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.

ON DECEMBER 16, 2009, @ 5:30 AM, THE LIFE ON EARTH OF THOMAS GRAHAME McCARTHY CAME TO AN END.  "PIDGE", AS HE WAS KNOWN TO COUNTLESS FRIENDS; WAS A FORMER MAJOR LEAGUE SCOUT FOR THE DODGERS, REDS, PHILLIES,A'S, AND GIANTS.  HE RECEIVED CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS FROM BOTH THE PHILS AND THE GIANTS.  TOM WAS A FORMER MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER AND A FORMER FEDERATION LEAGUE MANAGER HAVING COACHED THE MT. WASHINGTON INDIANS IN THE 1950'S.  PIDGE COACHED HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL AT ST. MARY OF THE MOUNT HIGH SCHOOL.  IN ADDITION, TOM WAS A MEMBER OF THE EASTERN ASSOCIATION INTERCOLLEGIATE FOOTBALL OFFICIALS, AND WEST PENN BASKETBALL OFFICIALS AND A BASEBALL UMPIRE.  HE WORKED FOR THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE AND FOR THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY BUREAU OF TAX ASSESSMENT.  HE IS SURVIVED BY DUDY, HIS WIFE OF 58 YEARS, HIS THREE CHILDREN, SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN AND ONE GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER.  "PIDGE" WAS 88.

SAINTS FINISH 29-8-2 FOR 2009.

TEAM MESSAGE AND YOUNGSTOWN SUMMARIES ON MY SITE NEWS PAGE.  IN ADDITION, WE HAVE DECIDED TO PASS ON THE BUTLER TOURNAMENT SINCE THERE IS NO MONETARY PRIZE AND WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER TROPHY. 

CANTON WALTHERS PROVE TO BE TOO MUCH AS SAINTS FALL 1 GAME SHORT OF LOUISVILLE.

AFTER DRAMATICALLY DEFEATING BRUNSWICK AGAIN IN THE 9TH INNING, THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S WENT UP AGAINST WALTHER'S CAFE FROM CANTON FOR THE SECOND TIME.  AGAIN GOOD CANTON PITCHING AND UNEARNED RUNS PROVED TO BE THE SAINTS DOWNFALL.  IN THE TWO GAMES AGAINST CANTON, THE SAINTS GAVE UP A TOTAL OF 14 RUNS, OF WHICH ONLY 6 WERE EARNED.  STILL WE HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO WALTHERS, THEY HAVE A GOOD FUNDAMENTAL TEAM WHO SHOULD DO OUR REGION PROUD IN LOUISVILLE.  A CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CANTON CLASS A LEAGUE, WHO NOT ONLY PROVIDED THE NABF REPRESENTATIVE IN WALTHERS, BUT ALSO THE AABC REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE IN THE CANTON STALLIONS.

SAINTS DROP FIRST IN REGIONAL TO CANTON, SIMPLE MATH...WIN 2 TO GO TO LOUISVILLE.

SAINTS DEFEAT BRUNSWICK TO MOVE TO 3-0 AT YOUNGSTOWN REGIONAL.  TWO WINS SHY OF LOUISVILLE.SAINTS OPEN REGIONAL WITH DUAL VICTORIES AND A BYE.

DETAILS ON MY SITE NEWS.

NABF--YOUNGSTOWN REGIONAL

ALL INFORMATION, ROSTER, AND DETAILS REGARDING THE NABF REGIONAL WILL BE UPDATED ON THE MY SITE NEWS PAGE OF THE WEBSITE.

SAINTS SAVE BEST FOR LAST, WIN 4TH. LEAGUE TITLE IN A ROW.

YOU WILL NOT GET TOO MUCH ARGUMENT IF YOU WOULD SAY THAT BELLEVUE MANAGER AND ACE PITCHER, LUKE KATICH IS THE BEST PITCHER IN THE FEDERATION LEAGUE.  HOWEVER, ON THIS NIGHT, SAINT RIGHTY, JOHN BACHMAN WENT INNING TO INNING, PITCH TO PITCH WITH THE ANGELS ACE.  INTO THE 8TH, THE SAINTS LED 2 TO 1, HOWEVER, AFTER 1 OUT, THE ANGEL SS GOT ON 1ST ON A SAINT ERROR, AFTER A SINGLE PUT RUNNERS ON FIRST AND THIRD, A POP-UP BEHIND SECOND LOOKED LIKE THE SECOND OUT, BUT THE SAINTS SS AND 2ND BASEMAN RAN INTO EACH OTHER AND THE BALL POPPED OUT, TYING THE SCORE.  AFTER A POP-UP, A HARMLESS ROLLER DOWN THE 1ST. BASELINE FOUND THE BAG AND BOUNCED AWAY, GIVING BELLEVUE A 3-2 LEAD.  LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF PLAYING A 1 GAME WINNER TAKE ALL, THE SAINTS WENT AGAINST THE LEAGUE'S BEST.  ANDY BLACKWELL BLOPPED A FLY DOWN THE LEFT FIELD LINE THAT ELUDED THE LEFTFIELDER AND AB MOTORED INTO 3RD.  WITH 1 OUT, PITCHER DERRIK ZEROSKI, WHO HAD RELIEVED BACHMAN, DROPPED A SINGLE INTO LEFT, AND WHEN RICKY KRIST SINGLED UP THE MIDDLE, THE SAINTS WERE IN BUSINESS.  LEADING HITTER JIM JASKOWSKI RIPPED A LINE DRIVE INTO THE RIGHTFIELD GAP, BOTH RUNNERS SCORED AS RICKY KNOCKED THE BALL FROM THE CATCHER.  DZ TOOK THE MOUND IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 9TH. AND WITH HIS 90 + HEATER AND FILTHY CURVE STRUCK OUT THE SIDE AND TITLE 4 IN A ROW WAS IN THE BAG.  THE BEST GAME OF THE YEAR WAS THE LAST.  NOW IT IS OFF TO THE NABF REGIONAL.

