No Room for Error
July 07, 2011 - With only a couple weeks remaining in the Johnstown City League schedule, all four teams remain tighly packed in the standings. As expected, Delweld and Martella's Pharmacy lead the way with matching 16-10 records. Berkley Hills and Roxberry Creamery are tied for third with mathing 10-16 records. All four teams split their eight games against Altoona opponents. With only 9 games left in the schedule, the players know that anyone can still win the pennant.
Four-time defending champions Delweld are led by former Principle Development player Matt Donaldson, who is has scored 27 runs and has 29 hits including 3 triples. Donaldson's bases-loaded 8th inning double in last year's national tournament propelled Johnstown to a come-from-behind victory over Livonia.
Zach Vignero has also been impressive, with a 0.426 average including a league-leading 7 doubles. Andy Smithmyer leads the team with 3 wins and 50 strikeouts and has a 1.50 ERA.
For Martella's, third-year veteran David McKolosky and rookie Dan Abbenante lead the offense with an 0.357 and 0.329 batting average, respectively. McKolosky has the most RBIs (17) and Abbenante has the most hots (25) as of June 30th. The Pharmacists of five multiple-game winners on the pitching staff: rookie Matt Strasiser from North Star HS leads with 3 wins, and Mike Mulvey, Kyle Zambanini, Jesse Cooper and Luke Novosel each have 2.
The Berkley Hills Renegades's Ryan Loutsenhizer--a right-handed pitcher from Point Park University--has seven wins on the season. Mike Velcheff led the league with 3 home runs as of June 26th. The Roxberry Creamery team look to improve on their 11-24 record from last season that placed them 18.5 games out of first. All teams have one 3-game series remaining against each league opponent.
Delweld and Roxberry Creamery finish their season series Tuesday at Point Stadium at 5:30pm, with Martella's and Berkley Hills playing the 8:00pm nightcap. The regular season concludes July 18th, 19th, and 20th with series between Berkley Hills and Roxberry, and what is expected to be a championship-deciding series between Delweld and Martella's. However, with 9 games remaining on the schedule, all teams remain in the running for first place.
The regular season champion is guarenteed a spot in the national tournament beginning on August 8th. The four teams will play a 2-round playoff to determine the Johnstown host-representative in the national tournament. If the regular season champion also wins the playoffs, then the playoff champion will represent the second Johnstown entry in the national tournament.