DAD, YOU WERE ALWAYS MORE THAN A FATHER, YOU WERE AN INSPIRATION, A LOVING EAR, A CRITICAL VOICE, A FRIEND, A MENTOR, AND A HERO.  REST IN PEACE POPS; BECAUSE LIKE IN THE MOVIE; FIELD OF DREAMS, YOUR HEAVEN IS A BASEBALL DIAMOND.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF BOB MEYER; A BROTHER, A FATHER, A FRIEND.  YOU ARE MISSED TODAY AND EVERYDAY AS OUR PHYSICAL WORLD IS NOT THE SAME WITHOUT YOU.

WE LOST A PART OF OUR FAMILY TONIGHT, AS SATCH'S MOM LOST HER BATTLE WITH CANCER.  SHE IS IN ALL OF OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. ARLENE WILL REMAIN WITH US IN OUR MINDS AND HEARTS. MAY SHE REST IN PEACE; A SAINT FOREVER. 

CHRISTMAS/NEW YEARS

AS WE HIT THE HOLIDAY SEASON, WE WISH ALL OF OUR PLAYERS, FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND OPPONENTS; THE BEST FOR THIS SEASON AND FOR THE COMING NEW YEAR.  WE SEE 2012 AS A NEW YEAR FULL OF COMING CHANGES AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL.  AS OUR EVOLUTION CONTINUES; OUR GOALS AND ULTIMATE FOCUS REMAIN THE SAME.  WE WELCOME ALL WHO WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US ON OUR CONTINUING JOURNEY. 

THANKSGIVING

WE AS MEMBERS OF THE ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S FAMILY HAVE A GREAT DEAL TO BE THANKFUL FOR. THE ADDITION ON SEPTEMBER 9TH OF NOEL THIMONS AND THEN THE EARLY NOVEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE FINAL AMIGO, JIM JASKOWSKI, WILL MARRY NATALIE ON JUNE 18. THEY ARE PLANNING A WEDDING CRUISE WITH, AS JIMMY SAID "A BOAT FULL OF IDIOTS". (GOOD THING ABOUT A CRUISE IS THERE IS NO LAST CALL!). CONGRATULATIONS JEN AND NATE AND NATALIE AND UNCLE JIMMY. (BETTER DROP THE UNCLE. NO LONGER THE PERPETUAL UNCLE.) 

FOR ME, IN ADDITION TO THESE MONUMENTOUS EVENTS; I'M THANKFUL FOR MY TRUE FAMILY AND MY SAINT'S FAMILY...ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN A PART OF ST. JOHNS FOR SO MANY YEARS.  IT IS FUNNY THAT A LOT OF TEAMS THINK OF THEIR CLUBS IN TERMS OF SEASONS.  WE, HOWEVER, ALWAYS THINK OF OURSELVES IN TERMS OF YEARS. WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE A TIGHT GROUP OF GUYS WHO LIVE THEIR SUMMER FRIENDSHIPS OUT YEAR ROUND.  FRIENDSHIPS HAVE BEEN FORMED THAT WILL LAST BEYOND THE YEARS IN BLACK AND RED.  I AM THANKFUL FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT HAVE SHOWN UP TO WEAR THE BLACK AND RED. CHANGES ARE GOING TO HAPPEN IN 2012,THAT IS SOMETHING I AM SURE OF, CHANGE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL WILL COME AT THE EXPENSE OF A FEW, BUT IN THE END, WHO WE ARE AND WHY WE PLAY WILL ENDURE.....WE ARE THE SAINTS, & FOR LOVE OF THE GAME!

CONGRATULATIONS.

OUR GOOD FRIENDS THE CANTON STALLIONS HAVE WON BACK TO BACK AABC CHAMPIONSHIPS.  SAINT ANDREW HECK PLAYED SS AND LED THE STALLIONS WITH 4 RBI IN THE TOURNAMENT AND TOURNAMENT SAINT, LUKE KATICH THREW THE FOURTH GAME FOR THE STALLIONS.

IN ADDITION, WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTRATULATE THE RIVERBANDITS WHO PLAYED THEIR WAY INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME OF THE NABF IN LOUISVILLE.  HOWEVER, THEY LOST TO BUFFALO WEST HERR IN 12 INNINGS; 7 TO 4.  IT WAS A GREAT RUN.

EX-SAINT PASSES AWAY.

GARY BOGATAY, WHO PITCHED IN THE FED LEAGUE FOR 20 YEARS, PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 73. AFTER PITCHING IN THE GIANTS ORGANIZATION, GARY ENTERED THE FEDERATION LEAGUE PITCHING FOR THE MOUNT WASHINGTON INDIANS; WHO WERE MANAGED BY MY FATHER; TOM "PIDGE" McCARTHY.  WHEN I ENTERED THE FED LEAGUE AT AGE 19; IN 1973; GARY WAS A TEAMMATE ON ST. JOHNS.  GARY WAS A RESPECTED PITCHER THROUGHOUT THE LEAGUE; BUT MORE SIGNIFICANTLY, HE BECAME A GOOD FRIEND.  HE CERTAINLY FALLS WITHIN OUR CREADO; ONCE A SAINT, ALWAYS A SAINT!  GAR, YOU WILL BE MISSED.

POP!

FOR MOST TEAMS, REGULAR SEASON AND LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS, A 31-6-2 SEASON WOULD BE A SEASON TO CELEBRATE AND ACHIEVE A SENSE OF SELF-GRATIFICATION, HOWEVER, WE DO NOT OPERATE LIKE MOST TEAMS, THE STANDARDS ARE HIGHER! 

THE WHEELS CAME OFF IN BUFFALO, AS SAINT BATS WENT SILENT AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR NABF HISTORY THE SAINTS WENT 2 AND OUT OF A TOURNAMENT, DROPPING 2-1 AND 4-3 DECISIONS TO ORCHARD PARK AND THE CLEVELAND BLACKWOLVES.  WE WON'T DWELL ON THE DETAILS OF THE TWO VERY WINABLE GAMES IF WE HAD PLAYED ANYTHING AT ALL LIKE OURSELVES.  WE DIDN'T.  THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE.  NO EXCUSES, NO FINGER POINTING; WE WIN AS ONE AND WE LOSE AS ONE.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO PUT ON A SAINTS JERSEY THIS SEASON AND ALL OF OUR FANS.  THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR ALL THE WIVES, GIRLFRIENDS, AND CHILDREN; WHO PUT UP WITH ENDLESS CALLS AND TEXT MESSAGES.  A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR LITTLE SPARTAN, CHANCE, THE BEST BATBOY EVER.  YOU'RE THE BEST I'VE HAD SINCE MY OWN SONS DID IT MANY, MANY YEARS AGO. 

AS WE ALL GET ON WITH OUR REGULAR LIVES, WE KNOW THE STRENGTH OF OUR TEAM IS THE BOND FORMED BEYOND THE DIAMOND. NEXT UP IS THE ANNUAL LEFTY'S GOLF OUTING. THE SAINTS WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR.  THERE WILL BE ADDITIONS AND SOME SUBTRACTIONS, AS WE LOOK TO DEFEND OUR TURF AND TO COMPLETE THE FINAL TWO STEPS OF OUR ANNUAL JOURNEY.

