Silent Bats Short-Circuit DFC Hopes
In First-Round Defeat to
Bergen B&M
by Don Girone
August 7,2000- Once again, the dream of the championship season eludes the Fan Club Softball Team. For the 9th straight year, the DFC falls in the playoffs, dropping a pair (best 2 of 3) to Bergen B&M, a squad which seemed as equally matched an opponent as the league could produce. The 4-2 & 13-3 losses send the Fan Club into next month's charity game versus the N.J. Devils on a sour note, erasing an excellent 7-3 finish to the Y2K campaign.
In the opener, the DFC jumped out to a 2-0 edge in their opening at-bat. Walks by Alfredo Rojas and Dave Nathanson plus a Tom Waggner safety loaded the sacks with one out. Tony Simonelli delivered one run on a force-out, while Ron Kazanchy singled-home run #2. Unfortunately, this represented the entire offense supporting starter Marc Platkin. The Fan Club wasted two other opportunities to pad the lead. Waggner's booming triple went for naught in the DFC 3rd, and the team failed to capitalize on a bases-filled, one out scenario in the 5th frame. Scott Peterson ripped a grounder up the middle that Bergen turned into a 6-4-3 twin killing, which proved to be the turning point. Though Platkin had only allowed a run and 5 hits through 4 innings, he gave up 5 singles sandwiched around a sac fly as Bergen seized a 4-2 advantage. A Tom Waggner single in the 6th was the only Fan Club reply as their measly 7-hit attack sealed the 4-2 setback, wasting a gallant effort from Platkin, who only surrendered 11 singles without a walk.
Game 2 also began with a visitor score, as a 3-run Bergen bomb led to a 4-0 deficit after one-half inning. Starter Scott Peterson wasn't able to hit his stride, and was replaced by Ron Kazanchy in the 3rd. Down 5-0, the Fan Club mounted a mini-comeback with 2 in their turn. Singles by J.P. Demauro and Drew Ruscil preceeded a Brian Kazmierski rocket to left-field. The 2-run triple scored both runners, and only a fine relay cut down Kazmierski at home. Dave Nathanson's 4th inning triple plus Peterson's RBI infield single moved the DFC to within 5-3, but that's as close as it came. Bergen nibbled a run in their 5th, and settled matters with 7 runs in their last 2 swings. Again, the DFC offense, averaging 10 runs per game in the regular season, could only muster 2 singles after the 4th as the gloom of elimanation set in.
The DFC now awaits word on the particulars to September's benefit softball game with the 2000 Cup Champs, which will be relayed in my next column. I'll also review some of the achievements of the Fan Club rookies from this season, plus spotlight on a past DFC softball player.