Mansion Broadway Seeks Redemption After 2013 Championship Loss

White Plains Recreation Department Residential C Men’s Softball League is never boring, especially when Mansion Broadway and Brazen Fox take the field for an evening match-up on the diamond.

On Thursday, July 10, last year’s Residential C League Champs Mansion Broadway defeated Brazen Fox, 17-11, in the 7 p.m. game, at Carl J. Delfino Memorial Park.

Brazen Fox pitcher Ant Del Vecchio has a distinct style of pitching, which will keep most batters off stride throughout the season. However, Del Vecchio was no match against the big bats of Mansion Broadway, as any batter in their lineup can swat a homerun deep into the outfield.

Mansion’s third baseman Jesse Smith put on a demonstration of that power by blasting two mammoth homeruns over the leftfield fence against Brazen Fox. Smith’s solo dinger in the first inning elevated way over the trees in leftfield.

Smith’s second homerun in the fourth inning was a two-run blast, which brought home pitcher Nicky Becerra, after he tripled to score outfielder Jay Zaccaria. Smith’s second homerun sailed way over the leftfield fence as well.

Smith on the day went four-for-four at the plate with two homeruns, a triple and four RBIs. “I think momentum carried us along. I was 0-4 in the Tuesday game and my team picked me up, so I promised that I would pick them up this time around,” said Smith.

The aforementioned hitting is the dilemma every team in the Men’s Residential C League will face against Mansion Broadway this season. Mansion’s power and base hitting ability comes at opponents from every batter in their lineup. Zaccaria, who tripled in the third inning and leftfielder John Bruno, who doubled in the fourth inning also present a potent offensive threat for Mansion.

With the extreme power hitting combination of Becerra and Smith batting third and fourth there is absolutely no room for opposing pitchers to make mistakes on the mound.

When it is the opposing team’s turn to bat, Mansion Broadway’s defense is as stable as their Banquet menu. Opponents might as well not try to hit the ball to the left side of the outfield. Bruno in leftfield and Zaccaria in left-centerfield gobble-up every ball hit their way. And, if you happen to drop a single into leftfield, Zaccaria has a gun for an arm that stops any stretching for extra bases on the base paths.

When opponent’s right-hand hitters finally figure that out and try to hit to the opposite field, then Mansion’s Manager Joe Pasqualini is awaiting the ball in rightfield.

Nicky Becerra, Jr. is the pitcher this year for Mansion, after succeeding his father Nick Sr. who retired after last season. Becerra is actually the shortstop for Mansion. He tore his labarum and after his recovery decided to pitch to avoid the rigorous fielding duties at this time. But Mansion filled the void at shortstop with Wilson Matos, a former Division One college baseball player for Quinnipiac University.

Mansion Broadway won a big game on Tuesday, July 8, when they beat the then undefeated Rieman’s Auto Body (6-1). “The first couple of games we had a lot of new players and there were many interchangeable parts but now we are starting to gel and hit our stride,” explained Pasqualini. “We are not that worried about first place this season. We won the League last year but we would trade that trophy for the trophy that matters (the Playoff Trophy) any day of the week,” emphasized Mansion’s Manager Pasqualini.

Mansion Broadway (8-2) is definitely the team to beat this season in White Plains Recreation Residential C Men’s Softball. However, let’s remember that Plus 40 of the American Legion Post 135 is the reigning Playoff and overall Champions of Residential C and certainly, Mansion Broadway is eager to change that distinction this year.

“It is (a redemption year) because the past two years we lost to the same team (Plus 40) in the Championship,” said Smith. “Plus 40 is already talking about how they want a three-peat and they want to be a dynasty. I do not think we are having that this year, stay tuned,” said Mansion’s slugger Smith.

Porter House and Healy Electric Again a Women’s League Battle

Across town at Gillie Park Porter House was in the midst of defending their 2014 White Plains Recreation Department Women’s League Playoff Championship.

Porter House dressed in their trademark highlighted-green uniforms beat Dunne’s Pub, 19-12, on Thursday, July 10, to bring their record to a second place best 6-1.

Healy Electric, which lost to Porter House in the Women’s League Playoff Championship last year, remains in first place with a 9-1 mark as of July 10.

Porter House was thrashing Dunne’s, 17-7, in the sixth inning until they scored a run and then pitcher Caity Donahoe decided to help her cause by hitting a Grand Slam to put Dunne’s back in the game 17-.12.

Nevertheless, with Porter House’s steadfast pitcher Katie Letscher on the mound, the door was shut quickly on Dunne’s, which lost the game 19-12.

Porter House is in Championship form with second baseman and Manager Patricia Martucci again leading the team. Besides their pitcher Letscher returning this season, they return most of all their dominant weapons including, leftfielder Vickie Palushevic and slugger Andrea DiNella, a 21-year veteran of the New York City Police Department.

Palushevic was injured last year and only returned to the lineup for Porter House during the Playoffs. Her capable hitting and defense on the field should put Porter House in prime shape to return as Playoff Champions this season.

Porter House’s only loss this season is to their nemisis Healy Electric. “We have been playing well for the most part and we are feeling good. It is Healy again this year but we have not played Lazy Boy yet, so we will see what that brings,” said Martucci.

Dunne’s scorekeeper for the game was no other than Debbie Donahoe, a native and lifelong resident of White Plains, who started the White Plains Recreation Women’s Softball League in 1978. “We were playing pick-up basketball for women at Ridgeway in the winter. When winter was over, we decided let’s play softball. We started with four teams and I am proud of the League,” said Donahoe, who is also the mother of Dunnes pitcher Caity Donahoe.