By Rob Potter
MONTICELLO — Ratner & Son Paving overcame an early deficit to register a 14-4 victory over Ideal Snacks on Thursday night in a Monticello Men’s Softball League game at Kenneth H. Somerville Memorial Field.
The game ended after five innings due to the league’s 10-run mercy rule.
Ideal Snacks took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Leadoff batter Greg Brewer reached base by laying down a perfect bunt just a few feet from home plate. He scored moments later when Bryon Powell hit into a fielder’s choice.
However, Ratner & Son Paving wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard. In the bottom of the first, Carl Yaun hit a one-out single. The next batter, Gil Suarez, belted the ball to deep right field. As the Ideal Snacks outfielders chased after the ball, Suarez sprinted around the bases for a two-run, inside-the-park home run.
Jason Garritt then ripped a double to left field. After stealing third base, Garritt scored on a sacrifice fly by Mitch Juron.
After Ideal Snacks added a run in the top of the second, Ratner & Son Paving responded with six runs in the bottom of the frame. Lou Velasco scored on a passed ball, Suarez crossed home plate on a double by Juron and Garritt scored on a fielder’s choice as Ratner & Son Paving took a 9-2 advantage.
Ideal Snacks closed to within five runs in the top of the fourth. With one out, Jim Moloney singled to left field. The next batter, Joe Meyer, singled to left and when the ball was misplayed, he quickly made his way to third base and Moloney scored.
Meyer crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly by Paul Pitz to make it a 9-4 game.
Ratner & Son Paving extended its advantage in the bottom of the fourth. With no outs and the bases loaded, Garritt smacked a double to left field, which allowed Shane Weigand and Yaun to score.
Moments later, Suarez scored on a passed ball and Garritt scored on Juron’s sacrifice fly to push the Ratner & Son Paving lead to 13-4.
Ratner & Son Paving scored the game’s final run in the bottom of the fifth. Rob Sze began the frame with an infield hit, stole second base and moved to third on a bunt single by James Ratner.
Sze then stole home to secure Ratner & Son Paving’s 10-run victory.
Ideal Snacks gets back
on winning track
It didn’t take long for Ideal Snacks to rebound from its loss to Ratner & Son Paving.
In the second game of Thursday night’s Monticello Men’s Softball League tripleheader at Somerville Field, Ideal Snacks defeated Ampacoach, 12-9.
Ideal Snacks took an early lead and didn’t look back on its way to victory. In the top of the first, Bryon Powell hit a two-run inside-the-park homer to give Ideal Snacks a 2-0 lead.
Jeff Burleson belted a two-run single for Ideal Snacks later in the contest.