A-TEAM GOES 2 AND OUT IN FLINT/RECORDER TOURNY FOR 3rd STRAIGHT YEAR

5 RUN 6th DOOMS POST/GAETANO IN GAME 1 VS Z-CORE

DESPITE 14 HITS A-TEAM FALLS TO MOHAWKS 9-5 IN GAME 2

Looking to break a 6 game losing streak in the Flint/Recorder Softball Tournament the A-Team actually had a lead going into the sixth but a 5 run outburst keyed by 4 walks led to an 8-4 loss at the hands of Z-Core at the Lynch #1 softball diamond. Nyle Nelson got the start and pitched well but tired in the sixth when Z-Core took the lead for good.

The A-Team took the lead in the top of the first when Marco Johnson led off with a single, stole second and came around to score on a clutch 2-out rbi single by shortstop Joe Greco. After falling behind 2-1 the A-Team took the lead in the third on an error and another rbi single by Greco. They tacked on their last run in the fourth when Matt Beck who reached on his second hit by pitch and then hustled around the bases and scored on Anthony Fabozzi ground out to third.



September 3, 2011
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
A-Team 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 4 7 2
Z-Core 0 2 0 0 1 5 x 8 8 1

Nelson (L), Jablonski (6) and Mecca

Smith (W), and Jones


boxscore
P AB R H RBI
Johnson LF 3 1 3 0
Gaetano RCF 2 1 0 0
Auricchio 3B 3 0 0 1
Greco SS 3 0 1 0
Beck 1B 0 1 0 0
R. Tambasco 1B 1 0 0 0
Mecca C 3 0 1 0
Kelly SCF 2 0 0 0
Fabozzi RF 3 0 0 1
Ortiz EH/LF 2 0 0 0
Masters DH 2 0 0 0
Lopuch 2B 2 1 1 0
V. Fiorillo 2B 0 0 0 0
total 26 4 7 4

IP H R ER BB K
Nelson (L) 5 7 6 6 3 0
Jablosnki 1 2 2 0 3 0
Smith (W) 7 6 4 4 1 1

HBP: Beck (2), Gaetano

Stolen base: Greco, Ortiz


Game 2 vs The Mohawks
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Mohawks 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 9 12 0
A-Team 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 5 14 2

Lennon (W), Fahtis (5) and Quist

Terwilliger (L) and Mecca


Looking to bounce back from the disappointing 8-4 Game 1 loss, Matt Beck threw PAV star righthander Jim Terwilliger against a tough Mohawks team which was countering with another horse, Bob Lennon. However, a disasterous first inning doomed the hometown favorites as the first four batters reached on 2 singles and 2 walks and all scored as The Mohawks took a commanding 4-0 lead entering the bottom half of the first. With 2 out Sean Mecca worked out a walk and went to third on a Danny Auricchio single and scored on Joe Greco's ribby single. Aaron Kelly skied to right to end the inning, but the A-Team cut the lead to 4-1 after one.

Terwilliger gave up one in the top of the second and squiggled out of a bases loaded jam to keep the A guys within striking distance at 5-1. The A-Team immediately got that run back in the bottom half of the second. Steve Master laced a two out single and senior A-Team member Marty Tambasco followed with a one strike liner to right scoring Masters. Tambasco tried stretching the hit into a triple but committed a cardinal sin when he was thrown out at third, although all replays showed that he had beaten the throw.

The Mohawks continued to put on the pressure when they took advantage of two A-Team errors and took an 7-2 lead. Again, the A guys responded when Anthony Fabozzi got his first hit of the tournament and appeared to score two batters on a bang-bang play at home. However, for the second straight inning the called went against the home team and they remained down by five. That's when the home town favorites put together back-to-back-to-back single by Sean Mecca, Danny Auricchio, and Joe Greco to pick up two as the A-Team once again came back and drew within three at 7-4.

Leading off the bottom of the fifth Amherst import Anthony Fabozzi ripped his second single of the game and using his speed tagged on a fly out to center by Lorenzo Fiorillo and eventually came around to score to cut the lead to two at 7-5.

After a scoreless sixth The Mohawks picked up two in the top of the seventh on a clutch two out single stretching the lead to 4 at 9-5. With one out in the bottom half of the seventh Marty Tambasco beat out an infield single and went to second when Zo Fiorillo worked out a two out walk. Marco Johnson's 3-2 walk loaded the bases bringing up the tying run in the person of Sean Mecca. However, the A-Team's hopes died right there when Sean hit a liner to short and the A-Team fell 9-5 going two and out for the third consecutive year.


boxscore
P AB R H RBI
L. Fiorillo CF 3 0 0 0
Johnson LF 3 1 0 0
Mecca C 3 2 2 1
Auricchio 3B 3 0 2 1
Greco SS 3 0 2 2
Kelly SCF 3 0 1 0
Beck 1B 1 0 0 0
Ortiz 1B 2 0 1 0
R. Tambasco DH 3 0 1 0
Masters RF 3 1 1 0
M. Tambasco EH 3 0 2 1
Lopuch 2B 0 0 0 0
Fabozzi 2B 3 1 2 0
total 33 5 14 5

Double: Marty Tambasco


2011 A-Team
This 2011 version of the A-Team featured players from the Post 701 softball team and a group of players formed by Brian Gaetano who shared the sponsorship with the Post. For the fourth straight year the A-Team played memory of previous Post players who left us much too soon, Johnny Merendo and Rich Auricchio.

