Nashua Senior Softball League

The Dinos 65s AAA tournament team took the title in the SSUSA Northeast Championships in Liverpool, NY this past week, going undefeated at 5-0 in the tournament. They defeated Fat Nancy from NY in the finals by a score of 24-17. Combined with 4-0 record in the CT Masters Games in late June, the Dinos have not lost a game so far this year.

In round robin play on 7/9, the Dinos beat Spring Ford (PA) 16-13, and Fat Nancy (NY) 20-10. Going into double elimination play on the 10th, the Dinos were the #1 seed. First game was a 20-8 win over Fat Nancy again, followed by another win over Spring Ford, 23-11 score. This was a close game going into the open inning, but the Dinos put the hammer down, scoring 9 runs to put the game away. Butch Dunham had 2 hits in that inning!

The win put the Dinos into the championship game on Thursday, and the opponent was Fat Nancy once again. By the way, there were 2 other teams in the tournament, Smash It Sports (NY) and Pill & Pill (WV), but just the way the games went, the Dinos never faced them in the tournament. The first 2 innings of the championship game were an umpire's nightmare, in more ways than one. Both teams scored 5 runs in the 1st, followed by 5 runs each in the 2nd, so it was 10-10 after 2, with a bit of controversy mixed in with a shouting umpire. I'll give you 3 guesses who was in the middle of it! The Dinos took over from there, playing through an annoying light rain, scoring in just about every inning, and cruising to a 24-17 win, and their 1st-ever TOC (Tournament of Champions) qualifying tournament. With this victory, the Dinos will be invited to the 19th Annual TOC in Polk County FL in January.

Special thanks to our small contingent of loyal fans: Mary, Sharon, and Donna. Your support is always greatly appreciated.

The following stats and comments are from Coach Bill Simmons:

Jack G - 8 Extra base hits, 3(3B), 4(2B) and (HR), 12 runs scored

 

Larry K -  turned 7 DPs from the middle infield position, including an amazing bare-handed catch and

                "turn" to end the Semifinal game

 

Mike A - 5-0 pitching. Kept batters off balance by changing speeds and "tap dancing" on the rubber.

 

Jeff Fuller - 3 outstanding catches in LCF to save 7 potential runs from scoring, on-base machine at the plate. 11 runs scored

 

Dave B - batted (.705) and had 26 putouts @ 1B

 

Eddie P - 10 putouts in LF, solid all week

 

Richie - 10 assists @ 2B, looked like a natural over there

 

Perry - 3 superb catches (one a patented over the shoulder foul pop up), hit a (HR) in the semis, along with a number of "Perry" hits.

 

Porter and Espo - go 12 for 15 in Day 2 to help propel Dinos to the championship game.

 

Gary J - scores 27 runs as the rented mule (kidding). A very valuable asset to the team, believe me. I think he's still running.

 

Bill -  "waved in" 103 runs coaching at 3B, now eligible for new nickname (Wave 'Em In William)

 

ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM - Jack Gilhooly, Jeff Fuller, Larry Kittle, Perry Delisle, Mike Albano

 

Some random behind-the-scenes things that only the guys on the team would know about (LOL, all in fun):

 

"Where's the other home plate?"

"Do we go left or right on Balboa?"

"I can't find my keys."

"That was 2 bounces to the fence."

"I don't have a good feeling about this."

"Another nickel!"

"Mama Kittle"

"Swing and a miss, then a 300 footer? WTF"

"Baby spinach"

"Move in Espo!"

"Runs pretty fast for a fat guy"

"How do you read these brackets?"

"FP - flyout to the pitcher?"