Skyline Softball League Champs

Front low (left to right): Donny Giordano, Rich Lilienthal, John Hearle, Joe Alderisio, Charlie Kelly, Jim Frank

Back row: Gary Walker, Frank Fiore, Paul O'Keefe, Craig Caputo, Dan McDonnell, Drew Juhlin, Umpire Darryl Washington, Dave O'Conner, Baste Costello

Missing: Brian Spellman, John McCabe

Game One

Krauszer's jumped to an early lead in the first inning. Baste Costello walked and Dan McDonnell got on with a base hit. Shortstop Dave O'Conner drove in the first run with a single and Rich Lilienthal got a base hit to drive in the second. Jim Frank drove in the third with a sacrifice fly. Paul O'Keefe singled in the fourth run and Craig Caputo drove in the final run of the inning with an RBI double to make it 5-1. Krauszer's piled on two more in the 2nd inning on a run scoring double by Dan McDonnell and a sacrifice fly to deep center by Dave O'Conner.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Haskell AC	1	1	3	1	0	1	0	7	9	1
Krauszer's of Oakland	5	2	0	0	1	0	-	8	12	3

With the score 7-2 AC came back with three big runs in the 3rd inning on a blast over the fence in left center field by second baseman Dan Vuksanic.. Krauszer's failed to score in the bottom of the 3rd inning and again in the 4th inning which ended in a fine 4-6-3 double play by the AC infield.

AC tacked on another run in their half of the 4th inning on an RBI single by veteran center fielder Joel Platt, to make the score 7-6 Krauszer's. Kruaszer's turned a fine 1-4-3 double play in the AC half of the 5th in which AC failed to score.

Krauszer's picked up their final and deciding run of the game in the 5th inning. Baste Costello singled followed by a base hit from Dan McDonnell. to make it first and third with no out. In a moment of confusion as to whether or not time out had been called Baste made a dash for the plate and made it in with a stolen base.

In the 6th AC shortstop Dave Bauman Jr. slashed a triple and was driven home on a base hit by John Volpe to bring them within two runs of the lead.

Krauszer's got no runs on one hit in the bottom of the 6th and it was all up to AC going into the 7th inning. Although Joel Platt got on with a double AC could not overcome the one run lead. Krauser's wins their record 13th game in a row.

Game Two

This time a fired up AC squad took the lead out of the gate. Joel Platt lead off with a double and was driven home on a base hit by third baseman Jim Engles. Rob Edwards drove in another run with a single and catcher Joe Diaz drove in two more with a long triple.

Krauszer's came back with a run in the bottom of the inning on a solo shot by Baste Costello. They tied the game at 4-4 in the 2nd inning on an RBI single by Charlie Kelly and a double by Gary Walker that scored two runs.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Krauszer's of Oakland	1	3	0	1	5	2	1	13	14	1
Haskell AC	4	0	4	2	0	0	0	10	13	1

Haskell AC roared back again in the 3rd on a string of base hits by Dave Bauman Jr., Jim Engles, and Dan Vuksanic. Chris Norton drove in the second run of the inning with a single and a sacrifice fly to right field by John Volpe added another. Matt Geyer put a final notch on the board with a run scoring single; making the score 8-4.

Krauszer's got a run in the 4th on a solo blast by Rich Lilienthal. Following Rich's shot Jim Frank got on with a single. The next batter Donny Giordano drove a fair ball over the left field fence but it was nullified because Jim left first base early and was called out under the following rule:

"Base-runners must maintain contact with the base until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. If the runner leaves the base early, the runner is out."

AC added two in the 4th on an RBI single by Jim Engles and a sacrifice fly by Rob Edwards, to go ahead by five.

Just when things looked good for AC Krauser's bats went to work to tie the score. Things started to get away from AC pitcher Tom Sergi when outfielder Drew Juhlin drilled a two run shot over the right field fence. After back to back singles by Baste Costello and Dan McDonnell, Dave O'Conner delivered a three run shot to straight away center field to tie things at 10-10.

A tired Tom Sergi left the game and Dave Bauman Jr. stepped in to do the pitching. He walked the next two batters and then retired the side.

AC went down in order in the 5th and could only muster one hit in the 6th. Meanwhile, Drew Juhlin got another home run in the 6th inning, this time a two run shot over the center field fence. And just to top it off Baste Costello got his second home run of the game to make the score 13-10 going into the bottom of the 7th. This time Rob Edwards got on with a double, but again AC could not overcome a three run lead.

Krauser's wins their record 14th game in a row that featured a total of six home runs for their side, and they are the 2008 Skyline Softball League Champions.

Each season, by tradition, two additional awards are made. One for the Most Valuable Player of the Championship Series and one for the player who demonstrates the values of sportsmanship; virtues such as fairness, self-control, courage and persistence, throughout the playoffs and the season.