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05/19/2024 10:27 PMThe threat of rain led many to believe the Deep River Horseshoe League would be doing a makeup day, but ideal weather with temperatures in the 60s and partly cloudy skies greeted the players in Week Three.
Mike Zanelli's Braves were looking to hold onto first place, as they faced off against Brady Miller's White Sox. This match featured two of the league's young guns - Braves’ Matt Valentin ("C" player, 17 years old) and White Sox’s Hunter Beckwith ("B" player, 20 years old). With the combined scores of the "A" and "B" fairly equal, it was up to the "C" players to be the difference in the match. Valentin defeated his opponent by 20 points and was key to the Braves’ 4-2 win. The Braves retain first place by one game. Beckwith’s 38 point, 10 ringer game are season-highs for "B" division players.
Dodgers’ Dennis Allen's 101 point series was the top score for "C" division and his best since August 2022. He led the team to a 5-1 win over Bill Beckwith's Red Sox. While Beckwith’s scores were not his best, he teamed up with Scott Allen Jr. for the lone win. Allen’s 106 point series was the third highest for "B" division. The Dodgers are currently in a tie for second place.
Cardinals’ Kris Toohey vs. Giants’ Mike Zanelli Sr. featured two of the league's perennial top scorers. They each tossed 31 points in their first game, as it ended in the night's only tie. Their battle continued, and through three games, Toohey held a four point lead over Mike Zanelli, 101-97. In their final game, Toohey had a 43 point/13 ringer/four doubles game. He finished with a 144 points/43 ringers/nine doubles series and was the second leading scorer for "A" division. The Cards won 4.5-1.5 and are tied for second place.
It was an unusual scoring night for Sheryl Serviss's Tigers and Todd Nuhn's Yankees, as the "B" and/or "C" players were the top scorer in nine of the 12 games. Yankees' Deb Scully’s four points in the 12th box gave the Yanks a two-point win in Game 1, while Tigers’ Anthony Conkling's double in the 12th box of Game 3 gave the Tigers their lone win. The Yankees won 5-1 and are in third place alone.
Rangers’ Joe Heery had a personal best night, as they met up against John Durinick's Orioles. The Orioles were forced to toss a blind for absent John O'Brien. There were only two games decided by one point of the 108 played, and both were in this match. The Orioles won Game 1, and the Rangers won Game 3. Both were due to handicaps. After his first two games, Heery began his third game by tossing a one. He then began a string of 23 consecutive boxes with at least one ringer. His third game of 44 points/13 ringers were personal best, but in his last game, he topped it with a 49 point/15 ringer/three doubles game - the new personal best. His 149 point series was tops for "A" division, and the Rangers won 4-2.
Chip Goodrich's Diamondbacks vs. John Hutra's Marlins featured the two top scoring teams. Of special interest was the matchup between the "B"/"C" players, since their handicaps were equal. This matchup featured D'backs’ Gary Stevens and Brian Walsh vs. Marlins’ Mark Goodale and Howie Fisher. In Game 3, three of the players had clean games, no opens, and the D'backs won by seven points. In Game 6, the D'backs had led by seven points after seven boxes, but the Marlins outscored them 23-9 to win by seven points. The teams each won three games. Goodale's 111 point series was the leading score for "B" division, and Goodrich was the "A" division third leading scorer with a 132 series.
In the Pirates vs. Mets game, Mets’ Bob Cifaldi put an end to his doubles drought with three doubles in Game 1. He finished with nine doubles for the match to tie the league’s season high in doubles. In a continuation of Week Two’s feel good story, Peter Furmonavicius subbed on the Mets, and his 84 point/14 ringer series was the third highest for a "C" player in only his second match. The Mets and Pirates each won three games.
Rockies’ Mike Didomizio had a 46point/12ringer/four doubles game, as they split (3-3) with Cody Layton's Cubs. Cubs’ Jermey Davis had a 108 point series and was the second leading "B" scorer.
Angels’ Kyle Wilson's 87 point series was the second leading score for "C" division and also a personal best score. In addition, he also had a 31 point game, which was among the league season highs. The Angels were without Ted Dubay as they faced off against Pudge Goodrich's Reds, and the Reds won 4-2.