Skippers, Marcello open semis with blasts

GEORGE FAELLA PHOTO
Marcello Masonry second baseman Andre Puerta tagged out Southold Fish Market’s Chris Doucett, who tried to stretch a single into a double.

It was a night of dramatic game-winning home runs.

The semifinal round of the Greenport Men’s Softball League playoffs opened Monday night at the Polo Grounds with a pair of thrilling victories by the top-seeded teams.

Skippers, the No. 1 seed, beat fourth-seeded Founders Tavern, 14-12, on the strength of Ev Corwin’s three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving Skippers the lead in the best-of-three series.

Founders, sparked by Billy Fullam’s three-run homer in the third inning, built a 9-4 lead. Founders even held a 12-9 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.

It looked bleak for Skippers until Corwin launched his second three-run homer of the game to win it.

“It was a weird game,” said Skippers’ winning pitcher, John Brush. “We only had one big inning … but it was at the end. It was a good game.”

Jon Schlachter paced Founders with three hits while Glenn Zaleski, Ed Michaelis and Pete Castillo each had a pair of hits.

In the other semifinal, second-seeded Marcello Masonry came from behind to beat the third-seed, Southold Fish Market, 11-9. Bob Marcello’s second homer of the game, a two-run blast in the bottom of the seventh, lifted his team to the win.

Jordan Doroski’s two-run homer in the top of the seventh had put Southold Fish Market on top, 9-6.

But the Southold Fish Market defense misplayed a potential double-play ball in the bottom of the seventh that opened the door for Marcello’s rally.

John Hansen smacked a three-run homer to tie the score for Marcello. Roger Turbush followed with a single. Bob Marcello then sent his team home happy with the game-winning home run. Game 2 of both series was scheduled for Tuesday night. A third and decisive game, if necessary, was scheduled for last night.