Broker 16" Softball Weekly Roundup

Player of the Week: Eric Mariani on the field for Jones Lang LaSalle 1, was 2-2 with a 3 run-HR, 4 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Eric says bats were thumping and it felt great to run the distance after three years without legging a homer.

Postgame Schmooze: Also known as the nuttiest night of the year, the first annual Downtown Real Estate Softball League Idol Karaoke competition was held on Monday. There to enjoy: MB Real Estate's Mark Buth, Chicago Metallic's Suzanne Dissette, Teknion's Brian “B.” Good, Taylor Ask and SS America's Guy Greco. Sponsor Leopardo Construction's Danny Ulbricht and Rick Dupraw were on hand to host the 200 guests. Each performance was "unique", and Gaelynn Pippin from Edge Design walked away with the grand prize.

FIELD 1: EARLY GAME COLLIERS 6, CTK PARTNERS 4

Colliers will be limping into the playoffs with this narrow victory over the 15 seed thanks to some impressive defense. The Kritters, sensing the end to their season, turned on the burners and pushed 3 across in the top of 2. Colliers shortstop Dan Molnar was the glue in the field and Pete Kelly had a 2-3 night with 2 ribbies.

FIELD 1: KLEIN’S CORPORATE 11, MID AMERICA 1

Klein’s rolled to its third consecutive win, spanking the retailers with an all around attack, excelling at the plate and in the field. Klein’s limited MA to three harmless singles. Rusty Steinberg led the charge, going 3-3 with three runs scored. He ignited the team in the first, with Klein’s ultimately scoring 4 times, adding three more in the second and closing them out with four in the fifth inning.

FIELD 2: UGL SERVICES 10, JONES LANG LASALLE-II 3

UGL hoists its first division crown in quite a while with a mediocre win over the JLL-II expansion squad. UGL pushed a measly six runs across in the first three innings and then got blanked. It looked like JLL-II might have had a chance to escape elimination, but UGL’s Brian Ahearn broke the game open with a 3 bagger that drove in three runs to put the game out of reach. JLL-II’s Ben Angelo went 2-3 with 2 ribbies and 1 run.

FIELD 3: J.F. McKINNEY 10, TRANSWESTERN 9

In an exciting game, the lead changed several times but JFM narrowly escaped an ignominious defeat. The Transponders scored 4 in the 5th to take a 7-4 lead, and JFM answered with 5 of its own. Neither team scored in the 6th. A rare throwing error by JFM captain Kyle Hanson allowed TW to knot the score in the top of the 7th. In the bottom of the 7th, Vinnie D’Amico led off with a rope and was knocked in with a walk off triple by Tommy Koleno for a breathtaking finish.

FIELD 4: CB 12, CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD 4

The game was much closer than the final score. It was knotted at 2 after five, when CB erupted for 4, and then 6 more in the top of the 7th. The wheels came off for CW which could push only 2 more across. CB's Mike “Nardoones” Nardini reached base 5-5 and Mitch “The Kid” Adams cleared the bases with a triple down the left field line.

FIELD 5: TISHMAN SPEYER PROPERTIES 8, GOLUB 7

The mighty Goo Goo Dolls got a wake-up call as TSP finished its best regular season in 25 years and has great momentum. Defense was the tale of the tape for TSP as they twisted 2 DPs and a diving web cam play by hot corner guy Bob Johnson. Having Casey Wold on the bump greatly enhances TSP’s playoff prospects.

FIELD 6: MB 12, BRADFORD ALLEN 11
In the third game decided by a run, MB narrowly escaped an embarrassing loss to the scrappy, but snakebitten, BA Boys. For the second week in a row, they lost in the other team’s last at bat in a see-saw battle. For BA, Phil Reiff smoked a three-run ding dong in the third. Hitting stars for MB were: Wicks Barkhausen (best name in DRESL), 4-4 with 2 runs scored, including the game winner; Idol contestant Ty Simpson, 4-4, 3 ribbies and 2 runs; and, Jack Gavin, 5-5, 3 rib eyes and 2 runs including game winning ribbie.

FIELD 7: JONES LANG LaSALLE-I 22, INLAND 6

JLL-I tuned up for the playoffs with a laugher over Inland, putting up 29 hits in 41 at bats and scoring in each of the five innings. Swinging the heavy lumber for JLL-I was Player of the Week Eric Mariani, who was 2-2 with a 3 run-HR, 4 RBI and 2 Runs out of the 11th spot in the order. Andy “So Fine” Serafine was 4-4 with 3 runs scored and an RBI. Jason Vervack also had a 3 run-HR out of the leadoff spot. Josh Vervack continued a torrid hitting streak by going 3-4.

Thanks to DRESL Commissioner Richie Klein for providing the play-by-play!