Washington Township Senators 45+: My Site News

After countless rainouts, cancellations and plenty of antici....pation, the Washington Township Senators will finally get a chance to finish what they started come Sunday, as they face off once again against the Maple Shade Mariners in the SJMSBL 45+ Finals, Game #2. Chris Johannes will get the baseball as the Nats attempt to complete their perfect season.

Game #1 of this series is but a distant memory already, having been played several weeks ago in the morning sunshine at Washington Lake Park, which will also be the scene for this next game. The Nats managed to win that game by a 13-10 margin, holding on for dear life in the ninth after holding a 13-3 lead for much of the contest. 

If the Senators can take the game, the season ends and they are Champs. If they should lose, a second game will be played immediately after the first to determine the division champion. After playing just five games between August 9 and October 11, the Nats will certainly be hot and bothered to get this done in one.

"Yeah, we'd sure like to finish the job in the first nine innings," said skipper Nick Frese. "With all these delays and layoffs, you just never know how much gas the guys have left in the tank. But it's not going to be easy because this Mariner team can certainly hit the baseball."

Yes, they can. And they proved it in the first game, scoring seven runs in that final frame before Chris Lawrence was able to put out the fire, finally.

"That's why you build up a lead like that, I suppose," Frese said. "And that's why we kept on stealing and scoring for the entire game -- you can't take this stuff for granted when your opponent can hit. You can damned well bet we'll be doing the same things this Sunday."

The weather forecast for Sunday looks good, if a bit football-like in temperature. So it appears that on October 11, the longest "summer season"  in baseball history will finally end.

The Senators hope it ends well for them.

Veteran hurler Frank Rose will have the baseball come Sunday. Who he will throwing it by is anyone's guess.

The Washington Township Senators, winners of their last 20 ballgames, await the winner of a rubber match between the  Maple Shade Mariners and the Burlington A's to see who they will face on Sunday. So it looks like either Danny Hill or Bobby Morell will be on the hill come Sunday -- since both clubs really feature just one pitcher.

There is some question as to whether the "two-games in two days" scenario is a plus or a minus for the A's or Mariners. But the Senators can't think about that stuff. They simply need to think "WIN."

"On or off Saturday? Doesn't matter a lick," said Senators skipper Nick Frese. "We know what we have to do, and we just have to be prepared to go out and do it on Sunday, period. It's not complicated. Though at this advanced age, I'm thinking the day off can't hurt!"

 The Nats will either face the2007 league champs in the A's, or a Mariners team that lost in the finals to the 2009 champ, the Cinnaminson Reds. Either will be a tough hill to climb.

With their 13-10 victory over the Maple Shade Mariners yesterday, the Washington Township Senators stand one victory away from their first 45+ SJMSBL Championship. Frank Rose picked up the win with eight strong innings of work, and manager Nick Frese led the Senator offense with a 4-for-4, four RBI performance. Don Tash also added three safeties.

The Senators built up a seemingly comfortable 13-3 lead entering the ninth inning, but somebody forget to tell the Mariners. Hence, the Nats had to live through a white-knuckle, 7-run, bat-around inning that featured a few miscues and a LOT of hits. They managed to hold on, with Chris Lawrence fanning the last two hitters with two runners aboard.

The offense was solid up and down the lineup all day long, and there were clutch hits aplenty. The Senators might have scored even more runs if not for a few baserunning gaffs that cost them. No matter: a win is a win! The infield also turned what is perhaps the DP of the year, when Lawrence picked a grounder deep in the hole, fired to Billy Trotman at second, who pivoted nicely and threw a one-hopper to Chris Johannes, who picked it cleanly to nip the batter-runner and end the inning.

Next Saturday, the two clubs will meet again for game two of the best-of-three series. Johannes will make the start for the Senators as they try to finish the job started back in April.

The Washington Township Senators spotted the Maple Shade Mariners an early six spot and then stormed back with 12 unanswered run in the next three innings, beating the Mariners 12-7 behind stellar relief work by Chris Lawrence. Jim Toth led the offense with two hits and four RBI.  Frank Rose added two hits and two RBI, while Dan Laudisio and Miles Reader also had two hits apiece.

