American Legion Reaches Tourney Championship Round

In double elimination tournament action, the American Legion knocked off the two top seeds, Crazy Flamingo then Oyster Society, in the Gulf Coast Division to advance to the Championship round. In the Island Division, top-seed Verdi’s, with a convincing victory over DaVinci’s, will face Salty Dog, who won a pair of contests in the semi-final round. Marco Division regular season champ and top-seed Snook Inn defeated Brewery to set up a match with Joey’s Pizza, who prevailed over Sandbar and Stonewalls, in the semi-final round of that division.

For the complete, up-to-date results and standings, visit the league website at marcoseniorsoftballleague.com.

ISLAND DIVISION

Tuesday March 17, 2026

DaVinci’s 8                                                                       Nacho Mama’s 6

DaVinci’s and Nacho Mama’s battled toe-to-toe for most of the game before DaVinci’s pushed across three runs in the eighth to break a 5-5 tie allowing it to prevail.

DaVinci’s got on the board first with three runs in the opening frame. After singles by Mike Gerace and Carl Parker put runners on the corners, manager Ed Seery drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. Dave St. Angelo followed with a run-scoring single, and after a double by Paul Kramer, Ken Polarek (two RBIs) delivered with another sacrifice fly to give DaVinci’s the early 3-0 lead.

With DaVinci’s leading 5-1 in the sixth, Nacho’s fought back to tie the game, thanks to a two-run single by Eric Phillips (three RBIs) in the sixth and an RBI base hit by Wayne Bombaci (three hits) an inning later.

Then in the decisive eighth with the score still tied at 5-5, singles by Polarek, Chris Flynn, and Rick Benedetti scored the lead run. Two insurance runs came in to score on a misplayed fly ball, giving DaVinci’s an 8-5 advantage.

With the win, DaVinci’s will now face top-seeded Verdi’s in round two, while Nacho Mama’s awaits their next foe in the loser’s bracket.

Salty Dog 13                                                                           Speakeasy 9

After a slow start, Salty Dog’s bats eventually came alive in time to defeat Speakeasy in first-round action.

Speakeasy drew first blood scoring four runs in the fourth inning, with the big blow being a bases loaded double by Terry Downs that cleared the bases. After Speakeasy added another run in the fifth to make it 5-0, Salty Dog went to work.

Bill Krausmann smacked a double to get the Dog on the board, Ron Lukasevicz (three hits) tripled, scoring a run, Dan Gulick singled in another run, and two more runs scored on errors to tie the game at 5-5. One inning later, the Dog put up another five-spot, thanks to an RBI triple by Dave Johnson, a two-run single by Brian Alexander (three RBIs), and an RBI base knock by Dave Koch to make it a 10-5 ballgame.

Speakeasy made it interesting in the eighth when Downs came through again, smashing a fly ball to right field that resulted in a grand slam, giving the slugger seven RBIs on the day and cutting the lead to 10-9. The Dog answered with three big insurance runs on RBI base hits by Chip Mathers (two RBIs), Bob Ferreira, and Alexander.

Manager Mike Schwab also contributed three hits to the Salty Dog cause. Mark Whealy punched out three hits for Speakeasy.

With the victory, Salty Dog earned a date with second-seeded Dolphin Tiki, while Speakeasy will face the loser of the Nacho Mama’s vs Verdi’s contest.

Thursday March 19, 2026

Verdi’s 14                                                                                 DaVinci’s 1

Top-seeded Verdi’s used their familiar recipe of timely hitting and air-tight defense to pull away from and soundly defeat DaVinci’s.

After spotting DaVinci’s a first inning run, Verdi’s scored 14 unanswered runs the rest of the way. Beginning in inning number one, Jon Thomas, who had a huge day for Verdi’s with four hits, including a pair of doubles, singled with two outs and came around to score on a triple by Tad Fabian, who finished with three hits and three RBIs. In the next inning, Verdi’s got the clutch hit from Mike Compton (three RBIs), who singled home a pair of runs again with two outs.

A Mike Shone triple, along with a DaVinci’s miscue that allowed him to score on the play, made it a 6-1 Verdi’s advantage. Verdi’s continued tacking on runs as they scored in each of the first seven innings. An RBI double by Fabian and a run-scoring single by Mike Faria (three hits on the day) capped the scoring for Verdi’s, who also benefited from porous defense by DaVinci’s who committed eight errors in the contest.

With the win, Verdi’s advances to the winner’s bracket while DaVinci’s will play Speakeasy in the loser’s bracket.

Salty Dog 11                                                                        Dolphin Tiki 6

Ron Lukasevich blasted a base-clearing double, breaking a 6-6 tie and propelling Salty Dog to the victory over Dolphin Tiki.

