UCSSL 2018 PLAYOFF RESULTS
50’s Divisions
	Playoff Rounds for Week of August 20, 2018
	Deegan Roofing 16, Linwood Inn 9
	It was the Scott Mugele Show at Jerseyland Park as Deegan Roofing defeated Linwood Inn in the opening game of their A Division best of 3 semi-final playoff matchup.  Mugele hit 3 tape measure home runs and added a double to account for 9 of the Roofer's RBIs.  Farlan Alusik and Kevin Woodring contributed three hits each and both Mike Juchnik and Joe DiFabio had two hits apiece for Deegan.  For the Tap House, Steve Lerner and Joe Sarica were 3 for 3.  Adding a pair of hits each were Jeff Villani, Joe Menza and Brian Schaefer.  Shawn Smith made a great diving catch in right field.  Deegan leads the best of 3 series 1-0.
	JoeMax Telecom 20, Phenomenal Boyz 12
	Every batter in the JoeMax lineup got at least one hit and scored a run in this seesaw battle that wasn’t settled until the bottom of the 5th when JM plated 8 to make the score 17 to 11.  Hitting highlight of the game would go to Al Genova who increased the team’s level of play with his high intensity at bats and screaming liners past the defense. JoeMax leads the best of 3 series 1-0.
	Riverside Inn 16, Advanced Financial 2
	Riverside was led by John Llanos with 4 hits and 4 RBIs.  Tom Wolansky, Jimmy Massarelli and Joe Hrubash had 3 RBIs apiece.  Paul McClung and Rich Conklin had 3 hits each in support of a very well-pitched game by Mario Fastiggi. John Rachko and Dave Kirsch each had two hits for AF.
	Riverside Inn 27, Advanced Financial 7
	Riverside put game 2 away with 9 runs in the 6th and 7th innings.  The Inn Keepers were led by Paul McClung with 5 hits, Tom Wolansky 5 RBIs, and John Llano, Paul Newton and Mark Merriman each with 4 hits.  Riverside pounded out 36 hits in total. AF’s Al Feigenbaum and Neil Granstrand each went 3 for 3. Riverside wins the best of 3 series and moves on in the playoffs.
	Garwood Metal 21, Cranford VFW 16
	Garwood Metal took the first game of the doubleheader.  The game was a back and forth affair until the top of the 7th when GM scored 10 runs to jump ahead.  Cranford answered with 5 runs and was rallying but a diving catch by Rory Caldwell ended the affair.  The Metal Benders were led by Dave ‘Duck’ Ball with 3 hits, a home run and 6 runs batted in.  Greg Hartnett, Moe Fernandez and Rory Caldwell each contributed 3 hits to the victory.  Carl Gamba led the way for Cranford with a perfect 4-4 night.  John Fiore, Dave Pringle and Mark McGlynn added 3 hits each for The VFW.
	Garwood Metal 14, Cranford VFW 6
	Low scoring and great defensive plays were the norm in this second game of the doubleheader.  In a close game, Garwood took the lead for good in the 4th inning and never looked back.  Once again, Dave ‘Duck’ Ball had 3 hits and drove in 4 runs.  Ron Kulik and Carey Durrett each added 4 hits to help secure the victory.  Carl Gamba and Bob LaConti paced Cranford with 3 hits each.  John Fiore and Bob Ghiretti chipped in with 2 hits apiece. Garwood wins the best of 3 series and moves on in the playoffs.
	Linda’s Driftwood #2 15, Conair 12
	In a game, close all the way, Mike Smith led the Linda’s attack with 4 hits. Bob Pells added 3 doubles, and Ray Kerstin had a great throw to home to put out a runner attempting to score. Linda’s leads the best of 3 series 1-0.
	Bad Brains 20, AJ Jersey 5
	Bad Brains came out swinging, plating 6 in the opening frame.  For BB, Vinnie Cordaro had 4 hits (2B), Diego Elliot went 3 for 3 including a long home run and some sharp outfield play, Ramon Martinez returned to the lineup with 3 hits including a home run and a double.  Fred Marchev added 3 hits (2B, 3B), Ken Zeidner 2 hits (2B) and Adam Buchsbaum also had 2 hits.  Keith McDede reached base 4 times.  For AJ, Al Dente and Kevin Price were perfect at the plate collecting 3 hits apiece. Bad Brains leads the best of 3 series 1-0.