With the win, the 2009 45+ Senators become the only team in the history of the franchise to run the table during the regular season, sporting a perfect 16-0 record moving into the playoffs.  But the Senators are still crystal clear on one vital fact: their record now is 0-0, and there is more work to be done.

That chore begins next Saturday, as the Senators host the South Jersey Red Sox Saturday for the first of a best-of-three opening round. The game will most likely be played at Deptford High School, but this is still to be determined. Game #2 on Sunday will be at Gloucester Township Community Park. Chris Johannes will take the baseball for the opener, with Rose working Sunday.

Frank Rose and Chris Johannes did what they always do -- throw goose-eggs, and the Senator offense provided plenty of support as the home town nine swept the Hammonton Black Sox 7-1 and 10-0 in a Sunday doubleheader at beautiful Hammonton Lake Park. Johannes added a 3-for-3 performance in the nightcap, and Bobby Wood electrified the Senators with a two-run homer in Game #1.

The Nats collected 24 hits in just 11 innings of work and also used the stolen base as a weapon, picking up eight on the day. There were heroes a-plenty, and it was a very good day to be wearin' the red...or navy blue!

The 15-0 Senators complete the regular season next Sunday at Deptford High School against the Maple Shade Mariners. 

The Washington Township Senators collected an underwhelming win over the Cinnaminson Reds last night at Washington Lake Park by a 4-3 margin. The win gives the Senators the American Division title for the regular season. Chris Lawrence worked long and hard for the victory, tossing 161 pitches in the 11-inning, complete game. This was the most pitches thrown by a Senator pitcher since back in the 90s, when skipper Frese let Frank Rose hurl a crazy 182 against a Stratford Phillies team.

Chris Johannes collected two hits to lead the offense, but the Nats could manage just six total off Red pitching. Meanwhile, Lawrence scattered 14 hits and allowed just the three runs to get the big victory.

Bob Wood got two key assists to preserve the victory, which the Senators were handed via a strikeout/wild pitch in the bottom of the eleventh -- certainly not the team's finest hour.

Next up: the Nats travel to Hammonton Lake Park for a twin-bill against the Black Sox. Johannes and Rose are expected to get the starting nods on Sunday.

Lefty Chris Johannes worked 8-1/3 innings of solid ball, allowing just a single earned run, as the Senators moved to 11-0, beating the SJ Phillies by a 7-2 margin. The Senators erupted for three first-inning runs courtesy of a booming triple by Miles Reader, and then Johannes and closer Chris Lawrence made them stand up. A four-run outburst in the ninth sealed the deal.

Billy Trotman added two hits and two RBIs to the cause, but the Senators were once again out-hit in winning the game -- the third time this year the Nats have done that. But pitching and a few key defensive plays certainly make the point moot.

The Senators continued  to use the stolen base as a weapon, collecting four of them, Reader leading the way with two.

The Senators return home next Sunday for a single game against the Edgewater Park Indians. Frank Rose is expected to take the hill in search of his sixth victory of the season.

The Washington Township Senators have named three players from their 12-0 squad to the American Division All-Star Team for the SJMSBL 45+ All-Star Game, scheduled for Friday, July 31 at Hammonton Lake Park. The three Senators so named are Frank Rose, Dan Laudisio and Bobby Wood.

All three are expected to play in the contest, and to participate in the skills competition prior to the game. The skills competition starts at approximately 6:15, while game time is 7:30 PM.

Congrats and continued success to these three deserving players!

Check out this great video/song! Craig Bickhardt will be performing along with Love Alive and The Refugees at The Flying W in Medford on Saturday, September 26, 2009 for the first Peace, Love & Music Festival. Get your tickets TODAY from Nick!

The Washington Township Senators had been waiting all year for a really big explosion, and boy, did they get it on Sunday. The Nats batted around in three consecutive innings and overwhelmed the Edgewater Park Indians by a 23-1 score in just five innings of play (only FOUR Senator ABs). Danny Laudisio led the offense with two singles, a double, a walk and four RBI. Chris Lawrence had two singles and a walk, three RBI and two steals. Bobby Wood drove in three runs with a double. Frank Rose worked four solid innings for the win and added two hits and three RBI. Jim Toth reached base in all four trips with a single, two walks and a HBP plus two RBI. Bill Trotman added two hits, an RBI, and pitching a 1-2-3 fifth to end the contest. Nick Frese walked three times and reached on an error. Bruce Schumin had two hits and an RBI. Yes, it was a pretty ugly game for the Tribe, who had a few pretty good swings off Rose, but had very little to cheer about beyond that.