Salty Dog again started slowly collecting two runs on five hits over the first six innings and found themselves trailing 6-2. Chip Mathers led off the seventh with a triple to start the Dog comeback. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Bob Ferreira. Then Brian Alexander doubled and Dave Koch singled him home to narrow the Tiki lead to 6-4. The following inning, a Ron Goralski RBI triple and a run-scoring single by Dave Johnson tied the game at 6-all.

Then in the ninth with the score still tied and after the first two batters were retired, singles by Tom Polston (three hits) and Dave Koch, and a walk loaded the bases for Lukasevich. The rookie outfielder promptly laced a double to left to knock in two runs, and two more scored on the play on a Tiki fielding error. The Dog added another run on an RBI base knock by Goralski for an 11-6 margin.

Manager Ricky Cuevas drove in a pair of runs on a base hit that gave Tiki a 6-2 lead at that point.

Salty Dog will now face Verdi’s in the winner’s bracket while Dolphin Tiki takes on Nacho Mama’s in the loser’s bracket.

Friday March 20, 2026

Speakeasy 16                                                                           DaVinci’s 7

Speakeasy, down by a run after six innings, came to life, scoring the final ten runs of the contest to prevail over DaVinci’s.

In the sixth inning, DaVinci’s took their first lead of the game with a four-run rally, highlighted by a two-run single by Carl Parker, an Ed Seery sacrifice fly, and a run-scoring double by Paul Kramer giving them a 7-6 edge. Speakeasy then answered when Vito Iacovazzi smacked a two-run single and Terry Downs followed with an RBI base hit, making it 9-7 in favor of Speakeasy.

One inning later, Speakeasy added four more runs on an RBI single by Brett Bartholomaus, a two-run base knock by Mark Whealy, and another RBI single by Iacovazzi. Speakeasy completed the three-inning uprising when Laz Ferro doubled home a run, and Craig Cunningham tripled home a pair of runs to give them a comfortable 16-7 cushion.

Whealy finished with four hits, and Iacovazzi, Cunningham, and Scott Golan added three for Speakeasy. RBI muscle was provided by Iacovazzi and Downs with three, and Whealy, Cunningham, Ferro, and Mike Galloway with two apiece.

For DaVinci’s, Seery and Parker drove in two runs, and Seery hammered a triple in the defeat, who with the loss have been eliminated from the tournament.

Nacho Mama’s 12                                                                Dolphin Tiki 3

Nacho Mama’s used a combination of solid defense and two big offensive innings to subdue Dolphin Tiki, thereby booting the second-seeded Tiki from the tournament.

Nacho’s opened the contest with four first inning runs. Singles by Matt Evangelista, Bob Masulis, and Eric Phillips scored run number one. After a Tiki miscue scored the second run, Bill Coyle drilled a clutch two-out, two-run single to give Nacho’s a 4-0 lead. Dolphin Tiki narrowed the gap to 4-3 in the second on a Gary Revall RBI single, a fielder’s choice RBI, and a John Kelly sacrifice fly, but were held scoreless the rest of the way thanks to tight Nacho’s defense.

Meanwhile, Phillips increased the Nacho’s lead on a line drive RBI triple to make it 6-3 in the third inning. After a Todd Rogers RBI base hit extended the lead to 7-3, Nacho’s put the game away with a big eighth inning. Ed Adrian led off with a line drive to right field that resulted in a solo home run. Later that inning, consecutive RBI base hits by Paul Nussbaum, Evangelista, and Masulis pushed the margin to 11-3.

Evangelista and Adrian paced the Nacho’s offense with three hits apiece, who now have a date with Speakeasy in the next round.

MARCO DIVISION

Monday March 16, 2026

Brewery 22                                                                                 Sami’s 15

Brewery’s Rick DiStasio and Rod Lashley capped big days at the plate by delivering key hits in the sixth inning as the Crew busted open a tight, back-and-forth game to win its opening round game of the post-season tournament.

Leading 17-14 as it came to bat in the top of the sixth inning, the Crew got busy sealing the win. Jon Krebs (two RBIs) ignited the rally with an infield single, advancing to third base on a throwing error. A single brought home Krebs for the first run of the rally. Three consecutive walks plated another Brewery run, good for a 19-14 lead, setting the table for Lashley.

