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08/02/2023 11:39 AMFor another summer across the Shoreline, the horseshoe pits are popping and the hot and humid air is accompanied by the sights and sounds of the clang of iron against a pole and colleagues and cohorts sharing time together amongst friendly competition.
The Deep River Horseshoe League, which was originally named the Deep River Horse Shoe Pitching League, first began back in 1955 and consisted of 16 teams before moving the motif for their team monikers from types of birds to Major League Baseball teams a year later.
Currently, the teams are put together so that the cumulative averages of the three players on a team is within one to two points. Teams play on Tuesday mornings, plus Wednesday and Thursday evenings. There are usually three or four teams who compete on those nights.
“I think that is the biggest thing that promotes camaraderie; you have different teammates every year,” said league member Joseph Heery, who additionally serves as a media presence for the league. “It is special for me, because I am a reporter who gets to interact with all players and ask questions. In addition, I go on iCRV Radio each Wednesday morning during the season to talk Deep River Horseshoes.”
Also, some players play in other leagues, such as in Higganum and East Hartford (where they play indoors on clay courts). During the months of October through March, League President Tony Cutone has a greenhouse that has one clay court–providing full proof and evidence that the sport is alive and well in Connecticut.
“It is great to see people grow in the game and see their reactions when they throw their first double or have a new season-best score,” said Heery. “It is refreshing to see young blood embrace the game like 16 year-old Matt Valentin. I have yet to find anyone who is not trying to improve on their game. When I first started, I relied on some of the “A” players for advice and tips to improve my game. I started as a “C” player with an average of 11 points per game and with practice, I am now an “A” player with a 31 average. Every year there are success stories like this, but also some players struggle, and they need to ‘go back to the basics.’ There is always someone willing to help you. It is an individual sport just like golf and, once you absorb all the tips, advice,and recommendations, it falls on you to figure out what works for you and success comes with practice.”
For Week 13 of the 2023 campaign, the team scoring average jumped 17 points from the previous week, as teams averaged 268 points with 54 ringers and six doubles. “B” and “C” division players had their best series average of the season with 91 points and 74 points, respectively.
Within the contests on the week, the first-place Cardinals had an epic game against the Pirates, as they combined to score 642 points. The Pirates’ Skip Robinson’s 131-point series was the third high score for the “A” division players. Cardinals’ players Dennis Goodrich and Pirates’ Brady Miller had a good head-to-head match as Dennis’s season-best 103 point series edged Brady 103-102. Pirates’ Frank Durinick (sub for Deb Scully) bested Cardinals’ Mike Beckwith 100-81, which was the difference in the match. The Cardinals maintained their 3.5-game lead over the Giants.
For the second week in a row, the Giants were without the league leading scorer Mike Zanelli Sr. as they took on the Royals, the league’s top scoring team. The Giants had Ed Turner sub for Zanelli Sr. and Matt Valentin filled in for Mike Mercier. The Royals put up the second highest point total of the season (336), but could only come away with a 3-3 split. It was their fifth time topping
300 points. The Giants made use of the handicap in winning their three games. Royals’ John Sciacca had a 150 point series and was the second leading “A” division scorer, John Hutra contributed 105 points, and Kyle Wilson’s 81 points was a personal best and he was tied for the third leading “C” division score. With the split, the second place Giants failed to gain on the Cardinals.
Elsewhere, the White Sox defeated the Angels 5-1 to move into a tie for second place. The Sox scoring suffered last week without their MVP in Bob Beckwith. His return sparked a resurgence in the team as they scored 300 points. Bob’s 102 point series was the leading score for “C” division players.
Braves’ Mike Zanelli Jr. put on another scoring display, as they defeated the Red Sox 4-2. Zanelli Jr. had three games of at least 40 points and ended his night with 162 points (42 ringers, 12 doubles). He was the leading scorer for “A” division. The Braves also tossed 100 doubles. Not to be outdone, Red Sox’s John Durinick did his best to keep the match close as his 144-point series (with 33 ringers, 5 doubles) was a top “B” division score. In the final tally, the Braves (now in 4th place) scored 295 points (66 ringers, 13 doubles) to the Red Sox (288 with 67 ringers and nine doubles).
The Mets snapped their drought of not having won three games in a match since Week 4, defeating the Reds 5-1 as they scored 325 points (74 ringers, 16 doubles). Bob Cifaldi upped his season-best series of last week to 128 tallies and also his best game to 40 points, behind 11 ringers and three doubles. Mets’ Damin Roberts chipped in his season-best series with 125 points (on 28 ringers and six doubles). He was the second leading “B” division scorer.
The Mets are in ninth place, a game out of a playoff spot, while the Tigers suffered another big loss for the second week in a row, falling to the Rangers 5-1, and slipped from fourth to sixth in the standings.
The top eight teams make the playoffs. Currently, the top eight squads are: the Cardinals (record of 53-25), Giants (49.5-28.5), White Sox (49.5-28.5), Braves (46-32), the Yankees (45-33), Tigers (43.5-34.5), Royals (41-37), and the Rockies (39.5-38.5).