FOR NOW, WE NEED TO SUPPORT ANDREW AND THE HAYS LARKS IN THE NBC TOURNAMENT.  IN ADDITION, WE OFFER BEST WISHES FOR THE RIVERBANDITS AS THEY WILL REPRESENT THE YOUNGSTOWN REGIONAL AND THE FEDERATION LEAGUE IN LOUISVILLE.  FINALLY, GOOD LUCK TO OUR GOOD FRIENDS THE CANTON STALLIONS IN THEIR QUEST TO BECOME BACK TO BACK AABC CHAMPIONS IN HOUSTON.

THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT DISAPPOINTMENT IS THAT IT USUALLY CREATES A GREATER RESOLVE, OR YOU QUIT AND WE MAY LOSE, BUT WE NEVER QUIT!  BECAUSE WE ARE THE SAINTS.

SHUFFLING OFF

THE SAINTS WILL BEGIN OUR QUEST TO RETURN TO LOUISVILLE ON AUGUST 4 IN THE BUFFALO REGIONAL.  THE SAINTS MADE THE DECISION LAST YEAR TO GO TO BUFFALO WHEN THE SCHEDULE CAME OUT AND YOUNGSTOWN WAS A WEEK EARLIER.  THIS ALSO ENABLED THE LEAGUE TO SEND THE SECOND-PLACE RIVERBANDITS TO YOUNGSTOWN.  WE CONGRATULATE THE BANDITOS AS THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR INITIAL EFFORTS TO REACH LOUISVILLE.

DETAILS FOR THE BUFFALO REGIONAL WILL BE LOCATED ON THE MY SITE NEWS PAGE.

TUNE-UP

BACK IN APRIL AS WE PLANNED OUR EXHIBITION SCHEDULE, WE AND OUR GOOD FRIENDS, THE CANTON STALLIONS; SCHEDULED A DOUBLEHEADER FOR THE LAST WEEKEND IN JULY TO HELP EACH OF US PREP FOR OUR UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS.  SO THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S; MINUS A FEW AND WITH SOME TOURNAMENT ADDITIONS, LOADED UP THE CARS AND TRAVELED TO BELIOT, OHIO.  THE DH PROVED TO BE A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR THE SAINTS AS GAME 1 ENDED IN A 9-INNING 1-1 DRAW AND THE SAINTS POUNDED OUT A 13-3 VICTORY IN THE SECOND GAME.  AS WE EACH HEAD OUR SEPARATE WAYS; WE WISH THE STALLIONS WELL AS THEY VENTURE IN SEARCH OF BACK TO BACK NATIONAL AABC TITLES.  IF THIS TRUELY IS THEIR SWAN SONG, WE HAVE GREATLY ENJOYED THE 6 GAMES AGAINST THE BLUE AND WHITE.

SAINTS WIN 6TH STRAIGHT!

FOR THE 10TH TIME IN THE LAST 12 SEASONS, AND FOR THE 6TH YEAR IN A ROW; ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S HAVE WON THE GREATER PITTSBURGH FEDERATION LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP.  AS WAS THE CASE IN SO MANY OF THOSE YEARS, THE FORMULA REMAINS THE SAME; DOMINATE PITCHING AND TIMELY HITTING.

AFTER DROPPING THE 1ST GAME OF THE SERIES, THE SAINTS RODE THE RIGHT ARMS OF ACE JOHN BACHMAN, BRIAN WARHEIT, AND CLOSER JIM PASQUINE, AND THE LEFT ARM OF BRIAN HOLLIDAY.  HOLLIDAY WAS THE WINNER IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP CLINCHER.  HE TOSSED 7 INNINGS YIELDING 3 HARMLESS SINGLES, AND AN UNEARNED RUN.  BRIAN FANNED 7 BANDITOS.  HE WAS RELIEVED BY CLOSER PASQUINE, WHO STRUCK OUT 4 OF THE 6 BATTERS HE FACED.

AFTER 3 SCORELESS INNINGS, THE SAINTS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A 3-BASE THROWING ERROR AND ANDY BLACKWELL'S SINGLE TO SCORE THE GAME'S FIRST RUN.  THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S ADDED 2 MORE IN THE 5TH, WITHOUT THE AID OF A HIT.  2 WALKS, A SAC BUNT, A WILD PITCH, ANOTHER WALK, AND A THROWING ERROR; ENABLED THE SAINTS TO BUILD WHAT WOULD BE AN INSURMOUNTABLE LEAD.  IN THE 6TH, THE SAINTS ADDED THEIR FINAL 2 RUNS ON 3 SINGLES AND A WALK.  THE RIVERBANDITS SCORED THEIR ONLY RUN ON A DROPPED POP-UP IN THE 7TH INNING.

BOTH TEAMS NOW ADVANCE INTO NABF PLAY.  THE RIVERBANDITS WILL PLAY IN THE YOUNGSTOWN REGIONAL; WHILE THE SAINTS TRAVEL NEXT WEEK TO BUFFALO.  HOWEVER, BEFORE GOING TO NEW YORK, THE SAINTS WILL TRAVEL TO OHIO FOR AN EXHIBITION/TUNE-UP DOUBLEHEADER SUNDAY WITH OUR FRIENDS THE CANTON STALLIONS, WHO ARE PREPARING FOR THEIR AABC REGIONAL.

ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S SWEEP TWINBILL, 15-2 AND 9-6. 

YOUR SAINTS STEPPED UP TO THE CHALLENGE OF REBOUNDING FROM THE GAME 1 DEBAUCHEL, BY SWEEPING THE RIVERBANDITS; 15-2 AND 9-6 IN GAMES 2 & 3.  THE VICTORIES MOVE THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S ONE VICTORY AWAY FROM THEIR SIXTH CONSECUTIVE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP, AND TENTH IN TWELVE YEARS.

GAME 1 SAW THE SAINTS STRIKE EARLY AND OFTEN, AFTER 1 OUT THE SAINTS SENT 13 MORE MEN TO THE PLATE AND SCORED 8 RUNS, ON 6 HITS, AND 4 WALKS.  THE SAINTS PROCEDED TO ADD 7 MORE RUNS OVER THE NEXT 3 INNINGS, BUILDING A 15-0 LEAD.  THE BANDITOS SCORE 2 IN THE 5TH, BUT COULD NOT PREVENT THE MERCY RULE FROM TAKING EFFECT.

RICK KRIST HAD 3 HITS; WHILE WES WHITE, BEN LOWMASTER, MIKE HERMANN, AND ANDY BLACKWELL HAD 2 EACH. WHITE HAD 3 RBI, KRIST, JASKOWSKI, LOWMASTER, AND HERMANN KNOCK IN 2 EACH.

JOHN BACHMAN THREW THE COMPLETE GAME AND ALSO SINGLED AND SCORED A RUN AS HE REPLACED JAZ WHO PULLED HIS HAMSTRING.

IN GAME 2, A LONG DELAY COOLED THE SAINTS OFF AS THEY WAITED FOR NEW UMPIRES TO ARRIVE.  BRIAN WARHEIT TOOK THE PILL AND THREW 3 SCORELESS INNINGS.  DURING THAT TIME, THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S WENT TO WORK.  CAPITALIZING ON 8 WALKS AND A HIT BATSMAN, THE SAINTS SCORED 5 RUNS.  AFTER THE RIVERBANDITS SCORED A RUN IN 4TH, THE SAINTS PLATED 3 MORE, THANKS IN A LARGE PART TO A 2-RUN HOMER BY GREG STOKES.