The lefty hitting outfielder blooped a single into short right field, scoring two runs and capping a perfect four hit, four RBI game and giving Brewery a seven-run cushion at 21-14. Two batters later, DiStasio plated the Crew’s final run on an infield single, his fifth RBI of the game. The sure handed shortstop had a banner day hitting, with four knocks, among them a three-run home run in the first inning, part of a five-run opening frame for Brewery. While Lashley and DiStasio were the bulk of Brewery’s offense, Bob Armstrong chipped in with two RBIs as the Crew had 21 hits as a team. And defensively, Brewery turned two double plays to snuff out possible scoring threats by Sami’s.

Sami’s offense was led by pitcher Ed Kingsbury, who had three hits (among them a triple) and two RBIs. His first inning single scored two runs, part of a five-run Sami’s rally. Among the contributors was Jack Facciolo, who cracked a three-run triple in the fourth inning, part of a four-run surge that pulled Sami’s within one run at 15-14. Meanwhile, Murph Knapke (three RBIs), John Gross (two RBIs), and John Binns (three hits) chipped into Sami’s 21-hit attack.

Joey’s Pizza 17                                                                         Sand Bar 4

Joey’s rookie slugger Todd Stigall was a one-man wrecking crew on offense, hitting for the cycle (single, double, triple, and home run) while driving in six runs and racking up 10 total bases as the Pizza Men rolled to an opening round post-season tournament win.

The Stigall Show started in Joey’s first at-bat. Following a solo home run by Glenn Davis for a quick 1-0 Joey’s lead, Stigall drilled a hard grounder to left and hustled into second base for a double as Sand Bar relayed the ball in from the outfield. In the third inning, Stigall bashed a no-doubt three-run home run for his second hit of the day, part of a five-run uprising that saw Joey’s up its lead to 7-0. In the fifth inning, he singled and rode home when Larry Locks boomed a three-run home run to deep right centerfield, giving Joey’s a 10-2 advantage. Stigall then completed his cycle in the sixth inning. With the bases loaded, he roped a triple to the gap in centerfield, clearing the bases. He then trotted home when the Sand Bar relay throw was misplayed for an error. The four-run rally capped Joey’s scoring for the day. Tom Rensch also had a hand in the Joey’s offense with three hits and two RBIs. The Pizza Men will play Stonewalls in the second round of the tournament.

Shortstop Nick Kopley was the lone hitting bright spot for Sand Bar. He skyed a two-run home run to centerfield in the fourth inning, part of a three-hit, two RBI day for him.

Friday March 20, 2026

Snook Inn 8                                                                               Brewery 5

Snook Inn opened defense of its 2025 Marco Division Tournament Championship by edging Brewery, thanks in part to a five-run scoring outburst in the fourth inning.

Trailing 4-3 after Brewery scored three runs in its half of the fourth inning, Snook started its rally on the strength of consecutive singles by Gary Menzies, Karl Kann, and John Cavanagh, loading the bases for Jim Willert. The veteran first baseman plated two runs, thanks in part to a Brewery miscue in the outfield. Gary Pringle then gave Snook a 6-4 lead when he stroked an outside pitch into short right field for a single, scoring Cavanagh. Mike Sweeney added the inning’s fourth run when he smacked a single up the middle. The Snook’s fifth and final run of the inning came on a fielder’s choice, giving it an 8-4 lead that it did not surrender. An unsung star of the game for Snook was pitcher Neal Newhouse. He recorded four strikeouts on the day, three of which were called third strikes. In several instances his strikeouts killed Brewery scoring threats. The win, Snook’s first of the post-season tournament, means it will advance in the winner’s bracket and play Joey’s Pizza.

Brewery’s offense was led by Bob Traver, who had a perfect three-hit day in three at bats. Chuck McAlpine had Brewery’s signature swing of the Crew’s three-run fourth inning. He ripped a one-out triple between right and right centerfield and then scored on a Snook error. Back-to-back doubles scored two more runs for Brewery, giving it a 4-3 lead at the time. Now 1-1 in the post-season tournament, the Brewery must beat Sand Bar in an elimination game to stay alive.

Joey’s Pizza 7                                                                        Stonewalls 6

Joey’s Pizza completed a perfect week in post-season tournament play (two wins), returning to its winning formula of timely hitting and defense as it withstood a late rally bid by Stonewalls.

Up 1-0 in the second inning, Larry Locks (two RBIs) crushed a solo home run to right center field for the first run of the inning. An RBI double and fielder’s choice plated two more runs, giving the Pizza Men an early 4-0 lead. Stonewalls, the regular season leader in runs scored in the Marco Division with 270 runs, struggled to find rhythm offensively in the early going, finally breaking through in its fourth inning at bat.

A single and a Joey’s throwing error plated two runs, setting the table for Stonewalls George Lancaster (three RBIs on the day). The third-year manager drove an outside pitch into right field, scoring the third and final run of the rally, but more importantly, giving Stonewalls life as it trailed only 4-3.

