Printer Friendly Version - Giants Earn Top Seed in Deep River Horseshoe League Playoffs

The Giants earned the top seed in the Deep River Horseshoe League Playoffs after finishing with the best record during the regular season. Pictured are Jim Weselcouch, Mike Zanelli, Sr., and Warren Bellows. Photo courtesy of Joe Heery

The Deep River Horseshoe League (DRHL) finished up its regular season when the league hosted Week 17 play at the First Congregational Church on Aug. 18. Eight teams qualified for the DRHL Playoffs, including the Giants, who earned the No. 1 seed by completing regular-season play with a record of 63.5-38.5. The other squads that made the playoffs were the White Sox, Tigers, Marlins, Orioles, Cardinals, Pirates, and Padres.

The Giants clinched the top seed by posting a 3.5-2.5 victory over the Rangers in Week 17. Haddam resident Mike Zanelli, Sr., of the Giants and Old Lyme resident Joe Heery of the Rangers were locked in a scoring duel that saw Zanelli, Sr., come out on top by recording a series of 140 with 34 ringers and 5 doubles in the contest. Heery had a fine night in his own right by finishing with a season-high series of 138 to go along with 33 ringers and 7 doubles. Along with Zanelli, Sr., the other two players on the Giants are Jim Weselcouch of East Hartford and Warren Bellows of Waterford.

The White Sox took a 4-2 loss to the Tigers in Week 17, but still secured the No. 2 seed in the playoffs with their record of 60.5-41.5 for the season. Deep River resident Sheryl Serviss of the Tigers finished with the second-best score in the A Division on the week by putting up a 150 series, helping her team earn the No. 3 seed with an overall record of 57-45.

In other action, the Marlins and Padres finished in a 3-3 split. Clinton resident Mark Goodale of the Marlins scored the highest series in the A Division with a 162 for the Marlins, who finished in a tie for fourth place in the standings at 55.5-46.5. The Padres, who are led by Mike Didomizio of Wethersfield, wound up finishing in eighth place with a record of 52-50 and ultimately claimed the No. 8 seed in the playoffs by virtue of a tiebreaker.

The Cardinals notched a 4-2 victory versus the Cubs to finish in a tie for fourth place with a mark of 55.5-46.5. The Orioles, led by Ed Turner of Deep River, also finished tied for fourth with that same record after defeating the Pirates by a 4-2 score. The Pirates went 53.5-48.5 to earn the No. 7 seed in the playoffs.

Needing a win and some help to make the playoffs, the Royals recorded a 4-2 win against the Braves in their season finale. The Royals, who are led by Chester resident John Sciacca, finished the regular season with a record of 52-50, the same mark as the Padres, but lost out on the final playoff spot as a result of a tiebreaker.

Goodale (162) and Serviss (152) were the top two throwers in the A Division for Week 17 in the DRHL with Bill Beckwith of Old Lyme placing third with a series of 142. Hamden resident Butch Carotenuto posted the top score for the B Division with a 117 and was followed by Jeremy Davis (104) of Chester and Clinton resident Kris Casey (101). In the C Division, Deb Scully of East Hartford tossed an 82 to lead the pack with East Haven resident John O’Brien in second (81) and Paul Stevens of Higganum in third (80).

The top-seeded Giants (63.5-38.5) are facing the 8th-seeded Padres (52-50) in the opening round of the DRHL Playoffs. In other matchups, the 2nd-seeded White Sox (60.5-41.5) are playing the No. 7 seed Pirates (53.5-48.5), the No. 3 seed Tigers are facing the 6th-seeded Cardinals (55.5-46.5), and the 4th-seeded Marlins (55.5-46.5) are facing the No. 5 Orioles (55.5-46.5).

Here is a look at how the rest of the standings shook out following the final week of regular-season action in the DRHL: Royals (52-50), Reds (49.5-52.5), Cubs (49.5-52.5), Red Sox (49.5-52.5), Rangers (48-54), Yankees (47.5-54.5), Dodgers (46-56), Mets (44.5-57.5), Braves (42-60), and Angels (35.5-66.5).