Ballbusters Clinch Second Place

A 7-3 victory Wednesday over the Pub Ryots clinched second place for the Poppy's Ballbuster's in next week's playoffs.

The Pub Ryots will be the sixth seed. However, all seedings are dependent on a makeup game between the Legal Eagles and Hot Shotz on Monday. Poppy's will remain the second seed, however.

Poppy's led 5-0 at the end of the second on runs from Stephanie Shaughnessy, Linda Derenzis, Hedy Gannon, Debbie Unger, and Sharon Liguori.

Kaleena Ladeairous scored the Pub Ryots first run in the bottom of the third to trail 5-1. It stayed this way until the top of the fifth when a DeRenzis single brought in Pam Stonehouse. Gannon followed with a single to score Shaughnessy for a 7-1 lead.

Stonehouse was stellar out in the field with three plays, including catching a deflected ball that bounced off Debbie Unger's glove in the bottom of the sixth.

Brandi Soloman was also a threat in left field, keeping the Ryots in the game as did other players, including Kohn, Katharine Sweeney, Lisa Fillet and Maureen Brophy.

The Pub Ryots scored two more runs in the bottom of the seventh but it wasn't enough as the Ballbusters held on for the 7-3 win.

"It was a big win because if we would have lost we would have had to wait until Monday," said Ballbusters' coach Bobby Piovesan.

Had they lost, the Ballbusters would have had to wait for the outcome of a makeup game between the Legal Eagles and Hot Shotz on Monday.

Poppy's can now rest and prepare for the playoffs, which start on July 29.

"It gives us an extra three days," Piovesan said. "Now we just rest up until the playoffs."

Pub Ryots Coach Mary Slater was also pleased with her team's performance.

"We played well," she said. "We had some big hits and we usually rally in the end." 

Sharon Liguori walked two batters in seven innings pitched for Poppy's. Eileen Coughlin pitched two innings, walking four before Kohn came in to relieve her and pitched five innings, striking out one batter and walking three for the Pub Ryots.