UCSSL 2019 PLAYOFF RESULTS
60’s Divisions
	Games for Week of August 18, 2019
	Kenilworth VFW 13, Awnings Galore 5
	In the 60's A division wildcard game, Kenilworth VFW defeated Awnings Galore 13-5 and will move on to the semifinal playoff round.  The VFW jumped to a 6-run lead only to have Awnings come back and make the score 6-5 after 4 1/2 innings.  VFW scored 4 in 5th and 3 in the 6th to put the game on ice.  VFW was led by Ton Beninato and Jose Santana who both went 3 for 3 at the plate.  For Awnings, Rich Polonitza (2 for 2, R, RBI), Johnnie Jordan (2 for 2, RBI) and Bruce Crawford each contributed 2 hits on the night.
	Avengers 24, DeBellis Associates 16
	In the opening game of this best of three semifinal playoff series the bats were smoking for both teams.  The Avengers, down 6-3, scored 9 runs in the second inning to take the lead.  DeBellis scored 5 runs in the top of 3rd to bring the game to 12-11, but the Avengers answered with 5 runs in the bottom of the inning to maintain the lead.  The Avengers then outscored DeBellis over the last four innings to gain the victory 24 to 16.  For the Avengers Steve Falco and Moe Fernandez had 4 hits each.  Jeff Villani, Leo DiGuilio, Bob Hoffman and Joe Brown had 3 hits apiece.  Bill Moore, Geno Raisley, Sal Iannaconne, Doc Henley Black and Steve Landau had 2 hits each.  Every DeBellis player contributed to the effort with at least one hit and scoring at least one run.  Offense leaders included John Miller, Rich Grossberg and Rich Silva who each had 3 hits and scored 3 runs.  Howard Walker had 3 hits including a booming home run.  Marv Scherb had 3 hits, and Bruce Bilotti and Dave McFall had 2 hits.  Bob Mancini had a long triple.
	Yogi's Boys 10, American Legion 8
	Yogi's Boys eked out a 2-run victory in the opening game of their best of three semifinals series with American Legion in A Division play.  Legion jumped out to an early lead fueled by the bats of Jim McCullough, Mike DiRienzo, Ray Pelesk, and Gene Antonucci.  Yogi’s rallied back, and with the score tied 5 - 5, The Boys scored 5 runs in the top of the seventh with the big hit coming from a Geoff Polston triple with two men on.  He went on to score the 5th run on a sac fly.  American Legion's 3 runs in the bottom of the seventh off the bats of Walt Serafyn and Glenn Sytko weren't enough to complete the comeback.
	Cranford VFW2 16, Creative Industries Too 7
	Cranford VFW2 took the opening game of this B Division best of three semifinal playoff series, defeating Creative Industries Too 16-7.  Leading the VFW were Kevin Carroll (2 for 4, HR, 3R, 3RBI), Dave Drechsel (2 for 3, R, RBI), Gerard McDermott (1 for 2, RBI), Charlie Wischusen (3 for 3, 2R, RBI), Dave Woodruff (1 for 2, 2R), Gary Schaller (2 for 3, 2R, 2RBI) and Ken Murray (3 for 3, 3B, 2R, 2RBI).  VFW pitcher Tom Rutkowski helped his cause going 2 for 3, scoring twice and driving in a run.
	Liberty Lighting 10, Kenilworth VFW 7
	Top seeded Liberty Lighting took the opening game of their best of three A Division semifinal playoff series by defeating Kenilworth VFW by a score of 10-7.  Liberty trailed the entire game until a 6-run 6th inning put them on top.  Paul Southwick laced a single to start the inning followed by Rich Pitonzo’s towering blast stretched into a triple.  Al Betau drove in the second run with a single to right center.  With 2 out and down by one, Stan Lesniewski stepped up and drilled a single to center setting up Keith McDede’s game tying hit.  Don Miller then singled and Lou Balestriere doubled to cap the 6-run inning.  For the VFW, Bill Vanderstreet, Ed Klecan, Bill Hillyer and Gary Wiese each had multiple hits.
