Sports
By Don Lyons - August 24, 2006
Carol Bailey often fills the shortstop position for the Late Fees. Photos by Ralph Stewart
Crunch time for women's softball
Four teams miss the cut
All eight of the MV women's softball league teams were in action Monday and the four teams that lost their games are dropped from the single elimination championship tourney.
There were some surprises.
Not surprising was the 12-2, mercy-rule defeat of the Wampum (1-12) by the top-seeded Creamers (13-1).
The game was played on the high school field.
Quite surprising was the lack of offense in the second-seeded Honeys (10-3) defeat of the (2-11) Late Fees. After a scoreless first inning, both teams posted runs in the second and the Honeys led, 2-1. That was all the scoring in the game until the 6th inning when the Honeys pushed across a third run. Final: Honeys 3, Late Fees 1.
Honeys shortstop Beth Sawyer has good hands and an arm like a rifle.
Certainly unexpected was the (4-10) Snaps devouring of the (10-4) Oysters, 12-4. The Snaps scored in every inning but the 4th and 7th. The Oysters scored their runs in the 3rd.
The Shady Ladies vs. Coolers game took 45 minutes to get through the first two innings. The Coolers led off with three runs, and the Ladies responded with four. The Coolers raised the ante with five in the 2nd. The Ladies raised with six. It was 10-8 after two innings.
The Coolers cooled off and went quietly in the 3rd and 4th while the Ladies added three in the 3rd and two in the 4th. The Coolers rallied for two in the 5th but the Shady Ladies replied with five, creating a 10 run lead 20-10 in five innings and triggering the league's mercy (aka slaughter) rule.
The championship tournament climaxes Friday evening. At 6 pm, the Honeys will be home to the Shady Ladies and the Creamers entertain the Snaps. The two winning teams will meet at 7:30 pm to decide the league championship.
It promises to be an evening of outstanding, good natured softball and the whole Island is invited to come, bring food and drink, and make a real Vineyard evening of it.
To the victors belongs the right to pose at home plate.
Hurricanes blow by Cannons
The Hurricanes, one of the Men's Softball League's veteran clubs and league champions in 2004, reclaimed the top title by defeating one of the league's newest teams, the Cannons, Thursday, by sweeping the best two out of three playoff finals at Veterans Park, Tisbury, 17-6.
The 'Canes had spiked the Cannons, Monday, 12-9.
Thursday's game was close for five innings. Both teams scored three runs in the first. The 'Canes added one in the top of the second and the Cannons responded with two in their half of the frame leaving the Cannons up, 5-4, after two.
Both teams were scoreless in the third.
The Hurricanes failed to score again in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the inning the Cannons went two up, 6-4. But that ended the Cannons offense. They would not put another mark on the scoreboard.
The Hurricanes, on the other hand, were just warming up. They took the lead for the first time in the game scoring three runs in the fifth when Bill Jackson drove in Ray Tattersall and Harry Holmes with a fence-clearer. It was Jackson's second home run of the game.
The 'Canes padded the lead with two more in the sixth, to lead 9-6 then batted around and put the game out of reach by adding eight more in the seventh, an inning that featured back-to-back homers by James Rebello and Ken Sylvia.
Final score of the final game: 'Canes 17, Cannons 6.
Peggy Murphy, of Richmond, Va., was the best of the 46-64 group at 39' 6". Then she won the championship title with a 42' 6" effort in the finals.
Spiders fly at the fair
The skillet throw has become one of the favorite and eagerly looked for events of the annual Agricultural Society Fair. It was one of the last scheduled events of the four-day exposition.
Ninety-two women showed up to compete in four "lots," divided by age. Some threw their skillets (the kind of frying pan your great grandmother called a spider) from a standing position, some with, some without, a windup. One competitor's windup included a 360-degree circle, like a pitcher in a fast-pitch softball game. Most took three or four run-up steps toward the foul line, a la bowling. One tried spinning like a shot putter - or more like a hammer thrower, actually. There were lefties and righties and one switch-hitter.
No one tried to throw the skillet overhand or to scale it. A few lost their footing on the rain-soaked ground.
Carolyn Dowd had the longest throw in the youngest age group, 18-29. She tossed it 40' 10", three inches farther than Jessica Wilcoxen, who was second at 40' 7". Then came (3) Briana Holt, 39' 7"; (4) Andria DellaRusso, 38' 9"; (5) Alice Self, 38' 5"; and (6) Colleen Corr, 38' 3".
Twenty-three women competed in Lot 1.
In the 30-45 age group, Jennifer Oliver had the longest throw, 45' 3", which also was the longest of the day. Jennifer Gardner's 41' 4" and Dana Clark's 41' 2" were place and show in the lot. Fourth through sixth were Sheila Rayyan, 40' 4"; Michelle Barry, 39' 4"; and Holly MacKensie, 38' 1". Lot 2 had 35 competitors.
Dana Clark's 41' 2" toss was the third longest of the day.
Peggy Murphy led the 46-64 lot with a 39' 6" effort. Beth Campbell and Pam Coblyn tied for second at 38' 11. Debra Polucci was third at 34' 6"; followed by (4) Suzie Stiassni, 33' 3"; (5) Jennifer Goldstein, 31' 4"; and (6) Maria Mitro, 30' 7". Thirty women contended in Lot 3.
In Lot 4, for women 65 years-old or more, four women tried their hand at skillet throwing. (1) Dana Anderson's best was 36' 4"; Ann Dietrich's was 28' 1"; Ann Howes managed 25' 3"; and Judy Bryant, 17' 9".
The top throwers in each category were recalled for a final throw to decide the tournament champion. Peggy Murphy outdid herself and everyone else with a 42' 6" heave.
In all, 92 women tried their hand at skillet tossing.
Joan and John Mancuso were the capable organizers of the event with lots of help from Kate Grandfield, secretary, and Jenny Gadowski, announcer.
