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WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR from Jen Carlo. August 28, 2004 (Edited): The NY/NJ Juggernaut (2-1) looked to move into the Championship series by facing the Akron Racers (1-2) in an all-or-nothing match up at Firestone Stadium. The Scott duo proved to be the definitive force of the contest, as the Nauts edged the Racer 2-1. Amanda Scott (2-0) pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts and Courtney Scott (1-for-2) shifted the tempo of the game with one swing of her bat in the fourth inning to send a McArthur pitch over the left field fence. You can hear all the championship action Saturday night at 7 on Pro Sports Radio worldwide at http://www.npf.prosportsradio.com.

The Nauts will face the equally amazing and dangerous New England Riptide for the Championship Game One this evening, as the Riptide beat Peaches James Friday night on a three-run homer by Jess Allister in the first inning, after shocking the Thunder’s Christa Williams Thursday night, 4-2 on Tara Knudson’s grand slam in the first. The Riptide in their first season in New England have already shown they are not the el foldo Red Sox.

The Nauts and the Riptide have played very evenly against each other this season, their most memorable game being the 27 inning marathon in June, where Kaci Clark pitched 22 innings. The Nauts were extended to Friday’s game when the Racers’ Nikki Myers beat them 3-1, Thursday evening.

Rain and lightning was the first obstacle standing in the Juggernaut path,
causing over a two hour rain delay. However, it did not affect the
Juggernaut who jumped out early to take the lead in the top of the second
inning. Nauts third baseman Laura Harms (2-for-3, RBI) stepped up with her
first hit of the playoffs to score Lisa Iancin (1-for-2, R) with a hard
single to right field with two outs.

The Racers quickly answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the
third inning. Brandi Stuart (1-for-2) led off the inning with a single that
snuck past the diving Juggernaut second baseman Carri Leto and into right
field. Racer Heather Wright and advanced Stuart into scoring position with
the Racers’ offensive MVP Iyah McMichael (2-for-3) coming to bat. McMichael
produced and put the Racers on the board with a single to center field to
score Stuart, tying the game at one a piece.

The spark the Juggernaut needed came with one swing in the top of the fourth
inning. Juggernaut Gina Oaks (1-for-2) led off the inning by drawing a walk.
She was moved into scoring position by a deep sacrifice fly ball by Iancin.
Coming to bat with two outs, Juggernaut C. Scott blasted a two-run home run
over the left field fence to put the Juggernaut on top, 3-1.

The Racers tried their best to not let the prior inning be their ultimate
defeat. Racer Treena Peel (1-for-3) kept her playoff hot streak going by
leading off the inning with a single. One batter later, Nicole Tromboli was
tagged out at first due to a base running error. However, heads up base
running by Peel allowed her to score while all the Juggernaut attention was
drawn to first base which allowed the Racers to pull within one.

The lead paired with the dominant performance by the Scott sister’s was too
much for the Racers to overcome. With a pop out to third base as the final
out, the Juggernaut was the first team of the NPF to advance to the
Championship Series. That series will also be a three game series with the
first game scheduled for tomorrow at 7:00 pm at Firestone Stadium. The Nauts
will play the winner of the Texas Thunder/New England Riptide game.

For complete stories on all the NPF playoff games, with box scores, go to
http://www.profastpitch.com/news/?id=6116

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR from Jen Carlo, Akron, Ohio. (Edited) August 25, 2004, UPDATED 8/26, 9 :00 A.M. E.D.T.: The first ever National Pro Fastpitch Championship kicked off its inaugural season’s semifinal series today at Firestone Stadium at Akron, Ohio. In the first contest of the night, the second place Akron Racers (37-23) faced off against the NY/NJ Juggernaut (37-23). Both teams finished with identical records, but the Racers edged out the Juggernaut in head-to-head record during regular season play which awarded them second place.

The Nauts won, 2-0 on a sacrifice fly by Kellie Wilkerson in the fourth that narrowly missed being a three-run homer, and a rip up the middle by Venus Taylor in the sixth for an insurance run. It was a game that had everything a big ball game has: great defensive plays. Timely hitting, and masterful clutch pitching by the A- Arm, Amanda Scott. The Blonde Who Rules the World pitched a 3-hitter.