THE BANDITOS WERE NOT FINISHED AS THEY CAPITALIZED ON THEIR SEASON LONG FRIEND AGAINST THE SAINTS; AN ERROR.  A DROPPED THROW AT FIRST OPENED THE DOOR FOR 4 RUNS IN THE 5TH AND CLOSED THE SCORE TO 8 TO 5.  HOWEVER, A MIKE HERMANN SOLO HOMER AND THE RELIEF PITCHING OF CLOSER JIM PASQUINE CLOSED THE DOOR ON THE VICTORY.

NATE THIMONS LED THE WAY OFFENSIVELY WITH 2 HITS AND 2 RBI; STOKES AND KRIST ALSO KNOCKED IN 2.  PASQUINE THREW THE FINAL 2 AND 1/3 INNINGS FOR HIS SAVE, STRIKING OUT 5 BATTERS AND PRESERVING WARHEIT'S VICTORY.  THE SAINTS NEED TO AVOID MAKING CRUCIAL ERRORS; AS 1 ERROR MADE A 9-2 VICTORY LOOK A LOT CLOSER.

THE SAINTS WILL ATTEMPT TO WRAP UP THE SERIES WITH BRIAN HOLLIDAY ON THE MOUND MONDAY NIGHT.

LIGHTNING AND RAIN DELAY SERIES.

OVERCAST SKIES, LIGHTNING, AND RAIN CAUSED GAME TWO OF THE SERIES TO BE POSTPONED.  THE FINALS WILL RESUME SUNDAY AT NOON AT NORTH HILLS HIGH SCHOOL FOR A DOUBLEHEADER.

SAINTS BLOWN OUT IN SERIES OPENER.

AS THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES AGAINST THE RIVERBANDITS BEGAN, THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S WERE LOOKING TO AVOID THE DEFENSIVE PROBLEMS WHICH HAD HANDED THE BANDITOS THEIR TWO REGULAR SEASON VICTORIES OVER THE DEFENDING CHAMPS.  HOWEVER, ON THIS NIGHT THE TREND CONTINUED AS THE SAINTS COMMITTED FIVE ERRORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO A 15-5 PASTING.

NOT MUCH WENT RIGHT FOR THE SAINTS, AS THE DEFENSE, PITCHING, AND OFFENSE ALL STRUGGLED.  KUDOS TO ERIC DROBOTIJ, WHO HELPED TO SAVE SOME NEEDED PITCHING ARMS BY THROWING THE FINAL FIVE INNINGS.

THE SERIES IS SET TO RESUME FRIDAY NIGHT AT NORTH HILLS HIGH SCHOOL @ 6 PM.

FEDERATION LEAGUE FINALS SET.

THE GREATER PITTSBURGH FEDERATION LEAGUE FINALS ARE SET TO BEGIN BETWEEN 5-TIME DEFENDING CHAMPION ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S AND THE RIVERBANDITS ON THURSDAY NIGHT.  GAME 1 WILL BE PLAYED ON JOHN HERB FIELD, THURSDAY @ 8:30.  GAME 2 WILL ALSO BE PLAYED AT HERB ON FRIDAY @ 6.  THE SERIES WILL RESUME WITH A DOUBLEHEADER ON SUNDAY.  GAME 3 WILL BE AT NOON AT NORTH HILLS HIGH SCHOOL.  IF NECESSARY, THE TEAMS WILL TRAVEL THE 10 MINUTES UP THE ROAD TO AVONWORTH FOLLOWING GAME 3.  IF NECESSARY, GAME 5 WILL TAKE PLACE MONDAY NIGHT @ AVONWORTH. 

SAINTS ADVANCE TO 12 CONSECUTIVE FEDERATION LEAGUE FINALS WITH 8-4 VICTORY OVER BELLEVUE.

ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S COMBINED THE EFFORTS OF A VETERAN AND A ROOKIE TO ADVANCE TO THE FEDERATION LEAGUE FINALS.  FEDERATION LEAGUE VETERAN CHRIS GRADY HELPED ROOKIE BRIAN WARHEIT RECORD THE CLINCHING VICTORY.  GRADY, WHO HAD PLAYED IN ONLY A HANDFUL OF SAINT'S GAMES, WAS ON HAND BECAUSE THE SAINTS WERE SHORT ON INFIELDERS AND WAS THRUST INTO THE LINE-UP WHEN WES WHITE WAS CAUGHT AT WORK; PROCEDED TO HIT A 2-RUN HOMER IN THE 4TH AND A RUN SCORING SINGLE IN THE 5TH.  JIM JASKOWSKI HAD 3 HITS; WHILE RICK KRIST, WES WHITE, AND MIKE HERMANN JOINED GRADY WITH 2 HITS APIECE.

THE ROOKIE WARHEIT; WHO HAD PITCH ONLY IN RELIEF DURING THE SEASON BECAUSE OF HIS COMMITMENTS IN THE BUTLER LEAGUE, GOT HIS FIRST START AND PITCHED MASTERFULLY FOR SEVEN INNINGS.  THE SETON HILL GRAD STRUCK OUT 9 AND WALKED 1.  HE WAS RELIEVED BY CLOSER JIM PASQUINE; WHO THREW THE FINAL 2 INNINGS ON THE 90+ DEGREE EVENING.

THE SAINTS WILL NOW FACE THE SECOND-PLACE RIVERBANDITS IN THE FINALS.

MOTHER NATURE TAKES GAME 2.

THE SECOND GAME OF THE 1ST ROUND WAS RAINED OUT MONDAY IN THE TOP OF THE SECOND INNING.  THE ANGELS WERE LEADING 2-0 BASED ON A 1ST INNING HOME RUN.  THE GAME WILL BE REPLAYED FROM THE BEGINNING TUESDAY @ 6 AT AVONWORTH. 

SAINTS OPEN ROUND 1 WITH 7-2 WIN.

THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S OPENED DEFENSE OF THEIR FEDERATION LEAGUE CROWN WITH A 7-2 VICTORY OVER BELLEVUE IN THEIR BEST OF 3 FIRST ROUND SERIES.  IN DOING SO THEY RODE THE RIGHT ARM OF JOHN BACHMAN AND HIS SURPRISING BLUE PITCHER'S BAT.

BACHMAN THREW 7 SHUT OUT INNINGS, BUT WAS REPLACED AFTER 2 ERRORS AND A SINGLE LOADED THE BASES IN THE 8TH.  WHEN SS JIM PASQUINE ENTERED THE GAME TO PITCH, BACHMAN MOVED TO 2ND BECAUSE THE SAINTS WERE SHORT INFIELDERS. THE ANGELS SCORED 2 UNEARNED RUNS IN THAT 8TH INNING TO NARROW THE SCORE TO 5-2.  HOWEVER, BACH CAME TO THE PLATE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 8TH AND HIT THE FIRST PITCH OVER THE FENCE IN RIGHT CENTER FOR A 2-RUN HOMER MAKING THE FINAL SCORE, 7-2.

