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05/06/2024 12:48 AMThe Deep River Horseshoe League began its season last week. Prior to the start of the season, the players were polled to see who would be participating this year. The top 54 get selected and are equally divided into "A," "B," and "C" divisions based on their scoring averages. In addition, there is a list of members who will be substitutes.
Clear blue skies with a chill in the air welcomed players to the beginning of the league's 69th season. Players arrived early so they could meet their new teammates and get in a little practice before the start of play. About half of the members played indoors on clay pits during the fall and winter seasons, while others waited until the last few weeks to begin their spring practice on the dirt pits during days when the weather would cooperate.
Butch Carotenuto's Dodgers swept Pudge Goodrich's Reds behind the scoring of Vinny Jonynas (Ivoryton) and Dennis Allen (Westbrook). Jonynas led the "B" division scorers with a 109 point, 22 ringer, two doubles series, while Allen was the top scorer for "C" division with a 97 point, 20 ringers, three doubles series.
Additionally, Jonynas led the "B" division in the other statistics, which were High game (30 points), and total seven game ringers (seven). Allen led the "C" division with a high game (30 points), and in total ringer in a game (eight). The Dodgers took the scoring honors for the night with 295 points, 62 ringers, and seven doubles.
Mike Zanelli Jr.'s Braves defeated Sheryl Serviss's Tigers 5-1. Zanelli (Higganum) took home the game scoring honors with a 44 game and most game ringers with 13, while Serviss (Deep River) had the third most game ringers with 10. Matt Valentin (Westbrook), last year's high school rookie sensation, is now a seasoned vet and had a very respectable 75 point series.
Bob Cifaldi's Mets beat Mike Didomizio's Rockies 5-1. Four of the six games were closely contested. The Mets won two games by one point, one by three points, and another by four points. The teams both scored 223 points.
Tony Cutone's Angels topped John Durinick's Orioles 5-1. The Orioles were without on of their players, which gave a big advantage to the Angels.
Red Sox’s Bill Beckwith (Old Lyme) took the scoring honors for the night and set the bar high for others to try and reach. Beckwith scored 154 points, 43 ringers, and nine doubles, as the Red Sox squeaked out a 3.5-2.5 win over Joe Heery's Rangers. In addition, Beckwith had three games with 40 plus points.
Beckwith and Heery battled each other for three games, with the edge going to Beckwith (111-106). Beckwith’s 43-point fourth game was too much for Heery to overcome. Heery (Old Lyme) finished the night with a 140 point series, the second highest score for "A" division players. Two games were decided by one point, all courtesy of Scott Allen, who pulled two 12th box heroics to give the Red Sox two wins. Heery’s ringer in the bottom of the 12th in Game 4 earned the teams a tie.
The Marlins were without John Hutra, their "A" player, as they took on Skip Robinson's Pirates. Frank Rausch filled in for what can only be described as a most impressive performance. Rausch had back surgery in late December, and it is somewhat of a miracle he was able to play this soon. In his first game, he only tossed 11 ringers total and ended the game with a double. Rausch (Killingworth) finished with a 119 point, 31 ringer, four doubles series, which was the sixth highest among the "A" players.
This match had other high scorers, including Marlins’ Mark Goodale's (Clinton) 89 point series. This was tied for second for "B" division. Marlins’ Howie Fisher (Clinton) and Pirates’ Harvey Strausser (Old Saybrook) were the second and third leading scorers, respectively, for "C" division in all six statistical categories.