SAINTS BOUNCE BACK IN A BIG WAY IN GAME 3.

THE SAINTS WERE FRUSTRATED AND EMBARASSED BY THE RESULTS OF GAME 2 AND CAME OUT BLAZING IN GAME 3.  ANDY BLACKWELL'S GRAND SLAM HIGHLIGHTED A 6 RUN FIRST INNING AND THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S NEVER LOOKED BACK ENROUTE TO AN 18-0 PASTING OF BELLEVUE.  THE GAME WAS SHORTENED WHEN THE ANGEL PITCHER OBJECTED TO A BALL CALL IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 7TH.  THE OBJECTION LED TO HIS EJECTION, AND SINCE BELLEVUE ONLY HAD 9 PEOPLE, THE GAME WAS OVER.  JOHN ASTFALK AND MATT WHITEMAN HELD THE ANGELS TO 3 HARMLESS SINGLES.  AB LED THE WAY WITH THE GRANNY, PLUS 2 DOUBLES, AND A SINGLE; WITH 7 RBI.  NATE THIMONS AND GREG STOKES HAD 3 HITS EACH, WITH 5 OTHER SAINTS HAVING 2 HITS EACH.  GAME 4 WILL BE MONDAY @ 6 @ LEECH FARM, AS THE SAINTS GO FOR THE CLINCHER.  JOHN BACHMAN WILL TAKE THE MOUND FOR ST. JOHNS, WHILE LUKE KATICH WILL BRING HIMSELF BACK ON A SINGLE DAY'S REST IN AN EFFORT TO PROLONG THE SERIES.

SAINT ERRORS PUT GAME ON SILVER PLATTER, BELLEVUE TAKES GAME 2.

1 UNEARNED RUN IS BAD, BUT CAN BE OVERCOME.  HOWEVER, THE SAINTS PROVED TO BE THEIR OWN WORST ENEMY, AS THEY PERMITTED THE ANGELS TO CASH 5 UNEARNED RUNS AND DROPPED GAME 2 BY THE SCORE OF 8 TO 4.  BELLEVUE MANAGER, ACE, AND SAINTS TOURNAMENT PITCHER, LUKE KATICH, HELD THE SAINTS SCORELESS FROM THE 5TH THRU 9TH INNINGS TO RECORD HIS 2ND VICTORY OVER ST. JOHNS THIS SEASON.  10 SAINT HITS WENT FOR NAUGHT.  GAME 3 TOMORROW WILL BE AT ETNA FIELD @ 2:30.  JOHN ASTFALK WILL TAKE THE MOUND FOR THE SAINTS.

 MOTHER NATURE POSTPONES SERIES GAME 2.

HEAVY RAINS HIT LEECH FARM FRIDAY MORNING AND MADE THE FIELD UNPLAYABLE FOR GAME 2 OF THE SERIES.  THE SAINTS AND ANGELS WILL TRY AGAIN SATURDAY AFTERNOON @ 2:30.

SAINTS OPEN FINALS WITH A CONVINCING 8-1 VICTORY.

DAVID LEE AND BRANDAN FEDERICI COMBINED TO LIMIT BELLEVUE TO 4 HITS, AS THE SAINTS OPENED THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES WITH AN 8-1 VICTORY.  EX-MAJOR LEAGUER LEE, GAVE UP 3 HARMLESS SINGLES, WHILE STRIKING OUT 10 IN HIS 7 INNINGS OF WORK.  GREG STOKES, JIM JASKOWSKI, AND NATE THIMONS; EACH HAD 3 HITS, WHILE JEFF MARTIN WENT 2 FOR 2, WITH A HOME RUN.  JAZ HAD 3 RBI, WHILE JEFF ADDED 2.  ALL IN ALL THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S POUNDED OUT 16 HITS.  GAME 2 OF THE SERIES WILL BE AT LEECH FARM ON FRIDAY @ 6:00 PM, IF MOTHER NATURE COOPERATES, JOHN ASTFALK WILL BE THE STARTER FOR THE SAINTS.

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS SET.