In the nightcap Playoff, Texas defeated New England, 4-1. For the story on the Thunder win, go to http://profastpitch.com/news/?id=6093

The game started out as a pitching duel between the Juggernaut’s Amanda Scott (1-0), the league leader in regular season wins with 15, and the Racer’s Brandee McArthur (12-7) (0-1). The game remained scoreless until the Nauts bats came alive in the fourth inning behind Scott’s 9 strikeout performance.

Lauren Bauer (3-for-4) led the Juggernaut offense on their way to take the lead in the series.

The Kel Kills ‘Em: Kellie Wilkerson beat the Racers with her bat on a blast to deep right in the fourth (after a bunt attempt) that Trina Peel robbed her of a home run on, and the hustling, heady Lyndsey Klein tagged up and scored from second on the catch for a 1-ZIP lead. Then Kellie robbed Dena Degan of tying single in the last of the fourth by a shoestring catch “snow-cone” in the bottom of the inning.  Akron Manager Judy Martino argued vehemently the ball was trapped. Sportscasters on the scene agreed it was a catch. File Photo, Courtesy, NY-NJ Juggernaut.

The Juggernaut’s first run came off a sacrifice fly by Kellie Wilkerson (0 for 0) as she sent the Racer’s right fielder Peel through the outfield fence to bring the ball back into the park. A two-base tag up on the play by Lyndsey Klein (1-for-3) put the Juggernaut up 1-0 in the top of the fourth. An incredible piece of baserunning. According to the play-by-play, Klein was able to score because Peel having fallen through the fence was unable to get up to make a relay. Judy Martino, Akron manager argued vehemently on the play that Klein should have been held to third.

The Juggernaut put the pressure on the Racers once again in the top of the sixth inning. Wilkerson drew a walk to lead off the inning. Pinch hitter Lisa Iancin, with a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt, advanced the runner into scoring position. Venus Taylor (1-for-3) pushed across the second run for the Juggernaut with a single up the middle, plenty of insurance for Scott, the Nauts ace.

The Racer’s final threat (only the second of the game)  came in the bottom of the seventh inning after a
single by Peel (2-for-3). Akron looked to Heather Wright (0 for 2) to keep the rally alive. But the Juggernaut quickly quieted the Racers by ending the inning, and the game, with a double play.

The Nauts played flawless defense in the game, including a diving catch by right fielder Kellie Wilkerson with two outs and two runners on base to prevent the game being tied or possibly had Kellie missed the ball, gone ahead.

There was also strong game catching by Amanda’s sister, Courtney Scott, who strategized against Iyhia McMichael, the league’s leading hitter beautifully.

The Juggernaut will look to eliminate the possibility of a Game 3 tomorrow against the Racers, which would allow them to advance directly to the Championship Series. The game will be played at Firestone Stadium in Akron , Ohio . The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Probable starters are Kaci Clark for the Nauts and Nikki Myers for the Racers.  The game will be netcast worldwide on www.npf.prosportsradio.com. beginning at 5:45 P.M. E.D.T.

The Graceful Grandstand of Historic Firestone Stadium, Akron, Ohio, built 1925: Site of the NPF Playoff & Championship Series. The Stadium recalls ball from a bygone era with warm cozy concrete, jury box bleachers and a churchlike atmpsphere. The Juggernauts need a win Thursday to go to the Championship Series. Photo Capture from The Charles E. Phipps Company website, Renovators of the Stadium.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. August 25, 2004: With the Athletic Director situation at White Plains High School unresolved at the present time, former Athletic Director, Mario Scarano continues to handle those duties on a consulting basis. WPCNR asked Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors whether the Board of Education has made a decision on whether to rescind Mr. Scarano’s retirement and perhaps bring him back.

Still Working the Phones Free Lance: The Athletic Director for six years at White Plains High School, Mr. Scarano will be talking about his future with the district shortly according to Superintendent Timothy Connors. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

Today, Mr. Connors indicated that the Board of Education has not made up its mind and will hold a dialogue with Mr. Scarano on his future.

WPCNR asked the results of Monday evening’s Executive Session of the Board of Education when Mr. Scarano’s future was reportedly going to be discussed. Connors said, “First of all it’s not a resignation from Mario, it’s a retirement. That (the retirement) still stands.”

Asked if the Board was considering rescinding that retirment, Connors said, “I think the Board is looking at having some dialogue with Mr. Scarano. In terms of your question, his retirement was accepted and it stands.”

