By Laura Stabbert
ROSCOE — July 6, 2010 — Visiting R&H Gorr was leading the Rockland House 3-0 after the top of the first inning in last Wednesday night’s Sullivan County Beer League softball game.
But the home team took the lead 4-3 before the frame was over.
R&H Gorr committed several fielding errors at Roscoe’s Firemen’s Park and the Rockland House was able to edge out the visiting team by the final score of 17-15.
In the bottom of the second inning, Corey Hornicek took over the pitching duties in place of Jeff Molusky for R&H Gorr. But the Rockland House was still able to put another three runs on the board, making the score 7-3.
In the top of the third, R&H Gorr battled back. Two early runs started the momentum and with two outs Dan Spagnoli and Kurt Buddenhagen walked to the bases.
Bret Reimer drew a walk which sent Sean Grey home. The bases were still loaded when the Rockland House changed pitchers. Starting pitcher George Glantzis switched positions with first baseman Chuck Husson as the team tried to stop the rally by R&H Gorr.
With Husson pitching, John Glassel singled. Buddenhagen and Spagnoli both scored on the hit.
That was the end of the R&H Gorr rally, but the team held an 8-7 advantage.
Bob Glassel was now pitching for R&H Gorr, which was without veteran pitcher Ed LeRoy. But with his defense committing errors, the Rockland House added seven runs to retake the lead, 14-8, in the bottom of the fourth.
In the top of the fifth, Hornicek and Grey both singled and then Glassel hit a home run to put three runs on the scoreboard for R&H Gorr. With bases loaded, R&H Gorr had an opportunity to even the score, but Rockland House pitcher Husson was able to end the inning with his team ahead 15-11.
Coming to bat in the top of the seventh, R&H Gorr was down by six runs, 17-11. Leadoff hitter Todd Houghtaling got on base and was able to score on a hit by Rob Shapiro. R&H Gorr added three more runs in the frame, but it wasn’t enough.
The Rockland House continued to execute, improving its record to 3-4 with the two-run victory.
“We kept in it when we ran into problems,” said Chad Rowan of the Rockland House. “We kept our heads in the game and made the best plays we could. We really came together as a team and that should help us for the rest of the season.”