Sports
By Don Lyons - June 29, 2006
Chris Morris's double drove in William Stewart in the bottom of the third, putting the Dodgers up, 3-0. Photos by Sara Piazza
Dodgers in command
The Little League championship game between the Dodgers and the Tigers was bumped from Saturday to Monday by the heavy weekend rain and from Nunes Field, Edgartown to Veira Park, Oak Bluffs, because of superior drainage.
Monday was clear, hot, almost windless and the field was in excellent condition. A large tent had been pitched behind the home plate fence where cold drinks, burgers and hot dogs were available. Ernie Chaves manned the PA system, announcing the names of the batters and fielders to the large crowd of spectators while Paul Donnelly provided appropriate ballpark music.
William Stewart started on the mound for the Dodgers, went three innings and was in complete control. He faced nine batters in the three innings, fanning eight. He struck out the side in the first and third. Peter Keaney led off the second with a single through the hole between short and third. The next two batters struck out and Keaney was thrown out trying to steal second by catcher Ben Ciciora.
Ben Ciciora's port-sided fastball was a problem for the Tigers.
Meanwhile, Keaney was keeping the Dodgers off the scoreboard until the third when errors hurt him. Nelson Dickson and Ciciora reached on errors and Stewart drove them in with a double into right center. Christopher Morris followed with another double, scoring Stewart. Keaney got Espino to pop out to short and Tony Canha looked at a third strike, ending the inning.
In the bottom of the third, Mike Cutrer went down swinging. Charlie Ashmun flied out to Cooperrider in centerfield and Justin Smith grounded out to second.
Pitcher Stewart and catcher Ciciora swapped positions and Ciciora struck out the top of the Tigers order beginning the fourth. The Dodgers fared no better going out in order in the bottom of the inning.
Keaney got his second hit leading off the fifth, one of the infield variety. Jim Maseda also reached on an infield hit and Kevin Galligan drove in Keaney with a hit to left, Maseda taking third.
After Bardwell and Marchand went down swinging, and Dickson was at the plate, a pitch got away from Ciciora and Maseda tried to score; but catcher Stewart chased down the wild pitch and tossed to Ciciora covering, and Maseda was out at the plate.
The Dodgers scored four more runs in the fifth. After pinch hitter Nick Costello struck out, Ciciora doubled. Stewart followed in the batter's box and the Tigers decided to walk him intentionally. He took three balls, then swung lazily at the next two wide pitches running the count to three and two. The full count was too much of a temptation and the Tigers decided to go after Stewart. He fouled off two then drove the ball toward the fence for his second double, scoring Ciciora.
The play seemed to rattle the Tigers and the Dodgers took advantage of three infield errors. Stewart, Morris, and Smith (running for Espino) all scored, making the final count 7-1.
In the top of the sixth, Ciciora walked Nelson Dickson, then struck out Kyp Cooperrider, Mark Turner (in for Burgoyne) and Stuart Hersh to end the inning and the game.
Wally Gold called balls and strikes.
Action at second base - the runner is out but there was no double play. Photos by Ralph Stewart
Women's softball
Tuesday evening, the Mocca Mott Creamers continued their winning ways at the expense of the Dairy Queen Coolers while the Tomahawk Oysters were being upset by the Long & Meehan, snaps 8-5, tasting defeat for the first time.
The Summer Shades Shady Ladies vs. Island Entertainment Late Fees game, played under the lights was a marathon, primarily because the Ladies lost their pitcher, Sarah Alberti, in a freak accident in the pre-game warm up and had trouble finding a replacement on the "mound" until shortstop Sarah Jolicheur took over in the sixth inning. A succession of three Shady Ladies walked in ten runs in the top of the fifth putting the Late Fees ahead by six, 15-9. But the Ladies scored three in the bottom of the inning, one more in the sixth and three in the seventh to claim the win, while shortstop Jolicheur had shut down the Late Fees offense. Final count: Shady Ladies 16, Late Fees 15.
Standings as of Wednesday
Creamers 5-0, Oysters 3-1, Honeys 2-1, Shady Ladies 2-2, Snaps 1-2, Late Fees 1-3, Coolers 1-4, Wampum 0-2.
Sam Griswold controls the ball for Sports Haven though harried by a Broadway defender. Photo by Ralph Stewart
Summer soccer
The Vineyard Summer Soccer League began play Tuesday, at Veterans Park when Lathe and Plaster plastered Coop deVille, 5-1. John DeWitt, of Hamilton College, scored three times. The prettiest goal was headed in by Chris Menne off a perfect crossing pass by Reid Turner.
The second game was a low-scoring affair. Sports Haven and Broadway Screen Printing tied, 1-1
The league is in play Wednesdays and Thursdays as well as Tuesdays
Also Sunday
A seven-team Brazilian league is in action Sunday mornings beginning at 11 am. Five of the teams are home grown. Two come from off Island: Boston and Plymouth.
MV United unbeaten league champs
Martha's Vineyard United, the Division II South Shore Soccer League under 16 champions, were undefeated (10-0) in league play and qualified for last weekend's state tournament at Amherst. They lost to Bridgewater on the second day of the three-day tourney.
Shown above at Amherst are, left to right, back row: Philip Dwane, head coach, Diego Barcelos, Jess Swaringen, Fabio Motta, Jeff McIsaac, Allen Birol, J.P. Oliveira, Adiles Goncalves, Coach Matt Poole. front row: Billy Reagan, Alex Poole, Kenny MacDonald, Nico Cuba, Ryan Dwane, Rodrigo Barcelos, and Mac Hoggan. Not shown, Abraham Rendon.