WPCNR asked if Connors was ruling out the possibility you might rescind it, and the answer was, “It stands. I know the Board intends to have some dialogue with Mr. Scarano.”

WPCNR asked what was expected to come out of that Scarano- Board of Education dialogue, Connors said he had “no further comment, but I know certainly Mario is going to express his desire to not retire.”

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WPCNR NEWS COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. August 25, 2004: It’s political season. As the Democrat scramble for who will run for Mayor begins this fall, depending of course, on who will run for the Republicans, they have to decide what issues to run on.

 Should Mr. Delfino run again, and that is what is most likely, because the Republicans have no one else of equal stature to carry on the Delfino charisma. Delfino has also told confidentes privately that he is running next year. He has also held two highly private fundraisers.

 The Usual Suspects Have Unimpressive Rap Sheets.

 Think of it: who could they run: Frank Cantatore, a big-time 2 to 1 loser to Bill Ryan in the County Legislator race last fall, so forget him.

 Jeffrey Binder, Tim Sheehan are  personable but proven not to be able to galvanize the electorate of White Plains even for a council position, allowing the inexperienced political unknown, Arnold Bernstein to beat both of them.

 And now, Mr. Sheehan has the additional albatross around his neck of being the man who presided over the demise of the Parking Authority, as well as spearheading the new parking hours and rates for the Mayor which White Plains hates.

 Could Larry Delgado make a run for Mayor? Unlikely, because Delgado has not been politically active on the issues the city has decided since Glen Hockley usurped his seat. But Delgado’s inactivity is a strength.

  There is the Delgado possibility. He can come off as the man untarnished by the actions of the last three years. He can stake out the voice of the majority Hispanic population in White Plains. 

 Could Mike Graessle, former Commissioner of Planning run? I thought so when he appeared in a public discussion about the need to revisit the Master Plan at a town meeting this spring. However, his message stopped short of actually attacking the Mayor’s policies and galvanizing his candidacy.

 Hockley Party Switch?

 Beyond Delgado, The Republican Party is bankrupt of public figures who could command voter respect in the numbers necessary. Unless – unless Glen Hockley changes parties and becomes a Republican. Hockley is probably going to be shut out by the Democratic Party of any future council runs. Who is Mr. Hockley going to replace?

 Rita Malmud? Robert Greer? Tom Roach? If Roacb does not run for County Legislator). Perhaps Hockley might run for Mr. Roach’s seat.

A Hockley Switch

But, if Hockley changed parties, he would be instantly the most credible candidate the Republicans could run against Mr. Ryan, with strong touchy feely Democrat credentials, and crossover voter potential. The Mayor could even campaign for Mr. Hockley.  However Hockley has to change parties relatively quickly to run with credibility in 2005.

 Think of how Hockley could campaign for Mayor. Mr. Hockley could say:

 1.)   I supported Mayor Joe’s initiatives.

2.)    I helped build the Renaissance.

3.)    I know White Plains. I walk the city.

   Not only that but he has intimate knowledge of the vacillations his possible Democrat opponents: Ryan, Greer, Malmud, Roach knowingly engaged in over the last three years and went along with.

The prospect of a Republican Glen Hockley has this reporter salivating…Ouy! The Angles! The rhetoric! The irony!

Place the chips on Joseph Delfino. He’s the only bet. 

All right, how do you beat “America’s Favorite Mayor,” as he is dubbed by Paul Wood, the Acting Executive Officer heir-apparent to George What’s-His-Name. The AEO who cannot return phone calls. That looks very likely. The Mayor has told confidentes just before leaving for Israel that Wood will be appointed in the very near future and ascend to the $130,000 position.

We’ll have more on how you beat Joseph Delfino tomorrow.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. August 23, 2004: Crystl Bustos blasted a 2-run homer into the right to leftfield wind over the right centerfield fence to the scoreboard in the very first inning off Australia’s Tanya Harding to get Team USA into the driver’s seat quickly. Bustos added a second solo shot which went even farther later in the game, about 400 feet over the left field fence, as Lisa Fernandez handcuffed the Aussies, 5-1 in a regulation game. It was the third straight Olympic Gold for Team USA for the Team “In a League By Itself.” The only ballclub in Greece that gave them any competition was Japan, and Australia knocked them out yesterday. The only club to have a lead on them was the National Pro Fastpitch West All Stars back in July.