Washington Township Senators 35+

The Washington Township Senators got a little help from the Bordentown Patriots, as they backed into second place and a first-round bye Sunday despite dropping an 8-7 thriller to the Marlton Red Sox, who plated the decisive tally with two out in the bottom of the ninth.

Dave Koerner had the big offensive day, slamming his first homer as a 35+ Senators -- and the club's first dinger of the year -- and going 3-for-3 with two steals and four RBI in the loss. Jim McAllister added two doubles, and Don Davis reached base in three of four trips with a single and two walks. Danny Barbara added a big two-run single in the 8th as the Nats fought back in vain.

The Senators now await their second round opponent, as the Delco Astros face off with the Moorestown Marlins, and the Marlton Red Sox battle the Tabernacle Tigers. The Senators should receive the highest remaining seed on the weekend of August 9-10.

The Washington Township Senators seemed to wilt in the summer heat on Sunday, dropping a disappointing 7-2 decision to the Delco Astros. It was the fourth time in a row the Delawre County club has gotten past the Nats.

 Ken Bevenour, Joe Collins and Billy Trotman each had two hits, but the Senators offense was just not opportunistic this time around. Chris Lawrence pitched very well in relief of starter John DiPietro, who is still trying to get healthy. The Nat ace hurt himself with an uncharacteristic seven walks in four innings of work.

 But the offense, or lack thereof, was the issue on this scorching Sunday, as the Senators could manage just two late runs off Astro pitching.

The Senators will now  need some help if they are to capture the top seed in the SJMSBL playoffs. A Tabernacle Tigers win over the Bordentown Patriots, combined with a Senator win over the Marlton Red Sox, would give the Senators first place. A loss, however, could drop the Nats as far as third place. So at the least, the Senator still do control their own destiny.

The Washington Township Senators were left feeling a little bit let down after a Sunday split with the Marlins. The Big Red blasted the Fish to the tune of an 18-1 beating in the first game, but they let a 5-0 lead slip away and dropped the nightcap by a 7-5 margin.

The Senators pounded out a 14-run second in the opener. The inning featured two-run singled by Dan Barbara and Joe Collins, plus a total of eight hits, five walks, one hit batter and three Marlin errors. And it took a 1-2-3 doubleplay to get the explosion over with. Chris Lawrence muffled the Marlins on just two singles to get the win.

 In the nightcap, the Senators reared up for a 5-run first inning, but nine walks let the Marlins back into the game, and they prevailed by a 7-5 score. It was a gutsy effort by the Fish, and you have to respect their ability to come back after a beating like the one they took in the opener. It was a testament to the veteran prescence on their squad.

The Senators next face the reeling Delco Astros at Washington Township High School. The Nats need to sweep their final two games in order to clinch first place, though a split and a Bordentown Patriot loss would provide the same result. Two losses could makes things very interesting, and that's a road the Senators would like to avoid.

The Sewell Sharks not only went to the wrong field (Deptford High School) on Sunday morning, but they went there with only seven players. And when the hearty seven showed back up at Washington Township High School, all they could get for their efforts was a forfeit, a loss that dropped them to 0-12 and moved the Senators up to 9-2-1 on the 2008 season.

The un-timely non-game means the Nats will have to live with a full three-week wait to get between the lines again, as they next face the Moorestown Marlins for a July 13 doubleheader. at Washington Lake Park, an 8:30 AM start time.

Meanwhile, the Nats sit firmly atop the Division, with nearest competitors the Marlins and Patriots saddled with four losses each. Things could be much clearer after the 13th, however. A sweep by the Senators would virtually clinch first place in the division, as they would then hold the tie-breaker (head-to-head) advantage over both the Patriots and Marlins. The only way the Patriots could overtake the Nats would be to win out and hope the Nats drop both of their remaining two games (Astros at home, Red Sox at Bob Meyer Field).

 Chris Lawrence and Don Davis are expected to have the starting nods on July 13 as the Senators go for the gold.

The Washington Township Senators scored in five consecutive innings and rode the solid pitching of Chris Lawrence and John DiPietro to sweep by the Rancocas Valley Pilots by a 9-4 tally. Lawrence had the big day, collecting three hits to go along with the pitching win.

Joe Collins, Miles Reader and Bill Trotman each collected doubles in the game, and Don Davis was on base in each of four ABs, with a single, three walks and three steals. Jim McAllister added three steals, and the Senators collected a total of 12 swipes on the day. Frank Izzi contributed two hits and two RBI.

With the win, the Senators maintain their first-place status in the 35+ A Division standings. The Nats have another home game next week, this time against old rivals the Sewell Sharks. Davis will take the hill for the Senators, as they shoot for their ninth win of the year.