From Hops to Hay

After spending last weekend amidst beer hops and weeping skies in Cooperstown, the Neshanock spent Saturday in the heat, hay and humidity of the Howell Living History Farm in Lambertville, New Jersey.  The purpose of this year's visit to an historic site well worth visiting was to play a match with the Elizabeth Resolutes, New Jersey's senior vintage club.  Under the leadership of founder and captain Paul Salomone, the Resolutes roster has been almost completely rebuilt and based on Saturday's performance there is a lot of reason for optimism about their future.  Perhaps it was due to the absence of Danny "Lunch Time" Shaw the master of the bat toss, but the Neshanock lost the choice of at bats and went to the striker's line to start the game.  Play was called at 12:08 with Brian "Spoons" LoPinto at the line and the Neshanock lead off hitter quickly made his base and then came around to make his run on a hit by Scott "Snuffy" Hengst.  After putting out the Resolutes in order in the bottom of the inning, Flemington tallied again in the top of the second after Meshack "Shack" Dusane made his base, stole second and third and then made his run on a Resolute muff.

The Resolutes went out in order again in the second although it took a fine relay throw from Dan "Lefty" Gallahger to "Snuffy" to Ken "Tumbles" Mandel to retire the final Resolute striker.  Neither team scored in the third inning, but Flemington combined hits from "Snuffy," Adam "Beast" Leffler and "Shack" to tally a third run in the top of the fourth.  The Neshanock might have done further damage in that inning, but a fine fielding play by the Resolutes pitcher stranded runners at second and third.  Doubtless inspired by the defensive gem, the Elizabeth club followed some untimely Neshanock muffs with a combination of well struck and well placed balls to tally three times in the bottom of the inning to tie the match at 3-3 after four innings.  Flemington quickly regained the lead in the top of the fifth, however, and retired Elizabeth without a tally in the bottom of the inning, but still held only a one run lead.

The Neshanock got off to a quick start in the top of the sixth when Lee "Muffin" Middleburg, playing in his first vintage game, made his base starting a parade of Flemington base runners.  Five of the next six strikers made their base and when the dust (and hay) had cleared, four Neshanock had made their runs for an 8-3 lead.  Elizabeth went out in order in their half of the sixth and when the first two Neshanock went out in the seventh (one on a fine fly catch by the Resolute shortstop) it looked like the score would remain the same.  "Tumbles," however, got things started with a base hit, moved around the bases and scored on a well timed walk by Joe "Irish" Colduvell.  The Resolutes were not done yet, however, adding a tally and putting two on with just one out before the Neshanock managed to shut the door.  Flemington added another tally in the eighth, but Elizabeth refused to go quietly, scoring twice to close within 10-6 after eight innings

Flemington wasn't able to score in the ninth, but fortunately retired the first two Resolutes in the bottom of the inning before the next two Elizabeth strikers made their base creating some unease on the Neshanock bench.  Fortunately Chris "Sideshow" Nunn recorded the last out on a foul fly just one example of his solid play behind the plate aided by another strong pitching performance by Bobby "Melky" Ritter.  In spite of losing the match, 10-6, the Resolutes played well especially considering that a number of their players were playing their first match and others are also still new to the game.  As noted earlier they appear to have a good future ahead of them.  Flemington's offense was led by "Spoons," "Snuffy" and "Shack" (how's that for alliteration).  "Spoons" and "Shack" each had three hits while "Snuffy" recorded a clear score in four times at the striker's line.  Also of note was somewhat more balanced scoring with three Neshanock tallies coming from the lower part of the batting order.  Now 6-3 on the season, Flemington heads to East Jersey Old Town Village in Piscataway next Saturday to take on the newly formed Liberty Club of New Brunswick an important New Jersey team that began play in 1857.