By Rob Potter
MONTICELLO — The Fitness Factory/D-Tech softball team just keeps rolling along.
On Monday night at Kenneth H. Somerville Field in Monticello, Fitness Factory/D-Tech shut out Church of God, 10-0, in a Monticello Men’s Softball League game.
The contest was halted after six innings due to the league’s 10-run mercy rule.
With the win, Fitness Factory/D-Tech improved its season record to 12-0. The victory also continued a long streak for Fitness Factory/D-Tech. Since the beginning of the 2007 season, the team has recorded 37 consecutive wins in the Monticello Men’s Softball League. During the streak, Fitness Factory/D-Tech won the league’s 2007 regular season and playoff championships.
Fitness Factory/D-Tech got off to a quick start against Church of God. After holding Church of God scoreless in the top of the first inning, Fitness Factory/D-Tech took an 8-0 lead in the bottom of the frame.
With the bases loaded, Alex Salazar hit a two-run single. He then ran to second base as the throw from the outfield was errant.
Dennis Rivera gave Fitness Factory/D-Tech a 4-0 advantage when he belted a two-run triple to left field. He then crossed home plate when the next batter, Steve Rivera, reached base on an error.
Steve Rivera moved to third base on a single by Des Gonzalez and scored when Serafin Rodriguez grounded out to second base.
Gonzalez crossed the plate to extend the Fitness Factory/D-Tech lead to 7-0 when Mike Weiner hit a bloop single to right field.
Weiner registered the final run of the inning on a single by Keith Shaddock.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the fifth.
Steve Rivera led off and safely reached first base with a well-placed bunt. After the first out of the frame was recorded, Rodriguez hit an infield grounder. Rivera was forced out at second base, but Rodriguez was safe at first base thanks to an error.
Dan Gallo then singled up the middle to bring Rodriguez around to score.
The game ended in the bottom of the sixth when Shane Connor scored on a sacrifice fly by Julian Dawson, which gave Fitness Factory/D-Tech a 10-run lead.
Tim “Chopper” Ackermann earned the complete-game victory for Fitness Factory/D-Tech.

Team wins Spear Tourney
MONGAUP VALLEY — For the second straight year, Mother Nature ended the John Spear Memorial Softball Tournament before all of the scheduled games could be played.
And for the second consecutive year, the Fitness Factory/D-Tech team is the champion of the truncated tourney, which was held at Edward M. Collins Memorial Park in Mongaup Valley.
Fitness Factory/D-Tech claimed the first place trophy on Sunday afternoon when a powerful thunderstorm swept through the area, forcing tournament organizers to cancel both the 12:30 p.m. loser’s bracket final and the 2 p.m. title game.
Because Fitness Factory/D-Tech was the only undefeated team remaining in the double-elimination event, it was declared the winner.
Dawson’s Motors of Middletown took home the second place trophy and Sullivan Fire placed third.
The tournament was organized by the Smallwood-Mongaup Valley Fire Department (SMVFD) and Sullivan Sports.
All proceeds from the tournament benefit Elaine Spear and her family. The tournament honors the memory of Elaine’s husband, John, a very popular teacher and varsity baseball coach at Monticello High School who died in a motor vehicle accident in January 2007.
The results of the tournament games which were played are as follows:
Friday, July 25
Dawson’s Motors defeated Burnwell Oil, 15-12
Sullivan Fire topped SMVFD, 18-17
Saturday, July 26
Gil’s Guys beat Sullivan Sports
Fitness Factory/D-Tech defeated Radio Shack
Dawson’s Motors stopped Sutphen East
Radio Shack beat Burnwell Oil, 8-5
Sutphen East topped Sullivan Sports, 5-3
SMVFD edged Radio Shack, 7-6
Dawson’s Motors defeated Sullivan Fire
Fitness Factory/D-Tech beat Gil’s Guys, 8-7
Sullivan Fire stopped SMVFD, 25-15
Sunday, July 27
Sutphen East defeated Gil’s Guys, 16-14
Fitness Factory/D-Tech topped Dawson’s Motors, 13-7
Sullivan Fire beat Sutphen East, 20-4.