Men's Softball Game of the Week: Defense Powers Bobo’s Victory Over Level Up

SOMERS, N.Y. - On Wednesday, July 24, Bobo’s Cafe faced Level Up Fitness, and early in the game manager Steven D'Ambrosio called out the most significant difference between the top division and the rest.

“We play defense in this league,” he said after one of many great plays by both teams, and his center fielder started the procession.
In the bottom of the first, Matt Pires launched a shot into deep left center, and Jimmy Morzillo high stepped with his hoofs.

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“He runs like deer," said D'Ambrosio, and the over the shoulder catch killed what could have been a big inning in a 7-2 victory.  Instead, Chris Rios took two bases on the sacrifice fly, and Doug Leonaggeo’s single was a 1-0 consolation prize.

The Bobo’s bats didn’t answer. But D'Ambrosio definitely had something to say with two on and two outs in the bottom of the second.

One of the youth players the pitcher coached, D’Ambrosio dropped a third strike on the young man, and this Somers elephant playfully let it be known he doesn’t forget.

“That’s what you get for missing the playoffs,” his jibe still meant good cheer all around.

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Spirits remained high for Level Up on the defensive turn of the table. Chris Ariata made a diving catch on Junior Oliveri’s sinking line drive, and his brother Mike snatched a comebacker to the circle for out number two.

A two out rally it would be, though. Morzillo beat out a slow roller to second, Ralph Nuzzi singled to center, and Tommy Bueti’s shot down third drove in both runners.

A 2-1 game, Level Up had the equalizer in the bottom of the third. Rios led off with a single, moved to second on Nick Kimball’s sacrifice fly, and Lou Piesel tied the game with a single.

Not for long, Bobo’s went to single’s town. Donny Pitasi, D’Ambrosio and Oliveri all singled and Anthony Biondi snuck a bouncer past Mike Ariata for a 3-2 Bobo’s lead.

An error at third put Lee Rozins on, and the lineup turning over to Morzillo had the center fielder doing his thing up the middle.  “I sit back, try to hit the ball square, arms through the ball and lots of bat speed,” he said.

Two more runs, and Nuzzi stayed within himself too. An opposite field line drive down third went for a single and drove in run number seven.

The rest was pitching and defense and began with D'Ambrosio and shortstop Jesse Hunt. The pitcher snared a line drive right back at him, and Hunt gobbled up a one hopper to end the inning.

Onto the top of the fifth, Leonaggeo matched up for Level Up. First, he manhandled a one hopper of his own, and then the third baseman made a backhanded stab to preserve the five-run difference.

Level Up wasn’t able to carry the momentum, though, and Hunt was a big reason. He cleanly fielded Pires ground ball and ended the inning by ranging up the middle for the force. “He’s the mainstay of our club,” said D'Ambrosio.

Ariata would answer with a couple of strikeouts in the top of the sixth and his leadoff double wasn’t a bad start in the bottom of the sixth.

But third base isn’t the only hot corner, and Nuzzi handled the heat. The first baseman snatched Chris Ariana’s scorching one hopper, and the steam chilled, the next six batters went pretty quietly.

Not done, Bobo’s went onto defeat Cobbling Rock Construction in the 8 O’Clock game, and while the coffeeshop is only 6-7 on the season, D’Ambrosio, delivered the bottomline.

“As we all know, Somers softball doesn’t start until September,” he concluded.

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