Next the Senators face the second place Cinnaminson Reds for a night game Wednesday, July 22 at Washington Lake Park. Lawrence gets the starting nod for this 7 PM contest under the lights.

Frank Rose tossed a nifty complete game as the Senators bested the Cinnaminson Reds by a 5-2 score to move into double-digit wins unbeaten -- the first time a Senator team has managed the feat in club history. Bruce Schumin was the only Senator to grab more than one hit, collecting two singles. And the team used a whopping 11 stolen bases to great effect, scoring single runs in the first, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh frames to pick up the win over the defending champs.

Though it was not a big offensive day for the Nats, they did just enough to win -- something that has become a habit during this 2009 campaign.  And good pitching makes that work every single time. The Senators also got two important two-out runs, one on a clutch Jim Toth RBI single in the sixth and the other on Jeff Goldstein's seventh inning ribbie, his first RBI as a Senator believe it or not.

Next the Nats travel to Camden County College for a second meeting against the improved South Jersey Phillies. Pitching plans for this game are as yet uncertain, but it is expected that Chris Johannes will get the baseball.

The Washington Township Senators sweep a twin-bill from the South Jersey Red Sox by scores of 10-3 and 9-2. The Senators offense was clicking, as they drilled 15 hits in the first game, and used five hits and 11 walks to breeze in the nightcap.

As usual, it was the pitching that carried the team, though. Frank Rose and Chris Johannes were masterful, holding the Red Sox offense to just five runs in the doubleheader. Dan Laudisio had a nice offensive day, reaching base in seven of eight plate appearanes, while Rose and Nick Frese were on six times in eight trips. Rose added five RBIs to cap a great day on the ballyard.

 The Senators now awaiting a rescheduled doubleheader vs the Cinnaminson Reds to see what's next.

After a season-long slumber, the Senator bats finally stepped up, as the home town team outscored the Delco Dodgers by a 20-3 margin to sweep Sunday's twin bill by scores of 10-0 and 10-3. The offense collected 13 hits in each of the two games, and it was good to see it.

 As usual, the pitching was pretty much immaculate as well, with four hurlers combining to toss 12 innings of ball, allowing just 10 hits and only two earned runs. The defense was better, too, as the Senators made just three fairly meaningless errors. Bobby Wood continued his hot hitting, reaching base five times in seven trips. Jim Toth also got aboard in five of his six trips to the dish. Danny Laudisio added three hits and a walk, and Don Tash had three singles in five trips. Really, the offense came from up and down the lineup.

Carl Taylor made his Senator debut by fanning the first three batters he faced. But the tough righthander came up with an arm injury that shortened his perfect outing to just four batters faced. Hopefully, this is just a minor strain that will not keep him off the mound for long.

The Senators did most of the damage is just two innings, a six-run third in the first game and a seven-run second in the nightcap. It's still very early, but the Township Nine appear to be flying on all cylinders right now.

Next up: the Nats travel to beautiful Cinnaminson Memorial for a doubleheader against the defending champion Reds.  Jeff Goldstein is expected to return to the lineup for this twin-bill, and as usual, Chris Johannes and Frank Rose will get the starts.

While the bats remain strangely quiet and the defense takes a holiday, it's all about the pitchers as the Senators win another game they looked certain to lose, outlasting the Manahawkin Mets by a 3-2 score. Frank Rose continued his season-long streak, not allowing a single earned run in seven solid innings of work, and Chris Lawrence tossed two scoreless frames to pick up the victory.

The winning rally in the ninth inning, however, was a beauty. Don Tash got things started with a single to right, and stole second. Billy Trotman drew a walk, and Lawrence bunted them over perfectly. Danny Laudisio then did his job perfectly, lofting a sacrifice fly to right to plate Tash with the winning tally. Lawrence closed it out with a perfect ninth, fanning the last two Met batters.

Mike Dettra suffered a disabling hamstring pull in the eighth, but the Senator first baseman refused to pull himself from the game, sucking it up despite and the fact that he could barely move. And the walking wounded escaped with their fifth victory with no defeats.