THE GREATER PITTSBURGH FEDERATION LEAGUE  CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS ARE SET AFTER 3RD. PLACE BELLEVUE DEFEATED THE RIVERBANDITS, 2 GAMES TO 1.  THE RELIGIOUS FINALS, ANGELS VS. SAINTS, WILL BEGIN ON THURSDAY, JULY 30TH. @ 6 PM, AT HERB FIELD IN ROSS TOWNSHIP.  THE SAINTS HAVE LET BELLEVUE USE THEIR FIELD PERMIT, SO LEECH IS BOTH TEAMS HOME FIELD, BUT SINCE LEECH IN NOT AVAILABLE ON THURSDAY'S AND SUNDAY'S; THOSE GAMES WILL BE AT HERB FIELD.  GAME 2 OF THE SERIES WILL BE AT LEECH FRIDAY @ 6, GAME 3 @ LEECH WILL BE SATURDAY @ 1, WITH SUNDAY @ HERB AND MONDAY @ LEECH IF NECESSARY.  FORMER MAJOR LEAGUE PITCHER DAVID LEE WILL OPEN THE SERIES FOR THE SAINTS, WHO ARE IN SEARCH OF THEIR 4TH. TITLE IN A ROW.

SAINTS MOVE ON WITH A 4-3 VICTORY OVER AVB.

IT WAS SHALER GRADS EVERYWHERE, AS THE SAINTS MOVED ON TO THE FEDERATION LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH A 4-3 VICTORY OVER THE YOUNG AVB SQUAD.  YOU HAVE TO GIVE THE YOUNG BREWERS CREDIT BOUNCING BACK FROM YESTERDAY'S 15-5 10 INNING TROUNCING.  THE BREWERS HAVE A NUMBER OF SHALER HIGH GRADS, BUT IT WAS THE EFFORTS OF 2 EX-TITANS WHO HELP THE SAINTS PREVAIL.  SHORTSTOP SCOTT MILLER HIT A BLOOP SINGLE TO RIGHT WHICH SCORED JEFF MARTIN AND MIKE HERMANN IN THE 4TH INNING.  THOSE WERE THE LAST SAINT RUNS OF THE NIGHT.  IN THE 6TH, SAINT STARTER ANDREW RAFALSKI, WHO WAS PITCHING ON ZERO DAYS REST, HAVING TOSSED 6 IN A DIFFERENT LEAGUE YESTERDAY, RAN INTO DIFFICULTY, WITH THE BASES LOADED, THE SCORE 4-3, AND 1 OUT, JOHN BACHMAN, EX-TITAN, ENTERED THE GAME.  A POP UP AND FLY OUT ENDED THE THREAT, AND BACH SHUT THE DOOR FROM THERE ON IN.  THE SAINTS NOW AWAIT THE WINNER OF THE RIVERBANDIT/BELLEVUE SERIES, WHICH IS CURRENTLY TIED 1-1, IN SEARCH OF THEIR 4TH. TITLE IN A ROW.

SAINTS OPEN PLAYOFFS IN WILD FASHION, WITH A 15-5, 10 INNING VICTORY.

THE SAINTS HAD HANDLED 1ST. ROUND PLAYOFF OPPONENT, ALLEGHENY VALLEY, BY A COLLECTIVE SCORE OF 48-6 IN THE FOUR REGULAR SEASON GAMES.  HOWEVER, THE PLAYOFFS ARE NOT THE REGULAR SEASON.  ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S ALMOST FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY, AS BLOOPS AND ERRORS LEFT THE SAINTS TRAILING THE BREWERS 5-4 INTO THE 8TH INNING.  THE ONLY SAINT RUNS CAME ON THE SECOND GRAND SLAM IN AS MANY DAYS BY NATE THIMONS.  IN THE 8TH, RICH SATCHO WAS HIT BY A PITCH, PINCH RUNNER, DERRIK ZEROSKI MOVED TO THIRD ON A THROWING ERROR, AND SCORED ON JEFF MARTIN'S 2-OUT SINGLE.  WITH THE SCORE TIED HEADING TO THE 10TH, THE SAINTS PROCEDED TO SEND 16 BATTERS TO THE PLATE AND SCORE 10 RUNS TO BLOW THE GAME OPEN.  THE OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION WAS AIDED BY 5 WALKS AND A HIT BATTER.  JOHN BACHMAN WHO ENTERED THE GAME IN THE 7TH INNING WAS THE WINNING PITCHER, HIS 4TH ON THE SEASON.  GAME 2 OF THE BEST OF 3 SERIES IS MONDAY @ 6 AT LEECH.  DAVID LEE OR ANDREW RAFALSKI WILL TAKE THE HILL FOR THE SAINTS.

REGULAR SEASON ENDS, PLAYOFF SEASON BEGINS.....

THE SAINTS FINISHED THE REGULAR SEASON, WITH A 13-1 VICTORY OVER ALLEGHENY VALLEY.  NATE THIMONS HIT A HOME RUN AND A GRAND SLAM FOR 5 RBI IN THE VICTORY.  MATT WHITEMAN PICKED UP HIS INITIAL SAINT VICTORY AND ALSO TRIPLED IN THE 5 RUN 6TH INNING.  RBI MACHINE, SCOTT MILLER ADDED ANOTHER RBI TO HIS TOTAL.  THE SAINTS WILL BEGIN THE PLAYOFFS ON THE ROAD, TO GET THE SERIES STARTED, AGAINST THIS SAME AVB SQUAD, TOMORROW THE 26TH., @ 2:30 AT ETNA.  SAINT ACE, JOHN ASTFALK WILL BE PITCHING.  GAME 2 WILL BE MONDAY @ 6 AT LEECH, AS WILL GAME 3, TUESDAY IF NECESSARY.  THE RIVERBANDITS AND BELLEVUE ARE THE OTHER TWO PLAYOFF PARTICIPANTS.

