Equally-Matched Polshek and PCF/HH Tie, Both Advance to S.L.A.M. Postseason

Catcher Leslie Cacciapaglia led the way for PCF/HH in just her first start this

season, going 2-for-3 with 1 run scored and 2 RBI. (Photo: Stuart Philips)

Those looking for answers about the 2008 S.L.A.M playoffs weren't going to get them Wednesday night, as Pei Cobb Freed/Hart Howerton's make-up of a make-up game against Polshek Partnership Architects created more questions than answers.

The answers finally came Thursday morning, as the Commissioner's Office confirmed from Rockefeller Center that both team would reach the postseason after playing out a 5-5 tie the night before.

Originally rescheduled for Monday after a rainout in May, PCF/HH and PPA found themselves without a diamond when early showers and the threat of thunderstorms forced the New York City Parks and Recreation Department to close the Great Lawn ball fields.

Gathering at North Meadow on Wednesday, the two 5-5 teams were looking for any opportunity to give them an edge in what could be one team's final game of the year. Polshek got off to a quick start, going up 1-0 in the bottom of the first. After a few squandered opportunities, third baseman Ron Rainone (1-for-3) hustled out a double to lead off the top of the third. Rainone scored later in the inning when catcher Leslie Cacciapaglia (2-for-3) singled to short centerfield. The Red and Black were on the board.

PCF/HH kept momentum going in their favor, holding PPA scoreless while they tacked on a run in each of the following two innings, to take a 3-1 lead entering the bottom of the fifth. But Polshek wouldn't go easy, tying the game up on three consecutive one-out hits (including two doubles) from the top of the order. Both teams were making errors in the field and everyone soon realized that the game would likely be decided by the team that capitalized most often on these opportunities.

The sun was setting and the tension was palpable as the 3-3 game continued through a scoreless sixth into the final inning. PPA manager and pitcher Steven Chang walked leadoff batter Cate Foster (1-for-3) and Cacciapaglia had the opportunity to play hero again. She again singled to short centerfield and, because of some confusion and throwing errors, Foster was able to score from first and Cacciapaglia found herself 60 feet from putting her team up by 2. She scored from third on the ensuing play, an RBI single by Steven Peterson (2-for-4). PCF/HH tried to keep the pressure on, but centerfielder Mike Copeland (1-for-3) suffered a severely-pulled hamstring while running to first base. The resulting double play slowed the Black and Red just enough to re-open the door of opportunity for Polshek.

With the first two batters on in the bottom of the seventh, PPA centerfielder Danny singled to left-center. The hit scored their runner at second and, while trying to tie the game up from first base, a heads-up play by the PCF/HH outfield saw the resulting throw hit the cutoff at second base and a relay throw to pitcher Juan Monahan (1-for-3), who tagged the runner out at the plate. Polshek still tied the game with a sacrifice fly to Carl Pearson (3-for-4), who slid over from right field to fill in for the injured Copeland, but the put-out at the plate saved the game as Rainone ran down a second foul-territory pop up to end the game two batters later.

Monahan gave up the 5 runs on 15 hits, but a surprising number of those hits were credited to Polshek after fielding mistakes. The PCF/HH starter pitched well, walking just 1 while striking out 2 through seven innings of work. PPA's Chang kept the formidable middle of the Black and Red lineup on their heels, holding sluggers J. Strong and Monahan to a combined 1-for-6.

Yusuke Okabayashi and Peter LoGiudice also came through for PCF/HH. Both went 2-for-3.

With identical 5-5-1 records, it wasn't until the following day that both teams learned they would reach the playoffs, which begin on Monday. Though one remaining regular-season game will be played earlier that day, the Red and Black will face SOM/Swanke/Cooper at 7 p.m. on Central Park's Great Lawn, Field 3 to start their push towards a S.L.A.M. championship. Depending on the outcome of the final regular-season game (between SSC and Kohn Pedersen Fox Architects), which will determine the final number of playoff-eligible teams, the PCF/HH match may be a single-elimination quarterfinal.