IN ADDITION TO HIS SAVE, JIM PASQUINE HAD 2 RBI; INCLUDING HIS 7TH INNING HOME RUN.  ERIC MORRISON HAD 3 HITS, WHILE BEN LOWMASTER AND JIM JASKOWSKI JOINED PASQUINE WITH 2 SAFETIES EACH.

THE SAINTS LOOK TO WRAP UP THE SERIES, MONDAY NIGHT AT MEYER-MIDDLETON @ 6.

FEDERATION LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS BEGIN.

THE GREATER PITTSBURGH FEDERATION LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS BEGIN ON SUNDAY, JULY 17, WITH A PAIR OF GAMES. THE SECOND PLACE RIVERBANDITS WILL HOST THIRD PLACE ALLEGHENY VALLEY; WHILE REGULAR SEASON CHAMPION ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S ENTERTAINS FOURTH PLACE BELLEVUE. FIRST ROUND SERIES ARE BEST OF THREE, WITH THE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND BEING BEST OF FIVE.  

SAINTS CLINCH REGULAR SEASON TITLE AND NABF BERTH.

MT. LEBANON WAS AGAIN UNABLE TO FIELD AT FULL SQUAD AND FORFEITED TO THE SAINTS.  THE WIN ENABLED THE SAINTS TO CONCLUDE THE REGULAR SEASON WITH A 20-3-1 MARK AND SECURE THE REGULAR SEASON TITLE AND NABF BERTH IN THE BUFFALO REGIONAL.  THE SAINTS HAVE CHOSEN TO GO TO BUFFALO BECAUSE THE YOUNGSTOWN REGIONAL WAS MOVED UP A WEEK THIS YEAR.  THE SECOND PLACE RIVERBANDITS WILL REPRESENT THE FEDERATION LEAGUE IN THAT YOUNGSTOWN REGIONAL.

ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S WHITEWASH EAST END; 12-0.

YOUR SAINTS MOVED WITHIN 2 POINTS OF ANOTHER REGULAR SEASON TITLE WITH A SHUT-OUT OF EAST END, 12-0.

SAINT PITCHERS; ANDREW HECK, ALEX SHARICK, AND BEN LOWMASTER; LIMITED THE EAST ENDERS TO A SINGLE HIT IN THE FIRST INNING.  COMBINED, THEY STRUCK OUT 12, WALKED 2 AND HIT ONE  BATTER.

OFFENSIVELY THE 14 HIT ATTACK SAW 5 SAINTS; WES WHITE, JIM PASQUINE, GREG STOKES, MIKE HERMANN, AND JON ZILLES; HAVE MULTIPLE HIT GAMES.  HECK, HERMANN AND RICK SATCHO EACH DROVE IN 2.

THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S COMPLETE THE REGULAR SEASON BY HOSTING MT. LEBANON, SATURDAY AFTERNOON @ AVONWORTH. 

SAINTS CLOSE IN ON THE PLAY-OFFS; DEFEAT CIT 10-0.

THE SAINTS INCHED ONE MORE STEP TOWARD THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON BY BLANKING CIT 10-0 THURSDAY NIGHT BEHIND A DOMINATE PITCHING PERFORMANCE BY BRIAN HOLLIDAY AND JIM PASQUINE.

BRIAN THREW THE FIRST 6 INNINGS OF THE MERCY RULE SHORTENED GAME.  HE GAVE UP A SINGLE HIT AND STRUCK-OUT 10 BATTERS.  PAS ENTERED THE GAME IN THE 7TH AND STRUCK OUT THE SIDE, AFTER YIELDING A HARMLESS OPPOSITE FIELD SINGLE.

MIKE HERMANN AGAIN PLAYED LONG BALL OFFENSIVELY.  HE HOMERED IN HIS FIRST 2 AT BATS; A 3-RUN SHOT IN THE SECOND AND A SOLO SHOT IN THE THIRD.  ANDREW HECK ADDED A SOLO BLAST IN THE SIXTH TO CLOSE OUT THE SCORING.  ERIC MORRISON AND BEN LOWMASTER JOINED HERM WITH MULTIPLE HIT GAMES.

THE SAINTS CLOSE OUT THE WEEK AND THE REGULAR SEASON BY PLAYING EAST END FRIDAY NIGHT AT MELLON PARK AND HOSTING MT. LEBANON ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT AVONWORTH.

ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S ACCEPTS MT. LEBANON FORFEIT, 9-0, AND MOVE TO 17-3-1 IN LEAGUE. 

ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S LOOK STRONG IN 9-3 VICTORY OVER BELLEVUE.

THE SAINTS HAD A TOUGH CHORE FACING BELLEVUE AND ACE PITCHER LUKE KATICH.  HOWEVER, THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S PLAYED ONE OF THEIR MOST COMPLETE GAMES OF THE SEASON AND DEFEATED THE ANGELS, 9-3.

IT ALL STARTED ON THE BUMP; WHERE ACE JOHN BACHMAN CONSISTENTLY FILLED THE ZONE ALL DAY LONG.  BACH WENT 8 STRONG INNINGS YIELDING 5 HITS, AND 1 RUN; WHILE FANNING 10.  BRIAN HOLLIDAY THREW THE NINTH AND GAVE UP A 2-RUN HOME RUN FOLLOWING A SAINT ERROR, AND PROCEDED TO STRIKE OUT THE SIDE.

OFFENSIVELY, THE DAY BELONGED TO NATE THIMONS AND JIMMY PASQUINE.  NATE WENT 4 FOR 5; WITH A 2 RUN JACK AND 5 TOTAL RBI.  PAS WAS 3 FOR 4 AND SCORED 4 RUNS AND HAD A KEY 2-OUT RBI IN THE 7TH, WHEN THE GAME WAS STILL IN DOUBT.  RICK KRIST AND ERIC MORRISON EACH HAD MULTI-HIT GAMES; AS TE SAINTS TOTALED 17 HITS ON THE DAY.  FOR THE 3RD STRAIGHT GAME THE SAINTS LEFT 10 OR MORE RUNNERS ON BASE.

THE SAINTS IMPROVED TO 16-3-1 IN THE LEAGUE AND 21-3-1 OVERALL.  LEAGUE GAMES REMAIN WITH CIT, EAST END, AND A PAIR WITH MT. LEBANON AS WE ENTER THE LAST WEEK OF THE SEASON. 

SAINTS BOUNCE BACK, DEFEAT AVB, 10-5.

FOLLOWING THE SETBACK AGAINST THE RIVERBANDITS, THE SAINTS NARROWED THE REST OF THE SEASON TO A FOCUS SOLELY ON THE GAME AT HAND.  THAT CONTEST WAS SATURDAY AGAINST 3RD PLACE ALLEGHENY VALLEY.  COMBINING 15 HITS WITH 11 WALKS; THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S CONCLUDED A LONG AFTERNOON WITH A 10-5 VICTORY.

ANDREW HECK LED THE SAINT ATTACK WITH 3 HITS; INCLUDING A 2-RUN HOME RUN.  RICK KRIST, NATE THIMONS, AND MIKE HERMANN EACH CHIPPED IN WITH 2 HITS APIECE.  A CONTINUING ALARMING STAT WERE THE 15 SAINTS LEFT ON BASE.

