Men's Softball Game of the Week: Nationwide Coils Overpowers Level Gym

SOMERS, N.Y. - On Tuesday, June 25, Nationwide Coils and Level Gym took the upper field at Reis Park and hoped to move up in the B-League standings.  But the Coils were closer to the top at 3-6 and already have their eyes on the postseason.

“We’re hoping to get in the playoffs and go from there,” said Manager Joe Tubiolo. So they didn’t stand still, and by game’s end, Nationwide was back in the final spot.

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The home team scored four in the first and went on to a 16-8 victory.

The game began with pitching and defense, though. After Andrew Cameron led off with a single, Joe Caiola robbed Ryan Cameron with a diving catch in left center, and Tubiolo retired the side by getting Chris Voncardo on strikes.

The bottom of the inning looked to be going the same way too. That is until Mike Olivier drew a two out walk.

Brandon Autorino followed with another walk, Billy Ostrander pulled a double down the right field line for the first two runs, and George Rios and Mike Mitaro lashed consecutive singles to make it 4-0.

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But another strike out for Tubiolo didn’t level the visitors in the top of the second. Lou Kudla singled, Vinny Difilippo blooped a single behind third with one out, and Greg Carnevali and Andrew Cameron followed with singles to cut the lead in half.

The inning turning over, Nationwide began again. Caiola and Ross Stephens both singled, and that left Olivier the chance to do damage with his bat.  His launch to deep center was run down. But Caiola scored from second on the sacrifice fly, and Stephens came in on the overthrow.

Not done, Nationwide went deep again.  “I just went up and looked to hit something hard,” said Autorino, and his inside the park home run made it 7-2.

A triple that kicked up chalk on the first base line did put Ostrander on third. But he was left stranded and Level Gym answered back. Anthony DeCoro, Voncardo and Lancaster singled for a run, and after Kudla reached on an error, Lorenzo Bicknese’s grounder to third brought in another run.

Now 7-4, Difilippo’s bouncer up the middle kept the inning going, and Nick Balfe followed suit with a chopper to third. Rob Zach elected for the tag play at home. But unfortunately, the third baseman’s throw was offline, and then Andrew Cameron got his team within one with a line shot to center.

Unfazed, the home team did not recoil.  Mike Mitaro singled to right, Dan Rios walked, and with two outs, Ian DeMatteis stroked a two run single to left for some breathing room.

Up 9-6, the comfort didn’t last. DeCoro led off with a single, and Voncardo went deep to left center. Caiola giving chase, he had no chance for DeCoro, so his throw came in hot to third. The batter not sliding, DeCoro was out, and the bases were cleared.
So Level could only start again.  Lancaster and Kudla singled, and Difilippo’s bloop brought in run eight. But Bicknese was thrown out at the plate, and the slim margin remained.

Not for long, Stephens led off with a single, Olivier reached on an error at third, and Autorino had a clean hit to left. A run in and Ostrander showed he never complicates his approach at the plate.  “Hit it where the ball is pitched,” he said, and an outside offering meant an RBI single to left.

George Rios added another run with his bouncer up the middle, but more insurance was not forthcoming when Tubiolo came up with the bases loaded.  His ground out ended the inning and had the pitcher lobbying for the designated hitter. “I would love that because then I wouldn’t have to hit and I could just do my thing on the mound,” said the longtime player.

He makes due nonetheless and fielding two come backers to the mound made the point for Autorino. “He fields his spot so well,” said the shortstop. “It makes it easy to shift over when he’s there.”

Tubiolo fielded another grounder to open the sixth, and with the help of Rob Zach’s three run homer, the 16-8 lead needed only three more outs.

Two of those coming on Zach’s even with the bag play at third, he’s not worried about taking a ball between eyes. “I’d rather react to the ball than adjust to it,” Zach clarified.

Now five games out of first, the goal isn’t top billing. “We’re coming for Al Tiso (of Prime Pub). I don’t care about anything else. They were champs last year,” he concluded. “We want to beat him this year. That’s all that matters.”

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