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.