PITCHING WISE; ANDREW RAFALSKI THREW 5 INNINGS OF 6 HIT BALL; WHILE BRIAN WARHEIT, BRIAN HOLLIDAY, AND JIM PASQUINE ALLOWED ONLY 2 HITS OVER THE FINAL 4 INNINGS. 

DESPITE A 16-6 HIT ADVANTAGE, SAINTS TOSS AWAY KEY GAME.

THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S OUTHIT THE RIVERBANDITS 16-6, BUT 4 KEY THROWING ERRORS LED TO 6 UNEARNED RUNS; AS THE SAINTS FELL 10-6 ON TUESDAY. THE VICTORY GAVE THE OPPORTUNISTIC BANDITOS THE SEASON SERIES, 2 GAMES TO 1.  HOWEVER, THE SAINTS STILL CONTROL THEIR 1ST PLACE DESTINY.  IF THE SAINTS WIN OUT IN THEIR LAST 6 GAMES, THEY WILL STILL CLAIM FIRST PLACE FOR THE SEASON BY A SINGLE POINT.

REPLACEMENT STARTER, BRIAN MURANSKY WENT 2 PLUS INNINGS, BEFORE LEAVING WITH A TWEAK IN HIS SHOULDER. JOHN BACHMAN ENTERED WITH ONE ON, NO OUTS.  2 THROWING ERRORS LED TO THE BANDITS TURNING A 4-3 DEFICIT INTO A 6-4 LEAD. ANOTHER ERROR PERMITTED 2 MORE UNEARNED RUNS IN THE 4TH.

THE SAINTS CREPT BACK INTO THE GAME, AND DESPITE TWO OUTSTANDING CATCHES IN THE OUTFIELD; ONE WHICH TOOK A HOMER AWAY OVER THE FENCE; THE SCORE WAS 8-7 AFTER 7 INNINGS.  HOWEVER, THE RIVERBANDITS ADDED 2 MORE UNEARNED IN THE 8TH FOLLOWING THE SAME FORMULA....THROWING ERROR, FLARE, HIT BATSMAN, INFIELD OUT, AND SAC FLY.  THE SAINTS GOT TWO MORE TO SECOND AND THIRD, BUT COULDN'T SCORE.  THE GAME ENDED WITH THE 8:30 RULE..10-7.

OFFENSIVELY, EVERY SAINT HAD AT LEAST 1 HIT. WES WHITE HAD 3 HITS; WITH 2 EACH FOR ANDREW HECK, JIM JASKOWSKI, GREG STOKES, ERIC MORRISON, AND RICK KRIST.  MORRISON AND KRIST HIT SOLO HOMERS.  PITCHING WISE; MURANSKY GAVE UP 2 HITS AND THE ONLY 4 EARNED RUNS; BACHMAN, WHO FANNED 3, FOLLOWED WITH 3 HITS AND 4 UNEARNED IN 3 INNINGS.  HE WAS REPLACED IN THE 6TH BECAUSE OF HIS START LATER IN THE WEEK.  BRIAN HOLLIDAY THREW THE LAST 3; YIELDING A SINGLE HIT AND 2 UNEARNED WHILE FANNING 4.  IN AN ODD OCCURANCE, EACH SAINT PITCHER HIT A BATTER AND ALL THREE LED TO RUNS.  WEIRD NIGHT!

RARAIGH SIGNS WITH TRAVERSE CITY.

PRIOR TO HIS SCHEDULED START AGAINST THE RIVERBANDITS, LEFTY ACE, RICK RARAIGH SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH TRAVERSE CITY OF THE FRONTIER LEAGUE.  BEST WISHES FOR RICK AS HE PURSUES HIS PROFESSIONAL DREAMS.

SAINTS SWEPT CANTON; 8-2 & 5-4

ON JULY 1ST., THE NATIONALLY RANKED CANTON STALLIONS CAME TO BURKETT FIELD FOR A DOUBLEHEADER AGAINST THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S.  FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR, THEY RETURNED TO OHIO WITH TWO LOSSES.  GRANTED, SOME STALLIONS WERE UNABLE TO MAKE THE GAMES, AS DID TWO SAINT STARTERS; BUT THAT DID NOT TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE EFFORT BY BOTH TEAMS.

IN GAME ONE; YOUR SAINTS ROLLED THREE PITCHERS, ALL NAMED BRIAN; AS BRIAN HOLLIDAY, BRIAN MURANSKY, AND BRIAN WARHEIT HELD CANTON TO 5 HITS AND 2 RUNS.  WHILE GETTING THIS SOLID PITCHING, SAINT BATS POUNDED OUT 12 HITS, INCLUDING 5 EXTRA BASE HITS TOPPED BY A TOWERING HOME RUN BY NATE THIMONS.  ERIC MORRISON WENT 3 FOR 3; WHILE RICK KRIST AND JIM PASQUINE ALSO ADDED MULTI-HIT GAMES.

THE FORMULA IN GAME 2 AS QUITE DIFFERENT AS CANTON HELD A 3-0 LEAD AFTER 3 INNINGS.  THE SAINTS RALLIED FOR 2 IN THE 4TH AND AFTER CANTON TACKED ON THEIR 4TH RUN; NATE THIMONS FIRED A 2 RUN-MISSLE OVER THE RIGHT FIELD WALL TO TIE THE SCORE.  NATE WOULD ALSO PLATE JIM PASQUINE WITH A SAC FLY IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 6TH WITH THE WINNING RUN. NATE WAS 2 FOR 2; WHILE JIM JASKOWSKI AND ERIC MORRISON ADDED 2 HITS APIECE.  THREE SAINT PITCHERS COMBINED ON A 6 HITTER; ANDREW RAFALSKI, RICK RARAIGH, AND EVENTUAL WINNER, JOHN BACHMAN. 

DROBOTIJ HELPS LEAD SAINTS PAST CIT, 6-1.

ERIC DROBOTIJ CONTINUED HIS FINE SEASON BY GOING 7 STRONG INNINNGS IN A 6-1 VICTORY OVER CIT.  DROB'S STRUCK OUT 9 AND HAD NUMEROUS ASSISTS; AS CIT GAVE HIM LOTS OF PFP EARLY IN THE CONTEST.

THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S CLUBBED OUT 10 HITS, INCLUDING TRIPLES BY ANDREW HECK AND ANDY BLACKWELL.  AB, IN HIS FIRST START SINCE RETURNING FROM A LEG INJURY, HAD 3 HITS AND 2 RBI; WHILE JON ZILLES HAD 3 RBI ON 2 HITS.

THE SAINTS IMPROVED TO 14-2-1 IN THE LEAGUE AND 17-2-1 OVERALL.  THEY ARE I EXHIBITION PLAY FRIDAY WITH A DH AGAINST THE POWERFUL CANTON STALLIONS.  THEY RESUME FED PLAY TUESDAY AGAINST THE SECOND PLACE RIVERBANDITS AT AVONWORTH @ 6. 

RARAIGH THROWS 1-HITTER AS SAINTS DOMINATE AVB, 12-0.

RICK RARAIGH TOSSED A 5 INNING 1-HIT SHUTOUT AS THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S DEFEATED ALLEGHENY VALLEY 12-0 IN A GAME SHORTENED BY THE LEAGUE 12-RUN RULE.  RARAIGH CONTINUED THE TREND OF OUTSTANDING STARTING PITCHING BY FANNING 7, WALKING 1 AND HITTING A BATTER.