SAINTS WIN REGULAR SEASON TITLE AND NABF BID, 1-0 OVER THE RIVERBANDITS. 

ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S WON ANOTHER REGULAR SEASON FEDERATION LEAGUE TITLE BY DEFEATING THE RIVERBANDITS, 1-0.  THIS WAS TRUELY A PITCHER'S DUEL BETWEEN SAINT PITCHER, ANDREW RAFALSKI AND SAINT TOURNAMENT PITCHER, RICK AUSTIN.  THE GAME'S ONLY RUN WAS SCORED IN THE SECOND AS JEFF MARTIN SCORED FROM FIRST WHEN THE RIVERBANDIT LEFTFIELDER MISPLAYED MIKE HERMANN'S SINGLE.  RAF MADE THAT RUN HOLD UP AS HE TOSSED A COMPLETE GAME 3-HITTER.  THE BLACK SOX LOADED THE BASES IN THE 6TH AFTER 2 OUTS, BUT A FLY OUT TO RICKY IN LEFT ENDED THE THREAT.  IN THE 7TH, 2 SAINT ERRORS OPENED THE DOOR, BUT RICKY THREW A RUNNER OUT AT THIRD AND RAF GOT A GROUND OUT TO END THE LAST RIVERBANDIT THREAT.  CONGRATULATIONS FELLAS, CHAMPIONSHIPS HERE, AND THEN IT IS BACK TO Y-TOWN TO AVENGE LAST YEAR'S COSTLY ERROR.

 SAINTS DEFEAT CIT 10-3, MOVE WITHIN A POINT OF REGULAR SEASON TITLE.

AFTER A DISAPPOINTING 5TH INNING RAINOUT, THE SAINTS DODGED THE RAINDROPS TO DEFEAT CIT 10-3.  THE WIN SET THE STAGE FOR A WEDNESDAY SHOWDOWN WITH THE SECOND PLACE RIVERBANDITS TO CLINCH THE TITLE.  ACTUALLY THE SAINTS NEED ONLY A SINGLE POINT IN ANY OF THEIR REMAINING FOUR GAMES.  JIM JASKOWSKI HAD 3 RBI, WHILE GREG STOKES AND NATE THIMONS EACH DROVE IN 2.  DAVID LEE THREW 5 INNINGS AND STRUCK OUT SEVEN.

WILD TIE WITH ELLIOTT CLINCHES PLAYOFF SPOT.

THE SAINTS FOUND THEMSELVES ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF A VERY POOR CALL AT THE PLATE, BUT RALLIED TO TIE ELLIOTT, 10 TO 10 IN A GAME ENDED BY THE 8:30 CURFEW.  THIS TIE GAVE THE SAINTS 36 POINTS, CURRENT 5TH. PLACE BELLEVUE CAN ONLY GET A MAXIMUM OF 35.  WAYWARD SHORTSTOP, DERICK ZEROSKI DOUBLED IN 2 RUNS IN THE TOP OF THE 8TH. TO TIE THE GAME.  ELLIOTT HAD RALLIED FOR 8 RUNS IN THE 6TH AND 7TH INNINGS.  ZEROSKI HAD 3 HITS AND 3 RBI, WHILE STOKES, JASKOWSKI, AND THIMONS EACH HAD 2 HITS.

 SAINTS EXPLODE ON LAMBROS NIGHT, BLANKING AVB, 12-0. 

ON THE NIGHT WHEN THE SAINTS WOULD VISIT FORMER SPONSOR, LAMBROS BAR ONE LAST TIME BEFORE ITS CLOSING, THE SAINTS SCORED 6 1ST. INNING RUNS ENROUTE TO A 12-0, 5 INNING SHUT OUT OF ALLEGHENY VALLEY.  THE SAINTS WERE LED BY JEFF MARTIN WITH 4 RBI AND EACH SAINT STARTER HAD AT LEAST 1 RBI.  SAINT ACE JOHN ASTFALK WAS THE BENEFICIARY OF THE OUTBURST, SCATTERING 4 HITS AND STRIKING OUT 4 WHILE WALKING NONE.

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS.......