	Games for Week of August 25, 2019
	Avengers 11, DeBellis Associates 0
	The Avengers soundly defeated DeBellis Associates in the second game of their best of three semifinal series for the sweep, and catapulted themselves into the 60+ B Division playoff finals.  The Avengers claimed victory with the solid pitching of Alan Schachman, a steady defense to back him up, and good all around hitting.  At the plate Anthony Abbaleo and Bill Moore were 3 for 3.  Moe Fernandez, Geno Raisley, Doc Henley Black, Sal Iannaconne and Alan Schachman had 2 hits each.
	Cranford VFW2 20, Creative Industries Too 4
	Cranford VFW2 completed the sweep in the semifinal of the B Division playoffs over Creative Too with a 20 run barrage that included 11 doubles and a triple over five innings.  Leading the Cranford 27 hit attack were Marty Joyce (3 for 3, 3R, 2RBI), Charlie Wischusen (3 for 3, 3R, 3RBI), George Merlo (3 for 3, 2R, 3RBI), Gerard McDermott (3 for 3, 2RBI), and Dave Woodruff (2 for 3, 3R, 3RBI).  Cranford pitching and defense held Creative scoreless after giving up a four run first inning.
	Liberty Lighting 10, Kenilworth VFW 7
	Same score, different day.  Liberty clinched a berth in the finals with a two-game sweep of Kenilworth VFW by identical scores of 10-7.  LLG jumped out early with a 6 run first inning.  This opening explosion was led by singles by Andre Thomas and Don Miller, followed by Lou Balestriere’s 2 RBI double.  Willie Jackson singled setting up Harry Semple to drive in Balestriere with a single.  With 2 men on and a still no outs recorded, Rich Pitonzo stepped up and lifted a long fly ball over the left field fence for a 3 run homer.  Rick Lindemann added some insurance runs by collecting 2 RBIs a on single in the 4th.
	Roselle American Legion 17, Yogi's Boys 1
	After dropping a close one to Yogi's Boys in the opening game of this best of three semifinal series, American Legion came roaring back with a resounding 17-1 victory in Game 2 to set up a rubber game for a chance to get to the 60+ A Division playoff final.  The Legion was led by Harry Streep who pitched a masterful game and contributed three hits in the victory.  Bob Glassman continued his hot hitting with three hits on the night.  Also contributing on offense were Jim McCullough,  Ed  Kushner, Glenn Sytko and Walter Serafyn. Mike DiRienzo and Ray Pelesko flashed the leather on defense to keep Yogi’s from making any kind of a run at a comeback.
	Games for Week of September 6, 2019
	Avengers 13, Cranford VFW2 11
	The heavy underdog Avengers surprised Cranford VFW2 in the opening game of the best of three 60+ B Division Playoff Finals by a score of 13-11.  The Avengers only managed to score in two innings but it was their 10-run eruption in the 5th that was enough to take a 13-7 lead and hold off the Vets for the game 1 victory.  For the Avengers Anthony Abbaleo, Moe Fernandez and Joe Brown had 3 hits apiece.  Leo DiGuilio, Geno Raisley, Doc Henley Black, Sal Iannaconne and Alan Schachman had a pair of each.  Big hitters for VFW were Vic Trindade (4 for 4, 3R), Bill Early (3 for 3, 2B, 3R, 4RBI), Ken Murray (3 for 3, R, 2RBI), Dave Woodruff (2 for 3, 3B, R, 3RBI) and Gerard McDermott (2 for 4, 2R, RBI).
	Yogi's Boys 13, Roselle American Legion 7
	In the rubber game of this A Division semi-final series, Yogi's Boys came out on top and advanced to championship finals.  Yogi’s Boys trailed the Legion 7-3 after 4 innings but then proceeded to score 10 unanswered runs to seal the victory and win and series.  For the Boys, Sal Martino pitched a complete game and contributed 2 hits.  Anthony Santorelli, just off the DL, had 3 hits and 2 game saving catches.  Gary Pence chipped in with 2 hits and great shortstop play.
