Games of 9/30

Appell 9, Hewes 7 (8 innings)
This was an exciting finish. Jeff Appell blew a 6-1 lead over the last two innings, stranded the winning run on third base, and got the win in overtime. Eric Schulman, Sam Magnus, and Jeff Appell had RBI singles in the top of the 8th. Schulman was 3-for-4 with 4 RBI, and Zach Nilva was 4-for-5. Cid Rivera and Josh Balsam each had 4 hits for Hewes's team.

Nilva 11, Connor 10
In another exciting finish, Tony Connor's team came back from deficits of 10-2 and 11-6, and left the tying run in scoring position. Eric Schulman was 4-for-5 with a 2-run HR, and Andy Atkinson was a HR short of the cycle, and had 4 RBI.

Awards and Results of Winter Meeting

Awards

Gold Gloves:
Pitcher-- Ian Parfrey
Catcher-- Josh Balsam
First Base-- Sal Cipriano
Second Base-- Ben Indek
Third Base-- Freddy Melendez
Shortstop-- (tie) Ian Parfrey and Phil Ciccone
Outfield-- Zach Nilva, Alex Rivera, Eric Schulman, Brian Hernandez

Best Pitcher-- Freddy Melendez
Rookie of the Year-- Sam Melendez
MVP-- Alex Rivera


Rule Changes:

1. When there are 22 players at a game, it is closed to
non-duespayers. Dues payers have a right to play no matter how large
the teams are. This rule takes effect when we move to Heckscher.
Non-duespayers cannot be displaced from a game they are already in,
and have the option of paying on the spot.

2. Due to the rising cost of permits, the league has raised annual dues to $40.

3. The league has banned alcoholic beverages at the games. Any
player drinking during a game will be subject to immediate ejection
and possible additional penalties.

4. The league has decided that outfielders will be required to play a
certain distance (to be determined) behind the infield basepaths.
This distance will be marked with a small orange cone on each foul
line. This is to discourage (but not eliminate) throws to first from
the outfield, and will eliminate the possibility of turning a double
play through the centerfielder.

5. A grievance committee has been elected for one year. Members are
Josh Balsam, Zach Nilva, and Alex Rivera.

6. Selection of pitchers-- Havelock, or whoever is making teams in
his rare absences, cannot tell a manager who to pitch. Regular
pitchers should not act as managers, unless no one else present is
willing to. It is hoped that this will result in an equitable
distribution of pitching innings.

There are two other items which will soon be presented to the league
for voting, as there was not a 2/3 majority at the meeting.

Thanks to Anne Atkinson and Gil Schmerler for hosting.

AWARDS

The second annual winter meeting live blog will follow. Here are your 2010 award winners.

GG Pitcher: Freddie Melendez
Catcher: Josh Balsam
1st Base: Marvin Cohen
2nd Base: Laura Stoeth
3rd Base: Freddie Melendez
Shortstop: Phil Ciccone
Outfield: Zach Nilva, Alex Rivera, Eric Schulman, Bill McLaughlin, Brian Hernandez
Rookie: Ken Walker and Eric Schulman
Pitcher: Freddie Melendez
MVP: Ian Parfrey

SFLOI CLASSICS-- 9/6/09

While waiting for the weather to warm up, here's a recap of one of last season's most thrilling games.

On September 6, 2009, SFLOI played a day-night quadrupleheader. The 4th and final game went 11 innings. Derek Martinez pitched for the visitors, and Jeff Appell for the home team. The visitors took an early 5-1 lead, but Appell's team scored four 2-out runs in the bottom of the 2nd to tie, highlighted by a Mike Palma 2-run single, and a Don Weiss RBI single on which Marvin Cohen tried to go first-to-third, made it, and then scored on an overthrow.

The pitchers then got down to business, and the game remained tied at 5 until the top of the 9th inning. Martinez's team took a 6-5 lead on a throwing error, but the game was quickly tied again. Marvin came to bat with the bases loaded and no outs, and beat an attempted 5-2-3 DP, and the runner from second alertly scored. Martinez got out of the jam by inducing a 9-2 DP, with Nel Yomtov gunning down the winning run at the plate.

Things got dicier in the 10th, with Martinez needing a rare 4-6-2 DP to escape. Ian Parfrey threw a strike to Josh Balsam to catch Don Weiss trying to score. Weiss's clean, hard slide toppled the catcher, who somehow held the ball. Both players were injured but remained in the game.

In the 11th, Martinez's team loaded the bases with nobody out, but only managed one run, with Martinez's SF to left just barely scoring Yomtov. Martinez held down the fort in the 11th, and came away with a 7-6 win.