FIRST THE GOOD NEWS, SAINT TOURNAMENT PITCHER, STEVE LONG LOOKED EXTREMELY STRONG PITCHING ON ONLY TWO DAYS REST......THE BAD NEWS IS THAT HE LOOKED STRONG AGAINST THE SAINTS.  THE END RESULT WAS THAT THE RIVERBANDITS, WHO PLATED SINGLE UNEARNED RUNS IN EACH OF THE FIRST TWO INNINGS, HELD ON AS A LATE SAINT RALLY LEFT THE BASES LOADED WITH 1 OUT IN THE NINTH, RESULTING IN A 2-0 RIVERBANDIT'S VICTORY.  JOHN BACHMAN WAS THE HARDLUCK LOSER, SCATTERING 7 HITS, WHILE STRIKING OUT 10 BATTERS WITHOUT A WALK.  THE BANDITO VICTORY, COUPLED WITH MONTOUR'S LOSS TO AVB, PUT THE RIVERBANDITS SOLIDLY INTO 2ND. PLACE, ONLY 6 POINTS BEHIND YOUR FIRST PLACE SAINTS, WHO HAVE A GAME IN HAND.  CURRENTLY, ALLEGHENY VALLEY IS IN 3RD AND MONTOUR CLAIMS THE FINAL PLAYOFF SPOT. 

SAINTS SWEEP CIT.

ON A DAY WHEN IT LOOKED LIKE MOTHER NATURE WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE WINNER, CIT TRAVELED TO LEECH TO TAKE ON THE SAINTS.  ANDY RAFALSKI TOOK THE PILL AND DID NOT GIVE IT UP UNTIL BOTH GAMES WERE IN THE BOOKS.  ON THE DAY, RAF GAVE UP 5 TOTAL RUNS ON 14 HITS, WHILE STRIKING OUT 18 IN HIS 14 INNINGS OF PITCHING, AS THE SAINTS SWEPT THE DH BY THE SCORES OF 5-3 AND 6-2.  UNLIKELY HERO, SCOTT MILLER DROVE IN 3 RUNS IN GAME 1 AND ANOTHER IN GAME 2

SAINTS BOUNCE BACK...

AFTER TWO VERY SUB-PAR PERFORMANCES, THE SAINTS FOUND THEMSELVES FACING BELLEVUE AND TOURNAMENT TEAMMATE, LUKE KATICH.  LUKE IS ONE OF THE FED LEAGUE'S FINEST ARMS.  ON A NIGHT WHEN EVERY SAINT IN THE LINE-UP HIT SUCCESSFULLY, THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S COLLECTED 17 TOTAL HITS ENROUTE TO A 6-2 VICTORY.  OF COURSE, IT DID NOT HURT THAT SAINTS ACE, JOHN ASTFALK WAS ON THE BUMP.  ON THE HEELS OF LAST WEEKS 2-1 VICTORY, JOHN HELD THE ANGELS TO SEVEN HITS AND YEILDED ONLY 2 8TH. INNING RUNS, AFTER THE SAINTS HAD MADE THE SCORE 6-0.  THE RIGHTHANDER STRUCK OUT 9, WALKED ONLY 1, BUT HIT A PAIR.  JAZ BOUNCED BACK FROM LAST NIGHT'S O'FER WITH 4 HITS; WHILE AB, SATCH, NATE, MARTIN, & RAFALSKI HAD 2 EACH.

SAINTS LEARN A HARD LESSON IN TIE. 

WHEN OHIO VALLEY VISITED LEECH ON TUESDAY, THE END RESULT WAS NOT WHAT THE SAINTS ANTICIPATED.  TO THEIR CREDIT, THE FIRST YEAR TEAM LOOKED PAST THE 19 POINT STANDING DIFFERENTIAL AND PRODUCED A 8-RUN 3RD INNING TO TAKE A 9-0 LEAD ON THE DEFENDING CHAMPS.  HOWEVER, ONE INNING DOES NOT A GAME MAKE, AND THE SAINTS FOUGHT THEIR WAY BACK, FIGURITIVELY AND LITERALLY, TO SCORE THE NEXT 9 RUNS.  THE 8:30 RULE HALTED THE RALLY AND THE SAINTS HAD TO SETTLE FOR A 9-9 TIE.    STARS OF THE NIGHT TO ZELLIE FOR HIS 3 HITS, MILLS FOR HIS 2 HITS AND 3 RBI AND MUCH THANKS TO BACH WHO ENTERED WHEN SATCH WAS TOSSED AND HIT THE 8TH INNING 2 RBI SINGLE TO TIE THIS MESS, HIS FIRST AB AND HIT OF THE YEAR.  SHALER BOYS KNOCKED IN 5.

SAINTS STUB THEIR TOE AGAINST MONTOUR.

FOLLOWING THE JULY 4TH. WEDDING OF GREG STOKES AND JACKIE, THE SAINTS CONTINUED TO STRAND RUNNERS AGAINST SECOND PLACE MONTOUR, AND WATCHED THE MINATOURS RALLY WITH 5 IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 7TH, TO DROP A 6-5 DECISION.  IN THE 2 LOSSES TO MONTOUR, THE SAINTS HAVE LEFT 26 RUNNERS ON BASE.   THE FIRST PLACE LEAD HAS DROPPED TO 4 POINTS, HOWEVER THE BOYS FROM LEFTY'S HAVE TWO GAMES IN HAND.  HIGHLIGHTS, RICKY BABYSAT, JAZ HAD 3 HITS, MARTIN 2 AND HERM KNOCKED IN A PAIR.  WINNING RUN SCORED ON A WILD PITCH ON OUR CONCRETE FIELD.  OH WELL!