THE SAINTS OFFENSIVELY WERE ASSISTED BY WILDNESS ON THE PART OF THE AVB STAFF.  THE SAINTS RECEIVED 7 WALKS IN THEIR 8-RUN 3RD INNING ALONE.  WES WHITE CONTINUED HIS HOT STROKE WITH 3 HITS, WHILE GREG STOKES WENT 2 FOR 2; WITH A 2 RUN HOMER, JIM PASQUINE DELIEVERED A 2-RUN TRIPLE, ALONG WITH 3 WALKS, AND MIKE HERMANN BROUGHT THE AFFAIR TO AN END WITH A WALK-OFF HOMER AS THE FIRST BATTER IN THE 5TH INNING. 

SAINTS SWEEP IN Y-TOWN

THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S SPENT A CLOUDY, NIGHT AT PEMBERTON PARK, FOR OLD TIMES SAKE.  DESPITE PLAYING WITHOUT 4 USUAL STARTERS, THE SAINTS DEFEATED AN UNDERMANNED BOMBER TEAM BY SCORES OF 12-1 AND 7-0.  

PITCHING WAS THE NAME OF THE GAME, AS THREE SAINT PITCHERS; ANDREW RAFALSKI, BRIAN MURANSKY, AND ANDREW HECK HELD THE YOUNGSTOWN CLUB TO FOUR HITS ON THE NIGHT. RAF WENT THE FULL 7 INNINGS IN GAME 1; WHILE BRIAN THREW 6 IN TE NIGHT CAP, FANNING 10 BOMBER HITTERS AND GAVE WAY TO A 1-2-3 7TH BY ANDREW.

THE SAINTS, WHO ARE DEVELOPING INTO A NICE BLEND OF YOUNG GUYS TO GO WITH OUR GRIZZLED VETS; POUNDED OUT 17 HITS IN GAME ONE, 3 EACH BY ANDREW HECK, NATE THIMONS, AND MIKE HERMANN.  ERIC MORRISON CRACKED HIS FIRST HOME RUN OF THE SEASON.

IN THE NIGHT CAP, THE BOYS WERE MORE EFFICIENT, AS NO SINGLE SAINT HAD MORE THAN 1 HIT AND ALL HITS WERE SINGLES.  THE KEY HIT WAS A SECOND INNING 2-RUN SINGLE BY RICK KRIST.

THE SAINTS RETURN TO FEDERATION LEAGUE ACTION TUESDAY AGAINST ALLEGHENY VALLEY AND CIT ON THURSDAY; BEFORE HOSTING THE HIGHLY RANKED CANTON STALLIONS IN AN EXHIBITION DH AT BURKETT ON FRIDAY.

ST. JOHNS TRAVEL TO Y-TOWN FOR A SATURDAY NIGHT TWINBILL WITH THE BOMBERS @ PEMBERTON PARK BEGINNING AT 5.

SAINTS ROLL ON; 15-1 OVER CIT

THE SAINTS CONTINUED WITH THEIR HOT BATS IN A 15-1 5 INNING RUN RULE VICTORY OVER CIT.  IN THE GAME, THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S HAD 23 OFFICIAL AT BATS, OF WHICH 16 RESULTED IN HITS.  THEY ALSO PRODUCED A SEASON HIGH FOUR SACRIFICE FLYS.  ANDREW HECK AND BEN LOWMASTER EACH WENT 3 FOR 3; EACH HAVING A SINGLE AND TWO DOUBLES.  GREG STOKES WAS 2 FOR 2, WHILE JIM PASQUINE AND JIM JASKOWSKI ALSO HAD MULTI-HIT GAMES.  PASQUINE LED THE TEAM WITH 5 RBI, WHILE MIKE HERMAN HIT A 3-RUN HOMER AND KNOCKED IN 4.

ALEX SHARICK PICKED UP HIS SECOND WIN OF THE SEASON, ALLOWING 3 HITS AND AN UNEARNED RUN OVER 4 INNINGS, NEWCOMER RICK RARAIGH PITCHED THE FINAL INNING. 

ST. JOHNS POUNDS OUT 28 HITS IN DH SWEPT OF OHIO VALLEY.

THE SAINTS DID WHAT THE SAINTS NORMALLY DO AFTER A DISAPPOINTING OUTING AND TOOK CARE OF BUSINESS AGAINST OHIO VALLEY; SWEPTING THE DOUBLEHEADER BY SCORES OF 11-3 AND 8-2.

BEING FATHER'S DAY, THE SAINTS CHOSE TO REST USUAL STARTERS IN BOTH GAMES.  ANDREW RAFALSKI THREW A COMPLETE GAME IN THE OPENER.  HIS EFFORT WAS BACKED UP BY HOME RUNS BY NATE THIMONS AND MIKE HERMANN.  HERMANN AND JIM PASQUINE EACH HAD THREE SAFETIES; WHILE THIMONS, LOWMASTER, HECK, AND STOKES EACH ADDED A PAIR. PASQUINE KNOCKED IN 3; WHILE LOWMASTER AND HERMANN EACH PLATED 2 RUNNERS.

GAME 2 SAW ANOTHER FEDERATION ACHIEVEMENT BY RICH SATCHO.  SATCH DH'ED, BUT ENTERED THE GAME IN THE SIXTH INNING WHEN JIM PASQUINE MOVED TO THE MOUND; RATHER THAN CATCH OR GO TO FIRST; SATCH SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIED TO PLAY CENTERFIELD, AND FOLLOWED A FLAWLESS PERFORMANCE THERE, WITH A LESS THAN STELLER INNING AT SHORTSTOP.  BY PLAYING CF AND SS; SATCH HAS NOW PLAYED EVER POSITION IN A FEDERATION LEAGUE GAME.

THE HITTING STARS OF GAME TWO WERE JIM JASKOWSKI AND BEN LOWMASTER WHO EACH HAD 3 HITS; WHILE HECK AND PASQUINE HAD 2 APIECE, INCLUDING PAS'S 4TH INNING JACK.

ERIC DROBOTIJ PITCHED IN HIS THIRD CONSECUTIVE IMPRESSIVE OUTING, FANNING 6 IN 5 INNINGS.

THE SWEEP WAS PRECEDED BY THE NEWS THAT BELLEVUE HAD TIED AND BEATEN THE RIVERBANDITS; GIVING THE SAINTS A GAME AND A HALF CUSHION IN THE RACE FOR THE REGULAR SEASON CROWN.  

SAINT ERRORS RESULT IN 3-3 TIE

ROUND 3 OF BELLEVUE AND THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S WAS PLAYED UNDER THE LIGHTS AT A DUSTY HERB FIELD.  THREE SAINT ERRORS LED TO THREE UNEARNED RUNS AND THE SAINTS RALLIED TO EARN A 3-3 TIE.

THREE SAINT PITCHERS; SHANE LISKA, JOHN SECHLER, AND JOH BACHMAN LIMITED THE ANGELS TO 5 HITS.  THE ANGELS PLAYING WITH A LINE-UP OF EXTRA PITCHERS OVERCAME 5 ERRORS OF THEIR OWN; AND MANAGED KEY PLAYS AT KEY TIMES TO HALT NUMEROUS SAINT INNINGS.  RICK KRIST PRODUCED THREE HITS; WHICH INCLUDED A KEY 2-OUT DOUBLE THAT PLATED WES WHITE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH.

