then I run like hell to first base.”
Tiffany Feltz, Kristen DeVogel, and Laura Waltenberg all scored for Post Road in the first. The Pub walked five times and pounded out six hits, all singles.
“They gave me an Al’s Diner certificate for making a nice catch,” the Pub’s Toni Gaddo remarked.
TEAM BIADASZ BATTING STATS: Amanda Kawlewski: four singles; Julie Peskie: two singles, three runs, winning pitcher; Ashlynn Plaski: two singles; Meg Lee: single, double, walk, three runs; Melissa Dombrowski: four singles; Miranda Yoose: single, triple; Britt Mae: three singles, walk; Amber Hintz: two singles; Michelle Zick: two singles, double; Niccole Plaski: two singles, two runs. POST ROAD PUB BATTING: Tiffany Feltz: two walks; Kristen DeVogel: walk, single; Laura Waltenberg: walk, two singles; Alishea Johnson: two singles; Wendy Johnston: walk, run; Toni Gaddo: single.
TIME OF GAME: 52 minutes.
“I had a blast,” said Krystin Eckes of Graffiti’s as her team throttled Rough Rookie’s, 19-5.
Krystin was making her Portage County Women’s Softball League debut at Iverson Thursday night. She also noted, “We’re 3-0 right now, and this team seems to have a bunch of good hitters.”
Indeed, Graffiti’s came up with 20 hits, including a homer, three triples, seven doubles, and five walks as they breezed past Rough Rookie’s (2-3 on the year). Graffiti’s broke a scoreless game wide open with six runs in the bottom of the second.
The key hits were Kayla Keepers’ double, Dana Krug’s triple, Nicole Ihrcke’s booming three-run homer, and three walks. Rough Rookie’s got on the board with three runs in the top of the third when Taylor Biermeier and Alaina Rustad singled and shortstop Andrea Stroik followed with a long three-run homer to right.
Rough Rookie’s got their remaining two runs in the fifth thanks to singles by Taylor, Alaina, Andrea, and Rookie rookie Jodi Pingel. Graffiti’s registered six run innings in both the fourth and fifth as well as the second. Sparking those rallies were two doubles by Hailee Fuller, Chelsey Vidal’s triple and single, Nicole Ihrcke’s double and single, Kara Sleeter’s single and double, Cheyenne Hahn’s two singles, and Krystin Eckes’ walk and single.
Graffiti’s also played some great defense. Krystin Eckes noted: “Geez, our shortstop Mak Lee has a cannon; she really zinged one over to Liz Morrison at first.”
Graffiti’s also has a tough pitcher as Kristen Felts (ends with a “s” and not a “z”) didn’t walk any batters. Rough Rookie’s managed 12 hits including three by Taylor Biermeier and two each by Alaina Rustad, Andrea Stroik, and Courtney Erdman. Jodi Pingel won a Al’s certificate for making a great play at third base.
ROUGH ROOKIES BATTING STATS: Taylor Biermeier: double, two singles; Alaina Rustad: two singles; Andrea Stroik: three-run homer in third, single; Jodi Pingel: single; (Josh Sirek applauded from stands); Katie Platta: single; Courtney Erdman: two singles; Christine Lutze: triple.
GRAFFITI’S BATTING STATS: Krystin Eckes: walk, single; Cheyenne Hahn: two singles; Kristen Felts: walk, pitching gem); Mak Lee: walk, triple, single; Hailee Fuller: walk, two doubles; Liz Morrison: walk, double, single; Kara Sleeter: two singles, double; Kayla Keepers: double; Dana Krug: triple, double; Nicole Ihrcke: three-run homer in second; double, single; Chelsey Vidal: triple, single.
TIME OF GAME: One hour two minutes.
LEAGUE STANDINGS: Rookie’s Royals: 5-0; Graffiti’s: 3-0; Team Biadasz: 2-3; Rough Rookies: 2-3; Post Road Pub Punishers: 0-6.
NEXT WEEK’S SCHEDULE: Thursday, October 13: 6:30: Post Road Pub vs Graffiti’s. 7:30: Team Biadasz vs Rough Rookies. 8:30: Rookie’s Royals vs Graffiti’s.