Next up, the Senators return home for a doubleheader with Bob Gallo's Delco Dodgers. Chris Johannes get the baseball in the opener, while Rose works the nightcap.

On a day when they might have folded up the tents and accepted a split, the Washington Township Senators would not let that happen.

 Instead, with Jim Toth, Dan Laudisio, Bobby Wood, Joe Leo and Eric Holloway not present, and with Jeff Goldstein and Billy Trotman both nursing nagging injuries, the Senators prevailed 6-4 in the nightcap after besting the A's 3-2 in the opener.

 Frank Rose did his usual yeoman-like work in the first game, tossing six solid innings and allowing zero earned runs. Chris Lawrence picked up the first save in 45+ Senator franchise history with a scoreless seventh.

In the nightcap, it was Chris Johannes pitching a complete-game six hitter, fanning 10 A's, and working out of several jams to get the victory. Johannes added a clutch two-run single, as the Senators roared back from a 3-1 deficit, scoring four in the top of the sixth and a single run in the seventh to put the contest away and remain unbeaten.

Next up: the Nats travel all the way down to Long Beach Island (Manahawkin, actually) to face the Manahawkin Mets, a rookie team sitting at 3-2 in the Northen Division and making their share of noise.

Wet grounds at Monsignor Bonner High School have caused cancellation of the Senators scheduled game this Sunday, May 10, against the Delco Dodgers. This puts the Nats in the unenviable situation of having to play FOUR doubleheaders this year: May 31 vs A's; June 14 vs. Dodgers; June 21 vs. Reds; and July 26 vs. Black Sox. On the plus side, this will give the Senator pitchers ample opportunities for work. On the minus side, we lost a lot of innings and ABs. But you can't fight Mother Nature.

 Next week, it's the SJ Red Sox at Gloucester Township Community Park.

After seven innings of zilch, the Washington Township Senators came up big in the final frames, getting four two-out runs to slide past the Maple Shade Mariners by a 4-2 score in 10 innings. Frankie Rose led the way, driving in three of those runs, and Chris Johannnes and Jim Toth did a great job in holding the Mariners to just two runs, both unearned. Billy Trotman made his 45+ debut a spectacular one, going an impressive 4-for-4.

 In many ways, this was not the Senators finest hour -- five errors, some loose baserunning, and not much offense. But in other ways, it was all that and more, as the team showed great heart in battling back on a difficult morning to remain undefeated here in the early going.

 Next week the Senators return home for a big match-up against old rivals the Cinnaminson Reds, who have been in the league since the beginning. The younger Senator clubs had many fun battles against these great guys in the past, and we look forward to another one come this Sunday!

The Washington Township Senators started their inaugural season with a virtually flawless win over the SJ Phillies at Deptford High School. The Nats used that old baseball recipe of good defense and good pitching, sprinkling in the expected solid offense, and came up with one hell of an apple pie victory.

Frank Rose tossed six two-hit innings, allowing just one unearned run to pick up his initial victory at the 45+ level. Bobby Wood collected three hits, while Chris Lawrence, Jim Toth and Rose each added two. Toth also scored three runs. The Nats had the Phillies in trouble in every inning, and were it not for solid shortstop play by the Phillies, things could have been a lot worse. The Senators got 16 hits on the morning. All in all, it could not have been a better debut for this latest entry into a storied SJMSBL franchise.

Next up: the Nats travel to Aces Field in Maple Shade for a test against the Maple Shade Mariners. Chris Johannes will get his first 45+ start in his first game as a Senator.

On Sunday, the 45+ Washington Township Senators will make their debut as a team in the South Jersey MSBL in a game at Deptford High School vs the South Jersey Phillies. The new Sens are made up of an interesting combination of talent from the 35+ Senators, the Delco Astros, the Moorestown Marlins, the Winslow Senators, and more.

To keep continuity intact, Sunday's starting pitcher will be Frank Rose, the same guy who pitched the inaugural games for the both the 25+ and 35+ Senators in this league. The 45s will be managed by Nick Frese,with Bruce Schumin acting as coach.

The Senators are expected to contend hot and heavy in the 45+ Division this year, as they feature a superb balance of offense, speed, defense, and pitching.