Joe’s Bar Wins Softball Title in Rout
By Tim “Shoe” Sullivan
Another coed softball season is in the books.
The curtain fell on the 2017 Tuesday night “Jim Barden” League at Doug’s Sports Pub as the favored Joe’s Bar hammered Central Door Solutions, 22-4, at Moore Barn Memorial Park.
“I’m really proud of our guys and gals,” said Sean Stroik, owner of Joe’s Bar. “They obviously came to play tonight.”
Joe’s Bar had 26 hits in the championship game while CDS was held to 12. The winners also bashed three home runs, including a grand slam. Eleven of the Solutions’ 12 hits were singles.
The visiting Central Door Solutiuons were stymied in the top of the first and only managed a single by Adam Lee. On the other hand, Joe’s put four runs up on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning. In a Moore Barn Park first, their four runs literally went up on the official scoreboard in center field which was manned by Emily Dampier.
Rob King ignited the attack with a solid single and “Kinger” scored on Casey Bielen’s double. King and Bielen combined for nine hits in the contest. With Bielen on second, Brianna Dobbratz singled and shortstop Travis Kempf followed with a long three-run homer to center over the Point Bowl sign. Joe’s led 4-0 after one.
Chad “Chippy” Bielen, Joe’s Bar social director, observed: “Kempf’s homer seemed to take the wind out of their sails.” CDS stranded two runners in the top of the second as Morgan Oppor and Robby Armatoski both singled but were unable to score. Joe’s tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the second thanks to singles by Rob King and Courtney Nelson which followed a double by Ryan Gleesing. Joe’s led 6-0 after two.
Mark Leatherman, the losing pitcher, doubled to lead off the third for the Solutions but Joe’s Travis Kempf and Julie Johnson turned a nifty double play to keep the shutout intact.
Joe’s catcher Beke Blue said his team’s defense was “rock-solid all night.”
The winners pushed across another run in the bottom of the inning when Kempf tripled and came home on Kyle Salzmann’s base hit; 7-0 Joe’s after three.
Central Door Solutions finally put Emily Dampier to work on the scoreboard as they got a fourth inning run when Sue Gruba singled and scored after Morgan Oppor walked and Robby Armatoski singled. Robby was three for three on the day.
Joe’s went nuts in the bottom of the fourth as the rout was on. They scored seven runs, and the rally featured singles by Gleesing, Bielen, Brianna Dobbratz, Kempf, and Bailey Hinderman mixed in with King’s third hit, a double, and Kyle Salzmann’s grand slam homer over the H&K Tool & Die Company sign in left; 14 to 1 was the tally after four.
CDS went quietly in the fifth but Joe’s didn’t. They scored four more runs Bailey Hinderman, Courtney Nelson, Bielen, and Brianna each singled and King had his fourth hit, a double. King and Bielen combined for nine runs. Nothing came in for the Solutions in the sixth. and Joe’s, leading 18-1, sent four more runners across the plate. Gleesing and Julie Johnson singled, King doubled for his fifth hit, and Bielen went deep to conclude the scoring for Joe’s.
Central Door Solutions got three runs in the top of the seventh on singles by Morgan Oppor, Robby Armatoski, Mark Leatherman, Abby Rottier, and Adam Lee. The final score was 22-4.
Joe’s Bar had the best record during the regular season while CDS finished second.
Bobby Sullivan called the balls and strikes behind the plate and Jesse Higgins umped the bases. Tyler Davis and Beke Blue were the official game photographers. The league party was held following the title game which began with both teams lined up for the playing of the National Anthem.
The championship game was played in perfect softball weather under blue skies.
CENTRAL DOOR SOLUTIONS BATTING STATS: Abby Rottier: two singles. (Abby will be the official scorer’s assistant for the Guns n’ Hoses Game at Bukolt August 26.). Adam Lee: two singles. Sue Gruba: single, run. (Sue gave the announcer a bag of red potatoes). Morgan Oppor: two singles, walk, run. Robby Armatoski: three singles. Kim Schmitz: run. Mark Leatherman: double, single, run. JOE’S BAR BATTING STATS: Rob King: two singles, three doubles, five runs. Courtney Nelson: two singles, run. Casey Bielen: two singles, double, homer, four runs. Brianna Dobbratz: three singles, three runs. Travis Kempf: homer, triple, single, three runs. Bailey Hinderman: two singles, run. Kyle Salzmann: single, grand slam homer. Beke Blue: fine play at home. Chelsea Stenzel: single, good catch behind the plate. Ryan Gleesing: double, two singles, two runs. Julie Johnson: single, two runs.
THE LEAGUE LEADERS IN BATTING DURING THE SEASON: Casey Bielen (Joe’s Bar): .804. Travis Kempf (Joe’s Bar): .794. Kyle Brooks (CDS): .733. Jake Mortimer (Final Score): .703. Codi Klismith (Final Score): .695. Rob King (Joe’s Bar): .684. Bobby Sullivan (Final Score): .666. Casey Kedrowski (Joe’s Bar): .590. Adam Lee (CDS): .562. Robby Armatoski (CDS): .552. Cory Blake (Final Score): .538. Dalton Wriedt (Final Score): .526. Garrett Karnowski (CDS): .420.
LEAGUE LEADERS IN HOME RUNS: Casey Bielen: 14. Travis Kempf: 9. Rob King: 8. Bobby Sullivan: 6. Cory Blake: 5. Robby Armatoski: 4. Kyle Brooks: 3. Dalton Wriedt: 3. Codi Klismith: 2. Adam Lee: 2.
LEAGUE LEADER IN WALKS: Casey Kedrowski (Joe’s Bar): 10.