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07/22/2024 01:19 AMHeat and humidity took a toll on the Deep River Horseshoe League in Week 12, as eight teams needed substitutes but ended up with four teams needing to use a blind score for their missing player. With two thirds of the season complete, teams will now begin to think about the playoffs. The Mets continue to climb in the standings and are now in second place with a 5-1 win over the Marlins. The Angels shocked the Dodgers 5-1, the Orioles defeated the Reds to gain a share of second place, and the Pirates topped 300 points for the fourth time this season.
In week seven, Bob Cifaldi's Mets were in ninth place but have been slowly inching their way up in the standings. The odds of them winning went in their favor, when they learned that John Hutra's Marlins would be without Howie Fisher again for the second week in a row. The Marlins were forced to use the blind score for him. Week 12 was the time Cifaldi decided he would have his season best series of 134 points, 26 ringers, and five doubles, and it also included a personal best 48-point game. Cifaldi was the second leading scorer for "A" division.
Marlins’ Mark Goodale did his best by edging Mets’ Bob Beckwith 98-96. The difference was Mets’ Keith Toohey, who was on his way to a season best series when the sole of his sneaker came apart, and he was totally distracted after that. Toohey had his second best season series of 76 points. With the 5-1 win, the Mets moved into second place.
The Braves were without Mike Zanelli Jr, the league’s fourth leading scorer as they faced the Cardinals and the league’s No. 1 scorer in Kris Toohey (Westbrook). It looked like the odds definitely favored the Cardinals, but Braves’ Warren Bellows and Matt Valentin were going to do their best.
Valentin had his season-best series of 89 points and was disappointed he didn't get a chance to score 100 due to one bad game. Cardinals’ Kris Casey and Bellows had a good match, with Casey winning 85-84. Toohey was the top scorer for the night with a 142 point series. This was the sixth time he has scored at least 140 points. The Braves won 4-2 and remain in first place, while the Cardinals slipped to eighth.
The Angels started the match without Kyle Wilson, as they took on the second place Dodgers. Pete Perkins arrived late and played the last three games as Wilson’s substitute. The Dodgers won the first game, but after Perkins arrived, it was all Angels.
Ted Dubay led the Angels in scoring, and his season best 116 point series was the top "B" division score. The Angels "A" and "B" players, Tony Cutone and Dubay, combined for 222 points against the Dodgers’ "A" and "B" players, Butch Carotenuto and Vinny Jonynas. Dodgers’ Dennis Allen's 92 point series was the third highest among "C" players.
When the Reds played the Orioles, the Durinick brothers went against each other. Frank was a substitute for Reds’ Dennis Goodrich, and John was the Orioles’ "A" player. They faced each other in two games. Frank won the first one 30-22, while John won the second one 31-17. John also won the series 108-94. It was Orioles’ John O'Brien who was the difference in the match, as he had a season best 93 point series and was the second leading "C" scorer. The Orioles won 4-2 and gained a share of second place.
The Rockies entered their match against the Pirates with handicap in their favor, plus Paul Stevens (Higganum) had been saying he was going to hit the century mark. He came close with a season best 96 point series, and his score was matched by Pirates’ Anthony Malerba. It was Pirates’ Harvey Strausser who did finally top the century mark. His 108 series was the top "C" score, and it included a season best 34 point game. The Pirates scored 303 points, topping 300 points for the second week in a row and fourth time this season. The Pirates won 4-2 and are in fifth place.
The Yankees joined the teams that needed to use the blind score for their absent player, Deb Scully. They didn't seem to be worried, since they had Damin Roberts, the league’s leading scorer for "B" division. The Cubs countered that because they had the league's second leading "B" scorer, Jeremy Davis. At the end of the night, Roberts outscored Davis 103-91. His 103 point series was third best for "B" division. The teams each won three games.
Frank Rausch has been in the role of a substitute this season, and in almost all cases, the teams ended up winning. In Week 12, he filled in for Red Sox’s Bill Beckwith, as they faced Chip Goodrich's Diamondbacks. Although things didn't get off the way the Red Sox expected in game one, Rausch and Scott Allen combined for a scratch score of 75 points to win game two. The Red Sox went on to win 4-2. Rausch scored a 130 point series, and Scott Allen's season best 113 point series was the second leading "B" score for the night.
In other matches, Sheryl Serviss's Tigers defeated Brady Miller's White Sox 3.5-2.5. The White Sox also only had two players. Joe Heery's Rangers split with Mike Zanelli Sr.’s Giants. Heery had a 43 point game as part of his 134 point series, which was tied for the second leading "A" score.