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Lori Brown | Democrat
THE MEMBERS OF the Fitness Factory/D-Tech softball team celebrated their “three-peat” of Monticello Men’s Softball League championships with their family members after Monday night’s victory against All Ways Taxi at Kenneth H. Somerville Field. place team, Fitness Factory. Kneeling in front, from left to right, are Jalitza Rodriguez, Serafin Rodriguez Jr., Madison Levine, Morgan VanKeuren, Edwin Rodriguez, Ethan Gallo and Dan Gallo. Standing in the middle row, from left to right, are Jay Falasca, Keith Shaddock, Serafin Rodriguez and Dennis Rivera. Standing in the back row, from left to right, are Julian Dawson, Tim “Chopper” Ackermann, Autumn Ackermann, Sean Reuss, Jo Jo VanKeuren, Wayne Kaiser, Desmond Gonzales, Mike Weiner, Aaron “Red” Dinkel and Alex Salazar. Missing from photo is team member Shane Conner.
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Fitness Factory/
D-Tech Team Celebrating Title
By Lori Brown
MONTICELLO — August 24, 2007 — The Fitness Factory/D-Tech and All Ways Taxi softball teams got together Monday night at Kenneth H. Somerville Field to play the second game of the Monticello Men’s Softball League best-of-three finals series in some not so nice weather.
Despite the gray clouds and rain, the teams played on for the championship.
Fitness Factory/D-Tech enjoyed held a one-game advantage, thanks to its 7-5 victory in last Friday night’s series opener at Somerville Field.
Fitness Factory completed a perfect 23-0 season and captured its third straight Monticello Men’s Softball League title by defeating All Ways Taxi, 13-7, in Tuesday night’s contest.
Fitness Factory/D-Tech’s Dan Gallo got his team off to a great start in the first inning when he slammed a double to left field to bring home teammate Keith Shaddock and give Fitness Factory/D-Tech a 1-0 lead.
But All Ways Taxi (17-6) quickly took a 3-1 advantage over Fitness Factory/D-Tech. Mike Mann earned an RBI by hitting a triple to left field that allowed Matt Stoddard to score. Mann then scored on single by Corey VanKeuren.
VanKeuren crossed home plate moments later when Casey Pazzalia singled.
The Fitness Factory/D-Tech offense came alive in the second inning, however.
With the bases loaded and one out, Mike Weiner singled to bring home teammates Alex Salazar and Dennis Rivera. A few batters later, Shaddock slammed a three-run homer to give Fitness Factory/D-Tech a 6-3 advantage.
Later in the inning, Jay Falasca blasted a three-run home run to center field and Alex Salazar slammed an RBI double.
All Ways Taxi finally got three outs to end the inning, but the damage was done as Fitness Factory/D-Tech took a 10-3 lead.
In the bottom of the second, Fitness Factory/D-Tech held All Ways Taxi scoreless.
In the top of the third, Falasca blasted his second home run of the evening. Shaddock and Edwin Rodriguez also scored on Falasca’s round tripper, which extended the Fitness Factory/D-Tech advantage to 13-3.
All Ways Taxi had a lot of catching up to do to get back in the game and the team began a rally in the bottom of the third. With no outs, Casey Pazzalia hit a triple to score teammates Mike Mann and VanKeuren.
Casey Pazzalia crossed the plate when Scott Hamlin grounded out later in the inning. Pazzalia’s run brought All Ways Taxi to within seven at 13-6.
But Fitness Factory/D-Tech got the next three batters out to end the All Ways Taxi rally.
In the top of the fourth, All Ways Taxi played stellar defense by turning a double play and holding Fitness Factory/D-Tech scoreless.
Corey Pazzalia led off the bottom of the fourth for All Ways Taxi. He slammed a home run to make it a 13-7 ballgame.
Fitness Factory/D-Tech quickly ended the inning by getting the next three batters out.
The two defenses then dominated the final three innings as neither team scored again.
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