	Playoff Rounds for Week of August 27, 2018
	Deegan Roofing 21, Linwood Inn 11
	Leading the Roofers' 30 hit attack were John Garced and Marty Marks who were both a perfect 4 for 4 at on the night.  Scott Mugele kept up his torrid playoff pace going 3 for 4 including a home run and double. Doug Fischer, Kevin Spellman, Joe DiFabio and Tom Baldowski also had three hits each for the Deegan offense.  For the Tap House, Joe Sarica and Jim Sydlo had 3 hits apiece. Joe Menza, Mac Kowaleski and Shawn Smith added two hits each. Deegan wins the best of 3 series 2-0 to move on to the A Division finals.
	JoeMax Telecom 14, Phenomenal Boyz 8
	JoeMax flew out of the gate and coasted to victory, scoring 6 in the first, and took a 14-4 lead into the final frame.  This day was all about Mike McKenna and the outfield.  He had three great catches and hit four doubles. Without him this year JMT would not be in position to compete for the championship. JoeMax wins the best of 3 series 2-0 to move on to the A Division finals.
	Bad Brains 14, AJ Jersey 12
	In a game called after 5 ½ innings due to darkness, AJ jumped out to a quick 8 run lead but BB fought back to secure the win.  Leading the way for Bad Brains were Jose Cortes going 3 for 3 (2 triples, 1 double and 4 RBIs), Diego Elliot 3 hits (3B, 2B, 3RBI) and Keith McDede also with 3 hits.  Ramon Martinez (3B) and Mike Ju each added 2 hits.  Bad Brains wins the best of 3 series 2-0 to move on to the C Division finals.
	Roselle Legion 12, Garwood Metal 4
	The Legion were led by Dave Wayman who launched a booming triple to put Roselle ahead in the 3rd inning.  Chipping in offensively with run scoring hits were Pat Mooney, Ed Kushner, Jeff Baier, Gene Antonucci and Hector Munoz.  Several nice fielding plays were made by Bill Dugan to thwart comeback efforts by the Metalmen.  Garwood played a solid defensive game but could not keep up with the Roselle offense.  Roselle takes a one game lead in the best of 3 semifinal series.
	Deegan Roofing 14, JoeMax Telecom 12
	The game started off with a bang as JoeMax Telecom scored 6 runs in the top of the first, only to be outdone by Deegan Roofing plating 8 runs in the bottom of the opening frame.  The game stayed close from that point.  Deegan's Joe DiFabio led the way at the plate with three triples and 5 RBIs. Farlan Alusik also had three hits for the Roofers.  The exciting game included many close plays and runners being thrown out at second and at the plate.  Rob Stratton and Walt Petrillo led the charge for JoeMax. Deegan Roofing takes a one game lead in the best of 3 championship series.
	Contact Lens & Vision 15, Riverside Inn 14
	With two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the 7th, the unthinkable happened.  Contact Lens scored 7 runs on 10 consecutive hits to upend Riverside.  CLV trailed by 9 going into the 6th.  Scott Cohen’s 3 run bomb pulled the Lensman within 6.  Joe DeRosa’s missile throw from left held Riverside in the top of the 7th.  Then the hit parade started.  Ed Quinn and Brian Dayton singled, Matt Kasper tripled, and Peter Byer, Timmy Walsh, Dan Righetti and Kerry Gelb all singled.  Steve Wieczerak followed with a game tying single.  Scott Cohen was then intentionally walked, setting the stage for Dave Rothenberg who drove the game winner over the right center fielder's head.  In this heartbreaking loss, Riverside, with 25 hits, was led by Ross Pennise (5 RBI), Tom Wolansky and Paul Newton each with 3 hits.  Contact Lens & Vision takes a one game lead in the best of 3 semifinal series.
	Roselle Legion 24, Garwood Metal 12
	Gene Antonucci led the potent Legion attack with a perfect 5 hit night.  Eddie Rodriguez, Joe Caliguari, Bill Dugan, Hector Munoz and Ed Lubas each contributed with base hits and RBIs.  Winning pitcher Rich Vella had two hits and was helped defensively by Ralph Genova in the outfield.  Garwood, after leading the contest after two frames, 6-5, just could not keep up with the Legion’s bats. Roselle Legion wins the series 2-0 to advance to the B Division finals.
	Linda’s Driftwood #2 24, Conair 15
	Willie Shumate sparked the Linda's attack with a home run and a triple.  Linda’s Driftwood #2 wins the series 2-1 to move on to the C Division finals.