McGOUGH SIGNS WITH TEXAS INDEPENDENT TEAM.

RELIEF PITCHER ERIC McGOUGH SIGNED WITH THE EDINBURG ROADRUNNERS OF THE TEXAS UNITED LEAGUE ON SUNDAY.  BEST WISHES TO ERIC AS HE ENTERS THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL.

STOKES BITES THE DUST !

THE SECOND OF THE THREE SAINT'S BASH BROTHERS, GREG STOKES JOINED NATE THIMONS IN THE RANKS OF THE NEWLY WEDS, WHEN HE MARRIED JACKIE SMITH, SATURDAY JULY 4TH.  THE COUPLE TOOK OFF FOR A WEEK HONEYMOON IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.  JAZ REMAINS THE SAINTS #1 BACHELOR.  CAN THE WEDDING BELLS BE FAR OFF FOR DOUBLE DEUCE? 

ASTFALK'S GEM HIGHLIGHTS 2-1 VICTORY.

JOHN ASTFALK THREW THE FIRST NINE-INNING COMPLETE GAME OF THE SEASON AS ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S DEFEATED SECOND PLACE MONTOUR 2-1.  THE RIGHTHANDER STRUCK OUT 8 AND DID NOT WALK A BATTER.  MONTOUR HAD 8 HITS, BUT COULD ONLY PLATE A SINGLE UNEARNED RUN.  2 RUNS SCORED BY THE SAINTS IN THE THIRD INNING WERE ALL THAT WERE NEEDED AS THE SAINTS IMPROVED TO 13-2 AND OPENED A 5 GAME LEAD IN THE STANDINGS.

 SAINTS SWEEP DOUBLEHEADER FROM THE RIVERBANDITS (BLACK SOX) TO IMPROVE TO 12 & 2.

ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S USED THE ONLY TWO PITCHERS THEY HAD, ERIC McGOUGH AND JOHN BACHMAN AND PRESSED LEFTFIELDER RICKY KRIST INTO EMERGENCY SERVICE IN WHAT RESULTED IN A DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP OF THE RIVERBANDITS BY THE SCORES OF 5-3 AND 4-2.  DETAILS WILL FOLLOW.

SAINTS MOVE OUT TO A 10-2 FEDERATION LEAGUE START.

ST.JOHNS-LEFTY'S HAS BEGUN DEFENSE OF THEIR FEDERATION LEAGUE REGULAR SEASON TITLE BY BEGINNING THE SEASON WITH A 10-2 MARK.  THE ONLY LEAGUE LOSSES WERE A 7-4 LOSS TO BELLEVUE, AND A 7-3 DECISION THE FOLLOWING NIGHT TO MONTOUR.

SAINTS LOSE EXHIBITION TILT TO CLEVELAND BLACKWOLVES.

IN A CONTEST MARRED BY VERY POOR FIELD CONDITIONS, THAT WAS CANCELLED AND THEN CHANGED TO A SINGLE CONTEST, THE SAINTS WERE POUNDED BY A FAR MORE MOTIVATED CLEVELAND OUTFIT, 18-3.  THE SAINT PITCHING STARTERS HAD THE DAY OFF, AS YOUNGER RELIEVERS WERE GIVEN THE DAY TO SEE HOW THEY WOULD FARE....NOT GOOD.  THE SAINTS WILL LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.

SAINTS CAPTURE 7TH. TITLE IN 9 YEARS

ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S DEFEATED ELLIOTT IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 3 GAMES TO 1 TO CAPTURE THEIR 3RD CONSECUTIVE FEDERATION LEAGUE TITLE AND 7TH TITLE IN 9 YEARS.

GAME 1-----ELLIOTT---2          ST. JOHNS---1

SAINTS GOT A WAKE UP CALL IN GAME 1 AS THE OVERLY RESTED SAINTS WERE VERY RUSTY AND DROPPED A 2-1 DECISION.  BRANDAN FEDERRICI WAS THE HARD LUCK LOSER, AS THE SAINTS OFFENSE COULD MANAGE ONLY 6 HITS.  ADDING TO THE FRUSTRATION WAS THE FACT THAT ELLIOTT PULLED OFF AT LEAST 5 DEFENSIVE WEB GEMS TO HALT SAINT RALLIES.

GAME 2----ST. JOHNS---9                 ELLIOTT---0

AFTER WEDNESDAY'S RAINOUT, ELLIOTT WENT TO ACE RYAN DOUGLASS TO ATTEMPT TO GRAB A CHOKE HOLD ON THE SERIES.  HOWEVER THE SAINTS HAD OTHER PLANS.  A 4TH INNING DOUBLE BY NATE THIMONS, PUT RUNNERS ON 2ND AND 3RD, A SAC FLY BT ERIC MORRISON AND A GREG STOKES SINGLE, PUT THE SAINTS UP 2-0.  7 SAINT HITS AND A COSTLY ELLIOTT ERROR LED TO A 7 RUN 7TH. INNING OUTBURST WHICH PUT THE GAME AWAY AND EVENED THE SERIES.  THE KEY TO THE VICTORY WAS A 2-HITTER TOSSED BY LEFTY SCOTT CHISHOLM.