THE TIE PLACED THE SAINTS INTO A LOSS COLUMN TIE WITH THE RIVERBANDITS FOR FIRST PLACE. 

SAINTS ADD 4 MORE TO WIN COLUMN; MOVE TO 10-2 OVERALL.

THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S FOLLOWED UP THEIR KEY WIN AGAINST BELLEVUE BY WINNING THREE FEDERATION LEAGUE GAMES AND AN EARLY EXHIBITION CONTEST AGAINST YOUNGSTOWN.

THE THREE FEDERATION LEAGUE GAMES WERE THREE AGAINST TEAMS IN THE LOW HALF OF THE LEAGUE STANDINGS.  THESE ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU CAN STUB YOUR TOE HERE AND BE IN TROUBLE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT.  SUCH WAS THE CASE IN THE FIRST GAME AGAINST EAST END; AS THE SAINTS LED 3-0 AFTER 4 1/2 INNINGS.  HOWEVER THE SAINT BATS CAME TO LIFE AND SCORED 9 IN THE 5TH, CONCLUDED WHEN RICK SATCHO LAUNCHED A GRAND SLAM INTO THE AVONWORTH PARKING LOT.  THE GAME CONCLUDED AT THAT POINT DUE TO THE 12 RUN RULE.

THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY, LATE RAINS HIT MELLON PARK WHICH CAUSED A LATE SWITCH TO AVONWORTH.  SEVERAL SAINTS HAD THE NIGHT OFF, AND BRANDON FEDERICI AND ERIC DROBOTIJ COMBINED TO LIMIT THE EAST ENDERS, AS THE SAINTS ROLLED TO A 6-1 VICTORY.  THE GAME WAS HIGHLIGHTED BY 2 NATE THIMONS HOME RUNS, THE SECOND OF WHICH HIT RICK'S BABYSITTERS CAR; SORRY ABOUT THAT.

ON SATURDAY, THE SAINTS HOSTED THE YOUNGSTOWN BOMBERS; WHICH IS WHAT ROTH BROTHERS ARE CALLED NOW.  LOOKING AMAZINGLY LIKE BELLEVUE (AS 4 ANGELS DRESSED FOR Y-TOWN), THE GAMES WERE CHANGED FROM A DH TO A SINGLE 7 BECAUSE OF BELLEVUE'S 8:30 GAME WITH AVB.  BEHIND A STRONG FIVE INNING PERFORMANCE BY ANDREW RAFALSKI AND TWO HARMLESS INNINGS BY NEWCOMER, SHANE LISKA, AND THREE RBI BY BEN LOWMASTER; THE SAINTS COMPLETED A 4-1 VICTORY.

MONDAY SAW THE FIRST SAINTS ACTION FOR TWO NEW PITCHING ADDITIONS; BRIAN MURANSKY AND RICK RARAIGH; AS EACH TOSSED 2 INNINGS IN THE SAINT VICTORY OVER MT. LEBANON.  IN BETWEEN THE ROOKIES, SAINT VETERAN CO-ACE, JOHN BACHMAN PITCH THREE INNINGS OF 1-HIT BALL TO "VULTURE" THE VICTORY.  OVERALL, THE SAINTS TALLIED 15, IN A 15-3 WIN IN SEVEN.  MIKE HERMANN HOMERED AND DROVE IN 4 AS DID GREG STOKES AND ANDREW HECK. 

TWO WEEKS IN, SAINTS ARE 6-2.

THE SAINTS FIND THEMSELVES WITH 1/3 OF THEIR FEDERATION LEAGUE SCHEDULE COMPLETED. DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE'VE HAD A RASH OF INJURIES AND I'VE SPENT SO MUCH TIME WITH THE ROSTER, THE SITE IS A BIT BEHIND. SO LETS CATCH UP ON A ROCKY START.

WEEK 1---HIGHLIGHTED BY THE ARRIVAL OF GREG AND JACKIE'S FIRST CHILD; THE PRECIOUS LITTLE McKENNA.  SHE CONTINUED THE STRING OF BABY GIRL'S WHO MAY END UP BEING DATES FOR SCHIFF'S BOYS OR SATCH'S CHANCE.

ON THE FIELD, IT WAS KINDA SURREAL, IN HIS FIRST AT BAT SINCE LOSING HIS MOTHER, ON THE VERY FIRST PITCH, SATCH HOMERED AND PROPELLED THE SAINTS TO AN OPENING DAY, 5-0 VICTORY OVER OHIO VALLEY.  JOHN BACHMAN STARTED AND THREW SEVEN STRONG INNINGS OF 5 HIT BALL; WHILE FANNING ELEVEN AND WALKING NO ONE.

GAME 2 WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY AS BELLEVUE EXPLODED TO AN 11-2 THRASHING OF YOUR SAINTS.  NOT MUCH WENT RIGHT AS THE UNDERMANNED SAINT SQUAD PLAYED WITHOUT NUMEROUS STARTERS.  ANDREW RAFALSKI SUFFERED THE UNCHARACTERISTIC LOSS.

GAME 3 WAS YOUR TYPICAL BACK ON THE HORSE GAME FOLLOWING THE WHOPPING BY BELLEVUE.  THINGS LOOKED BLEAK AS THE BREWERS FROM AVB ERASED AN EARLY 1-0 SAINT LEAD AND LED BY 7 TO 1 AFTER 3.  HOWEVER, EXCELLENT RELIEF PITCHING BY JOHN SECHLER AND JIMMY PASQUINE; AND SOME TIMELY HITTING THROUGHOUT ANOTHER DEPLETED LINE-UP, LED TO A COME FROM BEHIND, HARD FOUGHT 9-8 WIN OVER AVB.  BEN LOWMASTER WENT 3 FOR 5 AND KRIST, ZILLES, AND PASQUINE ADDED 2 HITS EACH.

GAME 4...THE SAINTS ENDED THE INITIAL WEEK WITH A LITTLE MORE STABLE LINE-UP AS THEY FACED THE RIVERBANDITS SATURDAY NIGHT.  THE SAINTS RALLIED FROM 2-0, 3-2, AND 4-3 DEFICITS TO DEFEAT STEEL CITY 8 TO 4.  FIVE SAINTS HAD MULTI-HIT GAMES, WITH RICK SATCHO KNOCKING IN 3 RBI.  EMERGENCY STARTER, ALEX SHARICK WENT THE DISTANCE FOR THE WIN.

WEEK 2

THE SECOND WEEK BROUGHT THE SECOND PART OF THE HOME AND HOME WITH THE RIVERBANDITS, TUESDAY AT LAROCHE.  LONG TIME ACE, TODD SCHIFFHAUER RETURNED TO OPEN THE GAME WITH TWO STRONG INNINGS.  HOWEVER, A SAINT MISCUE RESULTED IN TWO UNEARNED RUNS IN THE THIRD, A LEAD WHICH HELD UP IN WHAT BECAME A STRONG PITCHERS DUEL BETWEEN BANDITO STEVIE LONG AND SAINT, JOHN BACHMAN. THE BANDITS ADDED ANOTHER UNEARNED RUN FOR A 3-1 VICTORY.