	Cranford VFW2 17, Avengers 10
	Facing playoff elimination, Cranford VFW2 came back in game 2 of this best of 3 B Division Playoff Finals and defeated the Avengers 17-10.  The Vets scored 3 times in the first, 6 times in the second, and 4 more in the third, and showed a solid defensive effort for the win. Instrumental in the Cranford victory were Kevin Carroll (2 for 4, 2 2B, 2R, 3RBI), Dave Drechsel (3 for 3, 2R, 2RBI), Ken Murray (2 for 3, R, 3RBI), Gerard McDermott (3 for 3, 2B, 3B, 2R, 2RBI), Charlie Wischusen (2 for 3, R, 2RBI), and George Merlo (2 for 3, 2 RBI).  Ace hurler Tom Rutkowski pitched well and the VFW defense was solidly behind him in the victory.  For the Avengers, Geno Raisley was 3 for 3, and Steve Falco, Anthony Abbaleo, Sal Iannaconne and Steve Landau had 2 hits each.  The VFW victory sets up a winner take all championship final game.
	Yogi's Boys 16, Liberty Lighting Group 9
	In the opening game of this best of three 60's A Final series between arch rivals Yogi's Boys and Liberty Lighting, the Boys came out on top under a steady rain at Tremley Point field.  Yogi's boys jumped out to an early lead and never looked back behind the solid pitching of Sal Martino.  Joe Massimino had long opposite field HR for Yogi's Boys while Liberty Lighting's Andre Thomas parked one onto Wood Ave for a 3-run homer.
	Games for Week of September 13, 2019
	Liberty Lighting Group 11, Yogi's Boys 7
	In this second game of the 60+ A Division Playoff Finals, Liberty Lighting Group faced elimination but rallied to defeat Yogi's Boys 11-7 to knot the series at a game apiece.  After falling behind 3–2, LLG plated 6 in the 4th and held on for the win.  Mike Backus and Andre Thomas were perfect at the plate with 4 hits each as was Rich Pitonzo with 3 hits.  Willie Jackson, Harry Semple, Thomas and Rick Lindemann all chipped in with key doubles.
	Cranford VFW2 9, Avengers 6
	This rubber game of the best of three championship playoff season for the 60+ B Division crown went down to the wire with Cranford VFW2 coming out on top 9-6.  This was the VFW's second consecutive B Division crown.  A 4-run top of the fourth by the Avengers gave them a 6-3 lead but the VFW came roaring back with 4 of their own runs to reclaim a slim one run lead heading to the fifth. A steady VFW defense held the Avengers scoreless for the final three frames to clinch the victory.  Leading the offense for Cranford VFW2 was Gerard McDermott (2 for 3, 2R, RBI), Ken Murray (1 for 3, R, RBI), Brian McDermott (2 for 3, 2R, RBI), George Merlo (2 for 3, 2R, RBI), Marty Joyce (2 for 2, 2 2B, R, 3RBI), Gary Schaller (2 for 2, RBI), Tom Rutkowski (2B, R), and Bill Early (2 for 3, R).  For the Avengers, Steve Falco, Geno Raisley, Doc Henley Black, Sal Iannaconne and Joe Brown had 2 hits each.  The Avengers rallied in the 7th with two men on and the tying run at the plate when VFW's Jerry Gaeta snagged a hot grounder heading to right center and tossed to first to end the game.
	Liberty Lighting Group 8, Yogi's Boys 4
	With the season on the line, LLG rallied from a 4-0 deficit to take the rubber game of the 60+ A Division Playoff Series.  Andre Thomas reached base in front of Rich Pitonzo who promptly hit a two-run homer over the center field fence cutting the lead in half at 4-2.  Rick Lindemann, Mike Backus and Willie Jackson all reached base setting up a 3 run double by Harry Semple.  Thomas followed with a base hit and Pitonzo drove in Semple to give LLG a 6-4 lead.  Rick Regenthal singled in the 6th and then Captain Jeff Maglietta gapped the outfield with a double.  In his final at bat of the season, Stan Lesniewski collected 2 RBI with a single to center to cap the scoring.