	Playoff Rounds for Week of September 1, 2018
	Contact Lens & Vision 12, Riverside Inn 9
	In a tight pitcher’s dual, Riverside took a 9-8 lead into the bottom of the 6th frame.  CLV came back with 4 in the top of the 7th and held on for the victory.  Steve Wieczerak carried Contact on his bad back with great pitching and 3 clutch hits including a triple.  Super Joe DeRosa added 3 hits in the defensive matchup.  Dave Rothenberg, Ageless George Merlo, Tim Walsh, Anthony Miccio, Matt Kasper and Peter Byer all contributed to the victor’s offense with 2 hits each.  Riverside was led by John Llano’s 3 RBIs.  He was supported by Ross Pennise with 3 hits.  Mark Merriman, Mario Fastiggi and Joe Hrubash smacked 2 hits apiece.  Contact takes the series 2-0 to advance to the division finals.
	Linda’s Driftwood #2 17, Bad Brains 16
	Fighting back from an early Bad Brains advantage, Linda’s continued to chip away at the lead, plating 7 in the bottom of the 7th to score the victory. Leading the BB charge were Diego Elliot (long home run) and Ken Zeidner (2 doubles, 3B), both with 4 hits.  Jose Cortes (HR) and Vinnie Cordaro (3B) each added 3 hits.  Keith Johnson and Fred Marchev contributed 2 hits apiece while Joe Scarfuto had a home run and Adam Buchsbaum legged out a triple.  Linda’s leads the best of 3 series 1-0.
	Deegan Roofing 30, JoeMax Telecom 20
	In a slugfest that finished under the lights at Linden Memorial Field and lasted well over 2 hours, Deegan Roofing completed a playoff series final sweep over JoeMax Telecom and notched their 5th consecutive 50+ A Division title.  Deegan jumped out of the box putting up a 5 spot in the first but that was quickly answered by JoeMax who were up 12-6 after 2 innings.  The Roofers plated 10 in the 3rd and outscored Telecom by a 20 to 4 margin over the next 3 innings to seal the victory.  The Deegan 35 hit attack was led by Kevin Woodring (5 for 5, 2B, HR, 6RBI), Marty Marks (4 for 5, 2HR, 3B, 5RBI), Doug Fischer (4 for 4, 2 2B, 2RBI), and Scott Mugele (4 for 6, 2 3B, 4RBI). For JoeMax, Peter Costello, John Segledi and Rob Stratton were perfect at the plate and look forward to a rematch next year with the champs.  Deegan takes the A Division finals 2-0.
	Roselle American Legion 21, Contact Lens & Vision 20 (8 innings)
	Roselle, trailing throughout the game, including being down by six runs in the bottom of the sixth, pushed across one run in the bottom of the seventh to tie and then scored three in the eighth to earn the victory.  A long home run by Bill Dugan had kept the Legion in the game while winning pitcher Rich Vella’s triple in the seventh tied the score.  The winning rally was started by an infield single by Gene Antonucci followed by a Pat Mooney walk.  Joe Caliguari smashed a hard hit double to score one run.  After an intentional walk to Bill Dugan, Jeff Baier followed with a double to left field to win the game.  Hector Munoz and Jim McCullough both had strong offensive performances for the Legion, and Ed Kushner turned a super double play for Roselle.  Hitting stars for Contact Lens were Steve Wieczerak, Tim Walsh, Dan Righetti (double) and Neil Kaufman (double and triple,) all perfect with 4 hits each.  Brian Dayton and Super Dave Rothenberg (double) added 3 hits apiece.   Roselle leads the best of 3 series 1-0.
	Linda’s Driftwood #2 21, Bad Brains 10
	In a total team effort, Linda’s bested BB scoring 6 in the opening frame and then plating 8 in the final inning to cement the victory.  Bad Brains cut the lead to 13 to 10 but could not keep up with the Linda’s attack.  For Bad Brains, Ken Zeidner (HR), Fred Marchev (3B), Ramon Martinez, Mike Ju, Jose Cortes (HR) and Vinnie Cordaro each chipped in with 2 hits.  Linda’s takes the C Division Finals 2-0.
	Roselle Legion 10, Contact Lens & Vision 7
	Roselle held a six run lead going into the 6th inning but needed great defensive plays by Bill Dugan (throwing a runner out at home after an outstanding relay by Ralph Genova) and Ed Kushner (making a diving backhanded stab of hot line drive down the third base line) which saved two runs and ended the game.  Offensively, the Legion was led by Jeff Baier, Pat Mooney, Dave Wayman and Harold Zayas in support of winning pitcher Rich Vella. Hitting stars for Contact Lens were Dan Righetti with 3 hits, Neil Kaufman with a triple, and Kerry Gelb.  Roselle Legion takes the B Division Finals 2-0.