GAME SIX OF THE YEAR  PITTED THE SAINTS AGAINST LAST SEASON'S SURPRISE TEAM FROM CIT.  I GUESS FRUSTRATION FINALLY SET IN OR THE BATS GOT HOT OR THE PLANETS ALIGNED OR WHATEVER, BUTTHE SAINTS BROKE OUT IN A HUGE WAY AND DOMINATED THE CRAFTON BOYS, 14 TO 1.  BEN LOWMASTER HURLED A THREE HITTER; AS EACH SAINT HITTER HIT SAFELY IN THE 5-INNING MERCY RULE GAME.  SATCH WENT 3 FOR 4; WHILE LOWMASTER, STOKES AND MIKE HERMANN EACH HAD 3 RBI.

ON SATURDAY, THE SAINTS TRAVELED TO MELLON FIELD IN MT. LEBANON TO WELCOME THE LEAGUE'S NEWEST ADDITION.  AFTER A SLOW TOP OF THE FIRST, THE SAINTS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF LEBO MISQUES AND POURED IT ON THE NEWCOMERS, 16-0.  ERIC DROBOTIJ BOUNCED BY FROM HIS ROUGH AVB OUTING TO THROW FOUR STRONG INNINGS, AS JIM PASQUINE, WHO ALSO ADDED A 3 RUN HOMER, AND BRANDON FEDERICI, RELIEVED AND COMPLETED THE 3-HIT SHUTOUT.

GAME 8.....REMATCH...SAINTS VS. BELLEVUE.

FOLLOWING THE 11-2 DRUBBING, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK LEAGUE WIDE ABOUT BELLEVUE DETHRONING THE SAINTS THIS YEAR.  IT COULD WELL HAPPEN, BUT NOT SUNDAY AFTERNOON.  YOUR SAINTS JUMPED TO AN EARLY 3-0 ADVANTAGE; MOSTLY DUE TO THE LEGS OF WES WHITE.  HOWEVER, A CRITICAL THROWING ERROR, PUT TWO ANGEL RUNNERS ON, AND THE SAINTS COULD ONLY WATCH AS A BELLEVUE HOME RUN SLIPPED OVER THE LEFTFIELD FENCE.  AN INFIELD HIT AND A FIELDER'S CHOICE GAVE THE ANGELS A 5-3 LEAD.  HOWEVER, WITH TWO OUTS, NATE THIMONS LINED A BALL OF THE PITCHER'S LEG AND IN HURRING TO TRY AND GET NATE, THE PITCHER THRU THE BALL DOWN THE RGHTFIELD LINE, WHICH PUT THE SAINTS UP A RUN.  A FOURTH WES WHITE HIT SET THE TABLE FOR AN ERIC MORRISON DOUBLE WHICH GAVE THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S A HUGE INSURANCE RUN.  THAT RUN PROVED IMPORTANT AS THE ANGELS LOADED THE BASES WITH TWO OUTS, BUT BEN LOMASTER STRUCK OUT THE ANGEL NUMBER 3 HITTER TO CLOSE THE GAME.  AS WE SAID, NOT TODAY!

RAIN DELAYS OPENING OF 2011 SEASON

THE SAINTS WERE HIT WITH TWO EARLY LOSSES TO BEGIN THE NEW SEASON.  THE LOSSES WERE NOT TO ANY OTHER FEDERATION TEAM OR ANYONE ON THE EXHIBITION SCHEDULE.  RATHER THE LOSSES WERE TO THE HANDS OF MOTHER NATURE, AS RAINS CANCELLED EARLY GAMES WITH CIT AND MT. LEBANON. 

THE SAINTS ARE NOW SCHEDULED TO OPEN ON SUNDAY, MAY 22ND AT MEYER-MIDDLETON FIELD IN CRAFTON AGAINST OHIO VALLEY @ 3 PM.

SEASON OPENS MAY 15TH

THE 2011 VERSION OF THE ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S BASEBALL TEAM WILL OPEN ANOTHER TITLE DEFENSE BY HOSTING CIT AT AVONWORTH @ 3:00 PM. WE TARGETED THE INBALANCE ON THE SAINTS PITCHING STAFF BY ATTEMPTING TO SECURE SOME LEFTHANDED PITCHING.  THE RESULTS WERE POTENTIALLY QUITE REWARDING, YIELDING SIX LEFTIES, INCLUDING A HEALTHY BRANDAN FEDERICI.  IN ADDITION, WE HAVE ADDED TWO WITH PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, TWO COLLEGE ARMS, AND A CRAFTY VETERAN.  WHEN THESE ARE ADDED TO OUR STABLE OF RIGHTIES; WE HOPE TO HAVE CREATED A STAFF FEW COULD RIVAL.

2011 SEASON

WE HAVE REACHED APRIL AND ANOTHER SEASON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER WITH A NEW SERIES OF CHALLENGES.  THERE HAVE BEEN ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS FROM LAST YEAR'S ROSTER.  THE SAINTS ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF EVOLVING THE TEAM.  PLAYERS WILL BE SOON CONTACTED BY EITHER RICK OR MYSELF TO BEGIN SELLING YOUR TICKETS FOR THE STEELER SEASON TICKET RAFFLE.  SINCE THIS IS OUR ONLY TRUE FUND RAISER, PARTICIPATION IS A MUST.  WE NEED TO RAISE AS MUCH AS WE CAN, AS WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO PLAY AS MANY NON-LEAGUE GAMES AS WE CAN AND FIELD COSTS HAVE GONE UP.  PLUS, IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL, WE WILL HAVE TO GO TO THE BUFFALO REGIONAL THIS YEAR.

IF YOU ARE NEW OR NOT COMING BACK, LET US KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WE LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO WISH A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL THE SAINTS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.  A SPECIAL MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL THE CHILDREN WITHIN THE "SAINT FAMILY".  WE TRUST THAT SANTA WAS ESPECIALLY GENEROUS TO OUR CHILDREN.  WE KNOW HE MADE THAT SPECIAL TRIP TO THE SATCHO CHILDREN AND FINALLY BROUGHT THEM THE PUPPY THEY DESIRED.  WOW!, NOW WE'LL HAVE 3 SATCHO'S AND A PUPPY ON THOSE NIGHTS TRACY NEEDS SATCH TO BABYSIT.

NEW RECRUITS

WE HAVE BEEN FIELDING A GREAT MANY CALLS FROM PEOPLE WANTING TO JOIN OUR CLUB.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A SAINT, CONTACT EITHER RICK OR TOM.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CANTON STALLIONS.

OUR BEST TO OUR FRIENDS FROM CANTON ON WINNING THE AABC CHAMPIONSHIP IN HOUSTON.  SAINT TOURNAMENT PITCHER, LUKE KATICH, PLAYED A KEY ROLE PITCHING CANTON TO A 7-3 SEMI-FINAL VICTORY.  WE'LL OVERLOOK YOUR ROLE IN Y-TOWN, AND KEEP IN MIND THAT WE'RE THE ONLY TEAM YOU DIDN'T BEAT THIS YEAR.  IT WAS GREAT SHARING THE FIELD AND PLAYING WITH THE BEST AROUND.