McKay Club Beacons - 9 Somerville - 5

Beacons 9 Somerville 5 @ Ronan Park!

The Somerville Alibrandi Club with 10 YBL Rings and their usual swagger -- strutted their stuff to Ronan Park on Wednesday night. The team that has set a standard for behavior between the white lines in this league for 11 years was stunned by an upstart TEAM. The McKay Club beacons took it to the Champs in style on home turf.

Somerville pitcher Steve Szathmary has difficulty on dirt surfaces according to assistant manager, Rob McDonough. His usual success on the grass infield at Trum was negated by the fast bald concrete surface at Ronan. Steve was hit for 6 early (1 in first & 5 in 3rd) innings. It was tough for Somerville to recover after that.

The beacons had nothing but respect for Alibrandi’s, but they were not in awe of them. The youngsters on this team – new to the YBL – just did what they do best play good baseball. Now a new contender for play off competition has emerged over the past 4 games. The beacons have that 4 game win streak going now and feel comfortable against the Iron of the YBL.

Jack Ownes has been huge in the lead-off spot and he leaned into one to lead off the contest. He then scored on a Connor Reinfurt (League leading 16th ) RBI. Jackie was 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and a stolen base. The Captain, who wears his beacon Heart on his sleeve was very happy after the game. He said, “I do not want to get to high about this – but this was a huge win”.

Owens led the 5 run 3rd with a solid single. He advanced to second on Ray (we are glad to have ya) Oshima’s single. Oshima has been a tremendous addition to the Club. Since he jumped on board the middle infield situation has settled the team down and solid D is the watchword. “The Brad Gerbus Show” walked to pickle the pads. Reinfurt was robbed of extra bases by a tremendous circus catch by the left fielder Davis. The runners held. But, Andy McAllister walked after a long battle with Szathmary to force Happy jack over the dish. The story of the young season is the UMass connection. Drew Tambling has climbed the YBL Batting leader ladder the past week. He smashed a double to plate Oshima and Gerbus. The man who has matured most on this team since he was moved over to 2B is Jake Souto. Jake has been solid at second and he has been hitting in the clutch. Jake knocked in Andy & Drew for the 4th & 5th runs of the inning.

The batting party would not be over. Oshima was pesky in his 3rd at bat and worked a walk to lead the 3rd stanza. Gerbus, who has been the YBL leading hitter for the season struck a solid single to the “other side” in LF. Reinfurt smashed one right at Dave Scioli at short for the easy 6-4-3 DP. BUT --- Andy McAllister sounded the attack and struck a single to plate Oshima and Dan Ciocca also chipped in with a single to plate McAllister.

The beacons added one more in the 6th for insurance. You never have enough runs against Somerville. Reinfurt hit a tumultuous double with one out. His UMass buddy Tambling sent him home for his 3rd RBI of the night. Tambling stole 2nd and 3rd in this sequence. His total stolen bases on the game were 3.

Mike Barthel went 5.2 solid innings. He was left in for 124 pitches. Barthel was touched up for a line drive HR by Justin Crissafuli in the 3rd and cruised along until the 6th. Somerville never quits and put a scare into the beacons plating 4. Ryan Thomas is smooth under pressure. He shut the door for the rest of the way to help his team to victory once again.

The beacons are a TEAM now. Much work and many challenges appear on the horizon as they take the “one game at a time” approach to this season. It is great to win – but even better when a team that no one expected anything of in the beginning of the season – can defeat the top notched Alibrandi Club of Somerville.