The defending champion Seaborne Stealers and the Coolers began their 2010-2011 Bob Owens Slow Pitch Softball League playoff run with two lopsided victories Tuesday night at the D.C. Canegata Ball Park.
The Stealers, who wrapped up the regular season championship two weeks ago, crushed the Dirty Dozen 22-7 in a four innings, 15-run mercy ruled contest ;and the Coolers thrashed Anchor Dive by way of the five innings 10-run mercy rule, 12-2.
Stealers 22, Dirty Dozen 7
The bad thing about finishing last in the Bob Owens Slow Pitch Softball League is that you have to face the top-seeded team in the playoffs. And when that team is the sizzling hot defending champion Seaborne Stealers, you have almost no chance of winning.
That was the dilemma for the Dirty Dozen on Tuesday as they faced a team that have yet to lose a game after the Christmas break, and the Stealers took no prisoners against the feisty but outclassed cellar dwellers.
Led by two homeruns in the first inning off the bat of Enrique Soto, the champs responded with 12 runs in the bottom of the inning after the Dirty Dozen had plated one run in the top half. From there the rout was on.
The Stealers finished with 22 runs on 18 hits and two errors, while the Dirty Dozen had seven runs on nine hits and three errors. Soto finished 4 for 4 (with three home runs and six RBIs), while teammate Angel Torres contributed by going 3 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs. For the Dozen squad, Jeff Elvins was 3 for 3 with a home run and one RBI, and Cory Moore was 1 for 2 with a home run and one RBI. Sam Ramos got the win on the mound for the Stealers, and Jason Roberts got the loss.
Coolers 12, Anchor Dive 2
The Coolers wasted little time in beating Anchor Dive 12-2 in five innings to begin their playoff run. Their ace Dexter DeSouza allowed just four hits in picking up the win in the lopsided victory, while Edwin Sankitts got the loss for Anchor Dive.
It was the Coolers with 12 runs on 13 hits and two errors, while Anchor Dive finished with two runs on four hits and two errors. Top Batters for the Coolers were Eric Perez (2 for 3 with two home runs and four RBIs) and Andre Ponce (2 for 2 with two home runs and six RBIs). For Anchor Dive, Ulric Benjamin was 2 for 2 with two RBIs.