But Joey’s timely swings returned in its sixth inning at bat. Manager Todd Whitney’s hard grounder eluded the Stonewalls infield and rolled into the gap between left and left center, enabling Whitney to race home with a solo HR and 5-3 lead. Joey’s added two more runs, one on single and what turned out to be the winning run, on a sacrifice fly by Locks for a 7-3 lead. But Stonewalls bounced right back in its half of the inning, thanks in large part to its manager.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Lancaster looped a single to right center for two runs and a third run scored due to an errant throw by Joey’s, cutting Stonewalls deficit to one run at 7-6 heading into the seventh inning. The Men in Black would get the potential tying run to second base with one out; however, they did no further damage as Joey’s held on, avenging a one-run loss to Stonewalls late in the regular season.

Joey’s other spotlight hitter was Glenn Davis, with three knocks on the day. While the Pizza Men did make four errors as a team, they made several highlight reel defensive plays, turning a handful of Stonewalls’ line drives that seemed destined to be hits into outs. Joey’s will now play Snook in its next game of the post-season tournament while Stonewalls will play Sami’s.

GULF COAST DIVISION

Monday March 16, 2026

Oyster Society 19                                                                     Doreen’s 8

Mike Roman continued his onslaught on the rest of the division with a six-RBI performance including a grand slam to lead Oyster Society to the lopsided victory over Doreen’s.

The slugging shortstop set the tone in the first inning when he blasted a fly ball to center field with the bases loaded for a grand slam that erased an early 3-0 deficit and gave the Oyster Men a 4-3 lead, one they would not relinquish.

Three innings later, the Oyster Society scored five times, with the key hits being an RBI double by Fred Kramer, and RBI base hits by Mike Corless and Al Cenicola to extend the lead to 13-5. Not finished yet, the Oyster Men bats added another five runs in the fifth. Roman stepped up with the bases loaded and delivered again, this time a two-run base hit to make it 15-5. Steve Risch followed with a two-run single, and Alan Schneider capped the uprising with an RBI base hit to put the game out of reach at 18-5.

Schneider, Roman, and Kramer all finished with three hits for the Oyster Society. Schneider contributed three RBIs, and Jim Williams hammered a triple for the winners. Winning pitcher Ed Kopecky limited Doreen’s to ten hits, all singles, in the contest.

American Legion 15                                                       Crazy Flamingo 0

The American Legion excelled in all phases of the game – hitting, pitching, defense - as they thoroughly trounced a stunned Crazy Flamingo team.

The Legion wasted no time in this one, scoring ten runs in the first two innings. In the first, Jeff Taylor doubled home a run, Jim Lencioni doubled home two runs, and Jim Battye and Al Bozzo both laced RBI base hits to give the Legion a 5-0 lead. One inning later, Dick Folsom, subbing for the Legion, drove in a run on a base hit. Then with the bases loaded, power hitting Nick Brooks pounded the ball to deep center field, resulting in a three-run double. Taylor followed with another double scoring run number ten. Then in the fifth, another five-run frame by the Legion, highlighted by another RBI base hit by Taylor, a two-run single by Tom Obermeier, and an RBI triple by Lencioni, put an end to all hopes of a Crazy Flamingo comeback.

Meanwhile, Legion pitcher Jim Battye, who also contributed two RBIs, pitched a rare shutout, allowing only eight hits and no walks for the game.

Wednesday March 18, 2026

American Legion 15                                                      Oyster Society 11

John Barrett blasted a three-run triple in the sixth inning to lift the American Legion to the win over top-seeded Oyster Society and advance to the winner’s bracket of the tournament.

Earlier in the contest, Oyster Society grabbed a 4-2 lead on run-scoring hits by John DeRosa and Barry Neale. The Legion took advantage of rare wildness and defensive miscues by the Oyster Men to recapture the lead the following inning, with the final run scoring on an RBI base hit by Nick Brooks to make it a 7-4 ballgame.

The Legion, who had extended their lead to 10-8, came to bat in the sixth. A leadoff double by Don Mandetta and a pair of errors loaded the bases with one out. Barrett stepped up and smacked a long fly ball to center field, clearing the bases and then crossed the plate on the play on a throwing error, giving the Legion a comfortable 14-8 margin.

Barrett finished the game with four RBIs, and Brooks plated two for the Legion. Fred Kramer blasted a two-run home run, and DeRosa, Steve Risch, and Ray Niemeyer also drove in a pair of runs for the Oyster Society. Neale slashed three hits in the loss.