Timely Hitting Leads PCF/HH Past PEA

Pitcher Juan Monahan (2-for-3, 3 RBI, 1 run scored) tripled in the tying run in the bottom of the fifth and left fielder Carlos Sagastume (2-for-2, 2 RBI, 1 sacrifice fly) drove in the winning run with an RBI single as Pei Cobb Freed/Hart Howerton pulled off a rainy come-from-behind win against Perkins Eastman Architects at Central Park's Hecksher, Field 1, last night. The win over previously-undefeated PEA leaves the Black and Red as the only remaining undefeated team in the S.L.A.M. league.

Neither team played error-free softball, but it was timely hitting by both teams that made last night's match an exciting one to watch. After holding PEA scoreless at the top of the first, home team PCF/HH put together four straight hits, followed by Sagastume's sacrifice fly to left and another hit by third baseman Ron Rainone (2-for-3), before finishing the inning up 3-0.

Next it was Perkins Eastman's turn, rolling out four consecutive hits with two outs, including a 2-run triple by their right-centerfielder, to knot the game at 3-apiece. Monahan and company prevented further damage by getting PEA's left-centerfielder to fly out with the bases loaded. But PEA kept the momentum rolling their way, tacking on another 2 runs (over a span of four more hits with two outs) to take a 5-3 lead.

But after a scoreless fourth, with time becoming an issue, the top of the order for PCF/HH gutted out a series of hits to make their comeback. Mike Copeland (2-for-3) singled, but was forced out with Mark Maljanian's fielder's choice. Maljanian (2-for-3, 2 runs) scored as catcher Yusuke Okabayashi (2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 run) singled in the next at-bat. Like Copeland before him, Okabayashi was forced out on J. Strong's fielder's choice, but the Black and Red catcher would get his revenge as a courtesy runner for Strong (1-for-3, 2 runs). Down 5-4 with two outs in the fifth, Okabayashi blazed a trail around the bases to score on Monahan's RBI triple to tie the game 5-5, before Sagastume would play the hero singling in Monahan from third.

Despite the poor field conditions brought on by a constant drizzle, both shortstops were a defensive beacon for their teams. PEA's Mike Bruno made a diving catch to his right in the top of the first to deny Copeland a leadoff single. Bruno made an equally-impressive stop in the second, lunging to his left and nearly over second base, to rob Teresa Parziale (0-for-2) of what otherwise would have been a clear single to center field. For the Black and Red, Maljanian turned two double plays because of his defensive awareness; in the third catching a line drive and doubling off the runner at first base and, later in the fourth, catching another line drive and diving to tag the runner leading off at second base.

PCF/HH returns to the field against a tough Polshek Partnership team on Thursday, June 4. Game time is 5:30 p.m. at Central Park's Hecksher Field 1.

Season Starts Right With 9-5 Win

It wasn't error-free softball, but it was good enough — particularly after a long-delayed start to the season.

Nearly a month passed between the Pei Cobb Freed/Hart Howerton scrimmage on April 13 and yesterday's season opener against Kohn Pedersen Fox, with two rainouts being rescheduled later this summer, but the 2009 PCF/HH team made the best of the cards that were dealt to them. Led by a recouperated shortstop Mark Maljanian (3-for-3 with 3 doubles, 1 RBI, and 3 runs scored), The Black and Red jumped on the opportunity to start the season off on the right foot, a 9-5 win at Central Park's Great Lawn, Field 4, last night.

Maljanian, returning to the fold after an elbow injury sidelined him for the entire 2008 S.L.A.M. season, looked good in the field and scored his second run thanks to some heads-up baserunning in the bottom of the fourth inning, plating on an infield groundout.

Despite winning the coin toss to be the home team, things didn't start off well for PCF/HH, as KPF jumped out to an early 3-0 lead. The Black and Red responded quickly, tying the game in the bottom of the first. After a scoreless second, Mike Copeland helped swing the pendulum of momentum permanently in the home team's favor, smacking a bases-clearing double — part of a 5-run inning.

KPF tried to climb back into the game in the top of the fourth, with leadoff hitter Keisuke Hiei (3-for-3, 2 runs scored) advancing on a bloop single by Li-Min Ching. But centerfielder Eron Ashley (1-for-3, 2 RBI) one-hopped the ball and fired a Tomahawk to third baseman Ron Rainone (1-for-3, 1 run) for the put-out as Hiei attempted to stretch from first to third. Maljanian scored his third run in the bottom of the sixth to put PCF/HH up 9-3. KPF scored their final two runs with two out in the top of the seventh before the game was finally put away on a 6-4 fielder's choice.

Yusuke Okabayashi, serving as catcher for part of the game, was 1-for-2 with 1 RBI. Carl Pearson was 1-for-2 with a walk and 2 runs scored. Dwidson Metayer, a latecomer to the game, singled in his only plate appearance as a pinch hitter.

Note: Another recap of the game can be found on the S.L.A.M. Blog.

Season To Finally Begin Tonight (Hopefully)

It's been nearly a month since The Black and Red Report was last updated, but for good reason ... Mother Nature has wreaked havoc on the 2009 S.L.A.M. schedule. Not only has PCF/HH seen its first two games rained out, but the league has been forced to postpone as many games (six) as it has held. With the forecast looking pretty good through Wednesday, it will be an opportunity to finally catch up and get some much-needed playing time.

PCF/HH will officially open the season tonight against KPF. Game time is 7 p.m. on Central Park's Great Lawn, Field 4.