GAME 3--FIRST TIME AROUND--ST. JOHNS 7  ELLIOTT 7

THE SAINTS PLAYED TERRIBLY, GIVING ELLIOTT 4 UNEARNED RUNS, BUT IN TYPICAL SAINT FASHION, RALLIED TO TIE THE GAME.  THE SAINTS HAD A CHANCE TO WIN THE GAME IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 8TH, BUT FAILED TO EXECUTE A SACRIFICE BUNT, AND LEFT THE BASES LOADED.  THE GAME WAS CALLED BECAUSE OF DARKNESS AND HAD TO BE REPLAYED FROM THE BEGINNING.

GAME 3--IT COUNTS--ST. JOHNS---7             ELLIOTT---3

JOHN BACHMAN STRUCK OUT 7 AND WALKED NO ONE, AS THE SAINTS RALLIED FROM A 2-0 DEFICIT TO DEFEAT ELLIOTT 7-3.  JIM JASKOWSKI'S 4TH INNING TRIPLE KNOCKED IN 2 TO TIE THE GAME, GREG STOKES FOLLOWED WITH A DOUBLE AND NATE STATZER A SINGLE, AS THE SAINTS SCORED 4 TO GRAB CONTROL OF THE GAME.  RICK SATCHO WAS 4 FOR 4, GIVING HIM 10 HITS IN THE FIRST 4 GAMES.  GREG STOKES ADDED 3 HITS.

GAME 4--CHAMPIONSHIP--ST. JOHNS--13     ELLIOTT--5

BRANDAN FEDERRICI CAME BACK ON 4 DAYS REST WITH A GUTTY 9 INNING PERFORMANCE, WHAT DIFFERED FROM GAME 1, WAS THAT THE SAINT BATS WERE NOW AWAKE.  AFTER THE RUSTY GAME 1, 6 HIT SHOWING, THE SAINTS POUNDED OUT 14-11-11-18 HITS IN THE NEXT GAMES.  IN THE FINALE, JON ZILLES, GREG STOKES, AND ANDY BLACKWELL EACH HAD 3 HITS, WHILE RICK KRIST, RICK SATCHO, AND JIM JASKOWSKI ADDED A PAIR.  ALL BUT 2 SAINTS DROVE IN AT LEAST 1 RUN, ANDY BLACKWELL DROVE IN 2.  NOW WE ARE OFF TO YOUNGSTOWN TO DEFEND OUR REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

 PLAY-OFF FINALS SET

ELLIOTT DEFEATED BETHEL PARK IN THE SEMI-FINALS, 2 GAMES TO NONE, TO ADVANCE INTO THE FINALS AGAINST #1 SEED ST. JOHNS.  THE SERIES WILL BEGIN ON TUESDAY, @ LEECH.  GAME 2 WILL BE WEDNESDAY @ HERSCHEL FIELD, WITH GAME 3 FRIDAY BACK @ LEECH.  GAMES 4 & 5 IF NECESSARY WILL BE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

"B-SQUAD" HOLDS OFF AVB

AS 5 KEY SAINTS TRAVELED SOUTH WITH THE PITTSBURGH TYPOS, THE SELF-ANNOINTED "B-SQUAD" DEFEATED ALLEGHENY VALLEY IN THE REGULAR SCHEDULE FINAL, 10-9.  TODD SCHIFFHAUER PITCH 6 INNINGS TO SECURE THE VICTORY AND JOHN BACHMAN THREW THE FINAL THREE, SURVIVING A 9TH. INNING 4-RUN AVB RALLY.  UNTIL THE 9TH.,THE SAINTS HAD CRUISED ALONG SINCE TAKING A 3-2 2ND. INNING LEAD.  ANDY BLACKWELL, JORDAN STERANKA, ERIC MORRISON, AND GREG STOKES EACH HAD 2 HITS.  MIKE HERMANN KNOCKED IN 3, WHILE STERANKA, MORRISON, AND STOKES HAD 2 RBI.

THE SAINTS WILL AWAIT WORD FROM CIT ON A REMAINING MAKE-UP GAME, AND IF THAT IS NOT PLAYED, THE SAINTS WILL THEN AWAIT THE WINNER OF THE 2 V. 3 SERIES FOR THE LEAGUE TITLE.

SAINTS SWEEP CIT

EARLY IN THE SEASON, THE MANAGER OF CIT BRAGGED IN THE PAPER THAT HIS CLUB WAS THE OFFENSIVE EQUAL OF THE SAINTS.  IF SATURDAY'S DOUBLEHEADER WAS ANY PROOF,  CIT HAS A LONG WAY TO GO.

