for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com APRIL 24, 2014 • The queens Courier 85 sports THE COMMODORES ARE CATCHING FIRE BY LIAM LA GUERE [email protected] @liamlaguerre No one needed to remind Bayside Commodores outfielder Julian Rodriquez what a big moment it was when he came to bat in the fifth inning against John Bowne on April 21. The Commodores were leading the Wildcats 3-1 when Bowne’s freshman pitcher, Elvis Torres Devargas, started to lose control. He walked the bases full, and Bayside coach Pat Torney turned to Rodriguez, a sophomore who didn’t have a single hit for the season in seven at bats, to pinch hit. Rodriguez’s at bat defined Bayside’s season. The Commodores have lacked offense against the conference’s top teams early in the season, resulting in a slow start. But in this situation, Rodriguez smacked a double to drive in three runs and lead Bayside to a 9-4 victory over John Bowne. The Commodores (3-4 PSAL) are now hoping that with the win over the tough Wildcats (5-2 PSAL), they can continue the offense and turn around the season. “We are starting to hit,” senior Elijah Leerdam said. “We weren’t hitting much before. Last game we didn’t come through for our pitcher.” Before the holidays, Bayside suffered a devastating 5-3 defeat to John Bowne, the conference’s second place team, after the team’s ace Jeremy Arenas pitched eight innings. Before that the Commodores dropped a pair of embarrassing losses to the perennial conference champs, the Benjamin Cardozo Judges, by a combined score of 27-0. But the Commodores aren’t going to see the Judges again for the remainder of the season. And here they were with another opportunity to top the Wildcats, if only they could keep up the offense. Rodriguez waited patiently for Torres Devargas to throw a fastball down the middle of the plate, and blasted the double over the center fielder’s head, unloading the bases. “I had to come up big,” Rodriguez said of what he was thinking while at the plate. “I was a little nervous at first, but then I just made contact with the ball and it went far.” Arenas gave up three runs in the bottom of the inning, but held the Wildcats for the remainder of the game. He pitched a complete game with three strikeouts in the Commodores’ most impressive win of the season. The team moved into a threeway tie for fourth place in the Queens A East division, and they believe if they can continue to pick up the bats like Rodriguez did, they might be able to pull this season out of the gutter. THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre Sophomore Julian Rodriguez smacked a double, driving in three runs and pacing the Bayside Commodores to their most impressive win of the season. SOFTBALL MEETS SOCIALIZING IN ASTORIA BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA [email protected]/@CristabelleT For one local softball league, it’s not about the number of home runs, it’s about the quality of the friendships. Astoria Plays Ball, which kicks off its second season Saturday, was created for more than just the sport. The co-ed adult league acts like a social club for locals to meet each other, then branch out to do activities beyond the field. “We try to keep it very community focused,” said Harris Beringer, one of the league’s organizers. Astoria Plays Ball was launched last spring with about 80 players who initially signed up. This season, with a higher demand, the league is debuting a new logo and T-shirts, vamping up its social media and other organizational aspects, and looking into expanding. Currently there are six teams of 20, each with a creative name, including Street Meat, Sons of Pitches, Just the Foul Tip and Smokin’ Bunts. Following games, played twice a week at Whitey Ford Field, teams head to a local bar for drink specials and hot dogs. The winners get free beers. “The winning team is getting the beers, but mostly we want everyone to have fun,” Beringer said. The league de-emphasizes competition. “A lot of the people in the league haven’t played before and they are getting their first experience with softball and we don’t want them to be scared off,” he said. In addition to socializing during practices, members, most of whom did not know each other beforehand, have hung out during and in between seasons at parties, bowling nights and trivia nights. There are also potential plans to attend a Mets game. Beringer hopes to not only grow the softball league’s number of teams and seasons, but also add other sports, such as basketball and kickball. The league is additionally looking to give back to where it plays ball through the Astoria Park Alliance or Green Shores NYC in the future so members can bond through community work as well. “Astoria Plays Ball is the best place to meet some great people and get some exercise,” said Laura Carbon, one of the players. “Everyone is so friendly and encouraging … I have met amazing people that have turned into wonderful friendships.” Photo courtesy of Astoria Plays Ball Members of Astoria Plays Ball enjoy spending time on and off the field.
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