Swingers Show Patience in Big Win

Bunch O'Swingers were able to score 15 runs on just five hits thanks to their patience at the plate en route to a 15-2 win over Saturday Crush in four innings. The Swingers would work 14 walks to help them to victory. With the win, the Swingers head into the All-Star Break with a record of 5-3, just two games out of first place. Saturday Crush saw their record fall to .500, at 4-4.

The Swingers, determined to have a better showing in the second of two games on this day, started things out with a huge 14-run first inning. Mike Reese singled to lead off the game before Joe Noss and Rich Trudnak each walked. Bill Smith then scored Reese on a fielder's choice. Dick Noss then walked to load the bases and Reese hit an RBI single. Six consecutive walks followed, with Rich Noss, Smith, Dick Noss, Reese, and Joe Noss all recording an RBI with the free pass. Smith and Dick Noss would walk later on, as well, also knocking in runs. Mike Reese got just the third hit of the inning, a two-RBI double. Trudnak would follow two batters later with an RBI single to give the Swingers the 14-0 lead early.

Saturday Crush was able to put two runs on the board in the bottom half of the inning. Shawn Ashton singled to start the inning, and following a single by Justin Gober, Mark Belles would hit both runners in with a single of his own. Saturday Crush found themselves down 12 after just one inning, by the score of 14-2.

The last scoring of the game would come in the top of the second, with the Swingers adding on an insurance run. Dick Noss hit a solo-shot to lead off the second, ending the scoring in the process. Neither team could plate a runner for the rest of the four-inning affair, leaving the score at 15-2.

Dick Noss (1-1) got the win for Bunch O'Swingers. He allowed the two runs off eight hits. Noss struck out two, while not allowing a walk.

Bunch O'Swingers all-star Mike Reese led the way offensively, going 3-for-6 with a double and four runs batted in. Trudnak added three RBI and Smith had two in the win.

Craig Kittrick (0-1) took the loss in his first BWBL action. He went just one-third of an inning, allowing eight runs on just two hits. He also walked six. Andy Peck allowed one run without recording an out before Mark Belles was able to slow the bleeding, allowing six runs in two-and-two-thirds innings of work. Belles gave up just three hits, walking seven and striking out one.

Ashton was the top hitter for Sat Cru, going 3-for-4. Belles was 2-for-4, knocking in both runs in the loss.

Bunch O'Swingers head into the All-Star Break looking up at the division leaders, but only two games back. They will have two representatives in the mid-season classic - Mike Reese and Bill Smith.

The Swingers will next play a double-dip on Sunday, July 23 beginning at 12 noon. The first game will be against Pizza Bella, and in the second, BOS will do battle with another BWBL original, Mericle Real Estate.

Saturday Crush would next play the Pittston Park Boys at 7 pm the same night.

Date: July 9, 2006     Time: 5:00pm      Venue: East End Minor League