Date: Fri 23-Jun-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: TOMW

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

VFW-Minors

Full Text:

16-0; And One More To Go

VFW Is Perfect In LL Minors Division

The past few years have been anything but storybook seasons for the budding

baseball players from VFW Post-308. Competing in the Minors Division of the

Newtown Little League, the team won a total of five games over two entire

seasons, including two in 14 games last spring.

But as coaches Bob Glander and Tom Ermini have been preaching all along, hard

work will eventually pay off. And this season it finally did.

Having finished the regular season at 14-0, the VFW boys rolled through a pair

of playoff games this week improving to 16-0 with only the championship game

left on their viewfinder.

The team's latest conquest came on Wednesday night, June 21, in the Minors

Division semifinal game against Newtown Cleaners. Though VFW was missing three

of its key players, who went to Disneyland, the rest of the crew was able to

pull away in the fourth inning and win 12-4.

Leading the way in the semifinal contest were pitchers Tommy Ermini and big

Jason Whitlock who baffled NC hitters until their own offense could get

started.

In a season that has seen many different players step into the limelight, Matt

Glander and Austin Bowes provided the necessary offensive punch in this one,

rapping out a handful of clutch RBI hits between them. Kevin Whipkey and

Garrett Swink, meanwhile, led the defensive front.

Other members of this year's unbeaten VFW squad include Brian Smith, Jack

Sparacino, Ted Yemc, Chris Perry, John Modzelewski, Ross Proctor, Danny

Mallen, and Mike Giesen.

"I've been with this team since Pee Wees," said VFW head coach Bob Glander.

"This year they just grew up. They decided to be aggressive at the plate. We

don't have any big stars. They're all good. It's amazing how much they've

developed in just one year."

VFW will look to conclude a perfect season in perfect fashion when they meet

up with league-foe Newtown Color Center (14-2) for the league final on

Saturday, June 24.

Because while VFW was applying the finishing touches to the Newtown Cleaners,

NCC, coached by Dennis LaPak, was busy locking the doors on Dimitri's

Restaurant in their semifinal matchup on the adjacent ballfield.

In that contest it was NCC pitchers Eric Lance, Greg Mayer, and Mark

Schottinger combining on a one-hitter leading their team to a 9-1 victory.

Owen Beams provided all the offense NCC would need with a three-run homer,

while teammate Chris Giacolone chipped in with a long triple.

The Color Center advanced into the semifinals after a 21-1 beating of Tunes on

the previous Monday night in a first-round playoff game.

In that affair, the trio of Lance, Mayer, and Schottinger also joined forces

to throw a 14-strikeout, one-hitter. Mayer and Lance, meanwhile, each clubbed

home runs to lead their team at the plate.

In what may have been the most exciting first-round playoff game, Kent

Anderson ripped a two-out grand slam home run to lead Dimitri's to a 4-1 win

over Duchess. With their four-run cushion, Dimitri's pitchers Dan Jura and

Forest Robertson teamed up to hold Duchess to only a run. Joey Unger and

Robertson both went 2-for-2 in the game.

With the cards in the center of the table, the 1995 season will come to a

close on Saturday night, June 24, at Sandy Hook School, when undefeated VFW

(16-0) meets up with Newtown Color Center (14-2) to decide the Minors Division

title. NCC's only two losses this season have come at the hands of VFW, so

they're holding out hope that the third time is the charm.

VFW, on the other hand, is one game away from perfection.

Who could ask for a better matchup?

The championship game is scheduled to begin at 5 pm.