Calzones Serve a Special Order Against Henley's

After a slow start, the 123 Calzones were certainly serving up a multitude of platters on the softball diamond.

Zach Basterache led a balanced attack, with a pair of RBI singles, a double and a two-run home run as the Calzones coasted to an 18-5 win over Henley’s in Friday night’s WayCo Men’s Softball League action at West Plain Field.

With the win, the Calzones improved to 5-4 overall while Henley’s remained winless at 0-9.

“We’re just out here to have a good time,’’ said Basterache. “We hit the ball well tonight, and we’re playing together as a team. We have a lot of great chemistry and we all feed off each other whether when we’re at the plate or out in the field making plays.”

Backed by a pair of singles, Henley’s grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Brett Thomas and Doug Curtin laced singles before Mark Bonner lined an RBI single. With one out, Brian Murtaugh followed with a two-run double to right center.

On a two run single, the Calzones closed the gap to 3-2 in the bottom half of the inning, Nick Fargnoli and Angel Lopez each lined singles to center before Kevin Keane delivered a two-run bloop single to right center.

An RBI single by Roby Williams in the top of the fourth momentarily regained momentum for Henley’s in establishing a 4-2 lead, but the Calzones answered with a five run surge in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, Basterache lined an RBI double before Cam Owens recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to right, tying the contest at 4-4. Fargnoli reached on a fielding error and a sharp single by E.J. Nicholas quickly placed runners on the corners before Lopez launched a two-run double to center. Moments later, Lopez would score on a Keane’s RBI sacrifice fly to right, as the Calzones grabbed a 7-4 lead.

After Henley’s scraped across a run in the top of the third, the Calzones increased the lead to 9-5 in the bottom of the third backed by several key hits. Jay Saltmarsh launched a triple that rolled down the left field line before scoring on Basterache’s RBI single. Owens followed, lacing an RBI single as the Calzones established the five run edge.

Feasting on Henley’s pitching, the Calzones added insurance with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Lopez reached on an error before a single by Scott Colantropo placed runners on the corners. Saltmarsh followed, lining an RBI triple down the right field line. Basterache continued with the hot bat, launching an inside the park home run to deep left, sliding under the tag at home as the Calzones increased the lead to 12-5.

An RBI sacrifice fly by Colantropo in the bottom of the sixth increased the lead to 13-5 before the Calzones secured the win with a five run outburst in the last of the sixth.

Consecutive singles by Saltmarsh, Basterache and Owens ignited the rally before a double by Fargnoli, a three base error and an RBI single by Nicholas paved the way for a commanding 18-5 edge.

“We finished the game strong, and we had consistent hitting from all parts of the line-up,’’ said Basterache. “It was a total team effort, and I was very pleased with how we played as a team from top to bottom.”