Payin' the Bills    Bill Wettstein, who has done some writing for community papers in the Northwest Philly area, has joined the fold to cover an occasional game. We appreciate his efforts.    Bill may be reached at wwettstein@yahoo.com

May 5
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Edison 16, Olney 4
  With their convincing 16-4 victory over host Olney, the Owls of Thomas Edison High served notice that they intend to be in the hunt for the Division B title.    The victory moved the Owls into a virtual tie for the division lead and avenged a tough one-run loss to the Trojans last month.
   The Owls wasted little time demonstrating their goal for the afternoon as leadoff hitter 2B Luis Garcia (2-4, 3 runs scored), launched a 1-2 pitch between the outfielders and into the left center abyss for an inside-the-park home run.  By the time the ball returned to the infield, Garcia had just about taken a seat on the bench.  Following walks to the next two hitters, winning pitcher Oscar Colon (2-3, 3 runs scored) singled, but a costly Olney error in the inning allowed both runners to score.  With the pressure on Olney, Colon stole second and scored when the throw to second went into center field.  The Owls finished the first of two five-run innings with a RBI ground out by LF/P Braulio Marquez (1-4, 2 RBI's).
   Olney went down quietly in the bottom of the first and Edison picked up right where they left off despite an Olney  6-4-3 double play.  A German Sanchez (3-3, 3 runs scored)  RBI single paced a three-run second inning that was extended by three more Olney errors, which according to interim coach Jeff McKenna was very uncharacteristic of his team.
   Olney SS Edwin DeLeon (1-2, 2 runs scored) scored the Owls first run in the bottom of the second without the benefit of a hit or RBI (two Edison errors).  With   an 8-1 deficit, Olney faced the minimum number of hitters in the top of the third when C Carlos Rosado (1-1) came up with a diving catch on a soft pop-up and threw out the runner at first, who had attempted to steal second base.  The momentum was short-lived however, as Edison posted their second five-run inning in the top half of the fourth, which featured an RBI single by Colon, an RBI double by 3B Gilbert Boria (1-4, 2 RBI's, 2 runs scored)  and an RBI triple by Marquez.
   Behind 13-1, and in danger of the Public League 10-run rule, Olney used the bottom of the fourth to mount a charge.  A fielders choice RBI by LF Wilfredo Maldonado and 2-out RBI double by 3B Juan Diaz lifted the Trojans to within 10 runs of a tie, but they would get no closer.
  Another "three spot" in the top of fifth gave the Owls all the runs they needed to keep the 10-run rule in effect.  A nice throw by C Juan Colon on a runner trying to advance on a passed ball seemed to end any thought of a final rally by Olney in the bottom half of the fifth inning.
  Footnote-- Edwin DeLeon's fourth inning diving stop in the hole between second and third and stretch by the first basemen was the kind of stuff that just can’t be taught--you either make it happen or you don't.

MARCH 27
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Northeast 17, Roxborough 0
  The Vikings of Northeast High, by way of 11 Roxborough errors, a grand slam by SS Kamil Harris and solid pitching efforts from Craig Solomon and Bryan Adamson coasted to an 17-0 victory over the Indians.
  After each team went down in order in the first inning, the Vikings posted a single run in the second when Adamson singled, advanced to second on a fielder's choice and later scored on an overthrown ball at third base following a passed ball.   The Indians started the bottom of the second inning with a single by pitcher Vince Cordova (5 IP, 17 R, 9 H, 3 K, 1 BB), but the possible scoring threat was eliminated  two pitches later by a nifty 6-4-3 double play (Harris-Chris Steinke-Steve Sandberg).  An inning that began on a positive note with a strikeout quickly turned disastrous for the Indians as six errors opened the door for a six-run Vikings third, highlighted by back-to-back hits by Steinke (1-3, 2 RBI's, 1 SB) and Sandberg (2-4, 2 doubles).   Due in large part to a pair of Craig Solomon strikeouts (3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 4 K, 0 BB), Roxborough went down easily to close the third.
  Fundamental errors plagued the Indians again in the fourth inning.  With only the benefit of a single hit, the Vikings added three runs to lead 10-0, leaving the Indians with two chances to extend the game past five innings.
  Despite two hits and a walk off new Vikings pitcher Bryan Adamson (2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 K, 1 BB), the defense flashed some leather and limited the Indians to just five batters in the bottom half of the fourth.  With two men on and nobody out, Vince Cardona (2-2, 1 SB) slapped a line drive single into left field, but the runner at second was thrown out at home on a fine set of relay throws for the first out.  The Indians then loaded the bases only to see an infield fly turn into a double-play when Steinke caught the ball and threw out the runner from third base attempting to score.
  Northeast High finished the scoring with seven-run fifth that featured four hits including Kamil Harris' (1-4, HR 2 RBI's) towering grand slam well over the left field fence.  In a limited role, a shout goes out to the "Diamond Cutter" (sorry I didn't get your name) for being aggressive on the base paths and picking up a pinch single.