The 2011 A-Team posed for this photo on "The Hill." Front row: Joe Greco, Aaron Kelly, Karen Auricchio, Bobby Lopuch, Anthony Ortiz, Danny Auricchio, Marty Tambasco, Matt Beck, Anthony Fabozzi and Shaun Mecca. Back Row: Chuckie Carter, Ralph Tambasco, Jim Terwilliger, Joe Fabozzi, Nyle Nelson, Lorenzo Fiorillo, and Steve Masters.

Once a pitcher gets the starting nod in game two fan clubs appear everywhere and The Jim Terwilliger Fan Club is no different. Here is the ace A-Team right hander posing with his number one fan who brought along a poster to show where his allegiance lies.

PHOTOS OF THE GAME 1 VS Z-CORE

Diamond Notes had the zoom lens in proper focus during game one vs Z-Core at the Lynch #1 softball diamond. Nyle Nelson is seend throwing a strike in first inning. Nyle pitched 5 strong innings in the 8-4 defeat. Speedster Aaron Kelly takes a rip leading off the second inning before working out a walk. Amherst transfer Anthony Fabozzi shows exceptional form batting in the second inning while fellow Amherst teammate Anthony Ortiz shows off his powerful swing from the right side. A-Team coach and scorekeeper Joe "Boz" Fabozzi is pictured on the A-Team bench going over strategy with Little Pappi, Anthony Ortiz as Marco Johnson looks on. What better way to watch a rec softball game then to view it on "The Hill" and it gets no better than being young and a member of the Kiddi Korp. Those Korp members are Brian Gaetano, Joe Greco, Aaron Kelly and Danny Auricchio. Three A-Team members are seen taking healthy cuts in game one. Those players are Brian Gaetano, Shaun Mecca and Post 701 vet Bobby Lopuch. A-Team skipper Matt Beck takes a time out to talk with Nyle Nelso in the 6th inning. Infielders Joe Greco, Danny Auricchio, Vinny Fiorillo, Ralph Tambasco and catcher Shaun Mecca are all spotted in the mound conference. Ralph Tambasco is seen taking a big cut in the sixth while Joe Greco's rbi single was captured by DN camera in the first.


PHOTOS OF THE GAME 2 VS THE MOHAWKS

Despite falling behind 4-0 going into the bottom of the first and trailing by five going to the bottom half of the third, the A-Team sent up the tying run in the seventh before losing 9-5 to The Mohawks. Jim Terwilliger was tough in defeat with seeing eye hits getting through the infield and a couple of defensive lapses wasting a strong pitching performance. Whether in centerfield or at bat, the speedy Lorenzo Fiorillo is always the center of attention for the opposition. Marco Johnson is spotted grounding out to short in the first while Joe Greco hustles back to first just beating the return throw. One of those seeing eye hits evades second baseman Bobby Lopuch in the top of the first. Ralph Tambasco lines a single to left center with one out in the fourth and Steve Masters is caught by the Diamond Notes zoom lens making the catch in right for the second out in the sixth. Anthony Fabozzi scores the A-Team's last run in the fifth after he lead off the inning with a single. Uncle Marty Tambasco is ready before his infield single with one out in the bottom half of the seventh. He is then spotted in a first base chat with coach/infielder and Post 701 teammate Bobby Lopuch. Danny Auricchio was caught lining one of his two hits in game two and making one of his three assists at third vs The Mohawks.

In ironic twist, the 2011 version of the A-Team hit .356, the same as last year's team. However, the 2010 squad scored 11 runs, two more than the 2011 team. Even though the A-Team allowed 11 less runs than this year than last, they were still outscored 17-9, although outhitting the opposition .356 to .333. Extra base hits were at a premium with Marty Tambasco's double the only multi-base knock. Joe Greco led the team in hits and rbis with four while hitting .667. Marco Johnson and Shaun Mecca each scored two runs to lead the team. Despite the disappointing loses, the beer was, as usual, cold and the friendship warm. That, is a winning combination!!!

MORE TOURNAMENT PHOTOS

What better way to relax after losing two straight games than to return to "The Hill" for some cold ones and a few laughs. Enjoying the atmosphere are A-Team members Ralph Tambasco, Skipper Matt Beck and right hander Jim Terwilliger. Meanwhile, Bobby Lopuch was spotted helping Karen Auricchio get a good seat for the team photo with Kiddi Korp member Little Pappi, Anthony Ortiz looking on. Little Pappi was at his photogenic best posing with senior team member Marty Tambasco, Joe Fabozzi and fellow Massachuscetts import Anthony Fabozzi. Manager Matt Beck reached base in game one twice, both the hard way as he was hit by a pitch. This HBP happened in the first inning in game one.


A-TEAM IN ACTION

Marco Johnson got the A-Team off to an exceptional start in game one. After he singled, he stole second and Diamond Notes captured the moment. However, Joe Greco was not as lucky as a perfect throw nailed the speedy runner in the third inning of game one. Joe Greco awaits the throw from right field vs Z-Core while Danny Auricchio gives it all he's got on a base hit down the line vs The Mohawks in game two.

A-TEAM IN ACTION ONCE AGAIN

Aaron Kelly shows an excellent batting stroke at the Lynch #1 softball field while Manager Matt Beck goes and pulls one in at first for the first out in the second inning of game one. Danny Auricchio is in focus manning his usual position at third while Marty Tambasco is seen swinging at high pitch that he smacked for a double in his first AB in the tournament. While the games are in progress there needs to be someone in charge of "The Hill" and who better than to man the coolers than long time Post member Chuckie Carter. Marco Johnson, who hit .500 in the tournament, is spotted swinging in the third inning of game two.