Five-O's Pound Hooper's

For the first time in their existence the Guilderland Police Department fielded a team and joined a competitive softball league. Some concerns were raised early on during the off-season due to the lack of interest. As time went on more members of the Department manned up and decided to join the team. Their efforts would be rewarded early and often in their first game of the season Saturday morning.

Howard’s Hoopers entered the game trying to defend their title from last year and add on to their unbeaten record. Things would look good in the top of the first inning as the Hoopers got to the Five-O’s starting pitcher Jenna Govel scoring three runs. The runs weren’t all Govel’s fault as a botched play by left fielder J.J. Mazzone prolonged the inning for the Hooper’s and allowed them to score their third run.

The Five-O’s took offense to the Hoopers early runs and were able to get the three runs back and then some. Mazzone made up for his blunder in the top of the inning by hitting a lead-off triple. He would later score on a double by Tylor Stevens. The Five-O’s would rattle off 13 runs on 15 hits in their half of the first inning.

The Hooper’s starting pitcher “Delicious” had to take the brunt of the onslaught by the Five-O’s, and it would get worse for her in the bottom of the second inning when O’s cleanup hitter John Ginder took the 2-2 offering from “Delicious” for a long long ride to right centerfield for his first career homerun. What made it worse for her was that the bags were juiced with O’s and Ginder would drive them all in for a grand slam.

The Five-O’s wouldn’t let up on the Hooper’s and ended up winning the game by a score of 22-8. It was a surprising first win by a team that was in fear that they weren’t going to have enough players. “They (Hooper’s) said they were undefeated last season….well guess what…there is a new team in town” Five-O’s manager Mazzone would say at the end of the game. The Five-O’s are back in action this Thursday night at Strawberry Park. Game time is slated for 6pm against an opponent to be named later. All in all it was a great effort by everyone who played.

It was a close call for player of the game between Todd Roberts who kept the game balls dry and John Ginder who ended the day with six runs batted in, but the CapitalRegionSports.com player of the game goes to Ginder (4-4, 2B, HR, 6RBI, 3Runs).

Name AB R H 2b 3b HR RBI OBP AVG
Mazzone 3-5 Double, Triple, Three Runs, Three RBI's .600AVG
Stevens 4-4 2 Doubles, Three Runs, Four RBI's 1.00AVG
J. Boyt 3-4 Triple, Three Runs, Two RBI's .750AVG
Ginder 4-4 Double, HomeRun, Three Runs, Six RBI's 1.00AVG
Brust 3-4 Two Runs, RBI .750AVG
Jo. Govel 1-3 Run, RBI, .333AVG
Deso 4-4 Three Doubles, Three Runs, Four RBI's 1.00AVG
Je. Govel 1-4 RBI .250AVG
T. Boyt 0-3 Two Runs .000AVG
Witham 3-4 Two Runs, RBI .750AVG
Roberts 4-4 Two Runs, RBI 1.00AVG
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