FOR THE DAY, THE SAINTS PLATED 25 RUNNERS ON 33 HITS, WHILE THE CRAFTON CLUB MANAGED 0 RUNS ON 4 HITS.  THE END RESULT WERE A 13-0, 4 INNING GAME AND A 12-0, 6 INNING AFFAIR.  WINNING PITCHERS WERE DAVID LEE IN GAME 1 AND BRANDAN FEDERRICI IN GAME 2.  HITTING WISE JORDAN STERANKA HAD 6 HITS, WHILE GREG STOKES AND MIKE SCHMIDT EACH HAD 5.  STERANKA AND MIKE HERMAN KNOCKED IN 4 RUNNERS, WHILE ERIC MORRISON, WHO ONLY PLAYED GAME 1, STOLES, SCHMIDT, AND DAVID LEE EACH KNOCKED IN 3.  THE OFFENSIVE HIGHLIGHT WAS A 2ND GAME INSIDE-THE-PARK  2 RUN HOMER BY D. LEE.

SAINTS CLINCH 4TH. STRAIGHT YOUNGSTOWN BERTH.

ST. JOHNS-LEFTY'S HAVE SECURED THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND THEIR YOUNGSTOWN REGIONAL TITLE BY WINNING THE REGULAR SEASON FEDERATION LEAGUE TITLE WITH A 5 INNING 12-0 VICTORY OVER SECOND-PLACE ELLIOTT.  SCOTT CHISHOLM THREW FOUR 2-HIT INNINGS AND ROCKY D'ANGELO CLOSED OUT THE 5TH.  IN THEIR 4 OFFENSIVE INNINGS, THE SAINTS POUNDED OUT 14 HITS AND RECEIVED 6 WALKS.  ANDY BLACKWELL WENT 3 FOR 3, WITH A SAC. FLY TO PACE THE SAINT ATTACK.  JON ZILLES WAS 2 FOR 2, WITH A WALK.  RICK KRIST AND ERIC MORRISON EACH HAD 2 HIT GAMES.  MORRISON LED THE RBI PARADE WITH 4, FOLLOWED BY BLACKWELL'S 3 AND RICK SATCHO WITH A PAIR.

THE SAINTS WILL CONCLUDE THE REGULAR SEASON WITH A DOUBLEHEADER SATURDAY WITH CIT, A SINGLE GAME SUNDAY WITH AVB, AND SINGLE GAME WITH CIT THE FOLLOWING WEEK.

WE WISH THE PITTSBURGH TYPOS WELL IN THE 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY TOURNAMENT IN FLORIDA.  SAINTS PARTICIPATING IN THE TOURNAMENT ARE  RICK KRIST, JIM JASKOWSKI, NATE THIMONS, SCOTT CHISHOLM, AND ANDREW RAFALSKI  

SAINTS SPLIT IN CINCINNATI.

ST. JOHNS TOOK 10 GUYS TO CINCINNATI TO PLAY THE CHIEFS AND CAME HOME WITH A TWO-GAME SPLIT, THE THIRD GAME WAS CANCELLED BECAUSE OF RAIN AND A LACK OF PITCHING.

SAINTS  9     CHIEFS  3

THE SAINTS SCORED 8 FIRST INNING RUNS ON 6 HITS AND 4 WALKS AND COASTED TO THEIR 9-3 VICTORY.  RICK KRIST, JON ZILLES, AND ERIC MORRISON EACH HAD 2 HITS IN THE GAME.  MORRISON AND NATE THIMONS EACH DROVE IN 2 RUNS.  ANDREW RAFALSKI THREW ALL 7 INNINGS FOR HIS SECOND VICTORY OVER THE CHIEFS THIS YEAR.  HE LIMITED THE CHIEFS TO 5 HITS. 

CHIEFS  9     SAINTS  5

JOHN BACHMAN WAS THE LONE PITCHER FOR ST. JOHNS AND HAD TROUBLE WITH THE MOUND.  UNEXPECTEDLY WILD, 10 WALKS, A FEW ERRORS, WILD PITCHES AND PASSED BALLS, COMBINED WITH ONLY 5 CHIEF HITS TO ACCOUNT FOR ALL THE CINCINNATI RUNS.  NATE THIMONS SMACKED A TWO-RUN 7TH. INNING HOME RUN, BUT THOSE RUNS WERE TOO LITTLE AND TOO LATE. 

Wednesday's CIT game has been rained out and will be made up July 19th as part of a doubleheader @ Leech.

DUAL VICTORIES MOVE LEAGUE RECORD TO 15-3-1.

SAINTS 5  ALLEGHENY VALLEY 3 

Nathan Statzer opened the bottom of the 8th inning with a triple, which was followed 1 out later by Andy Blackwell's double, and then a key 2 out single by Rick Satcho; as St. Johns defeated AVB for the 4th time in 5 outings.  David Lee got the win in relief of Todd Schiffhauer.  Nate Thimons had 3 hits and a walk, while Rick Krist, Satcho, Greg Stokes, and Statzer each had two safeties.

SAINTS 10          BETHEL PARK  5

Rookie Jordan Steranka again led the way, as the Saints pounded out 16 hits while coasting to a 10-5 victory over Bethel Park.  Steranka had 4 hits, including his first Fed League home run, and 4 RBI.  Catcher Rick Satcho continued his hot hitting with 3 hits and 3 RBI.  Mike Schmidt had his 1st home run of the season and had 2 RBI.  Scott Chisholm was the winning pitcher with 6 strong innings, yielding a single unearned run on 4 hits.