Seraphim Softball 2013!

The 2013 softball season began on Monday, April 1, the day after Easter.  The full 2013 schedule is listed below.  We’re happy to have the addition of a few good men this year and hope to continue the excitement of last year, when we were only a game away from the championship and were one of the few teams to beat the overall winner.  Our home field is the Sayville Middle School.  Look for us at the field closest to Montauk Highway.  All games begin at 6:30.

New Life/Sayville UMC Believers!

Two of our parishioners, Monica and Julie, are part of the combined women’s softball team that formed last year with our sisters at New Life Community Church.  Their season has just begun and their record is currently 2-2.  Games are played on Thursday evenings at 6:30 and the home field is the Sayville Middle School.  Let’s go, Believers!

After an away game this week against Patchogue at the Saxton Middle School, the team will enjoy four consecutive games at home:  May 30, June 6, June 11 (Tuesday) and June 13, and will conclude the regular season June 20 away again at the Saxton Middle School.

For league news, directions to away fields, and updates for all teams, please visit http://www.escl.net.

Seraphim Season Highlights

Week One:  Warm-ups took place in the rain and wind.  The sun broke through just before game time, but we only had 8 players.  Fortunately a 9th player showed before we had to take the field.  The Seraphim took the lead in the top of the first and the Revelations took it back in the bottom of the first.  Back and forth it went until we were tied, with the sun going down.  Rookie Jake made an incredible diving, rolling catch in left field and came up holding the ball.  This inspired the team to score an amazing 11 runs in the final inning to put the game out of reach.  (Jake also hit a home run, as did Fred!)  We never did get that 10th man (unless there was an angel in the outfield).  Tino shut the other team down over the last few innings and gave the team its first victory of the year!

Week Two:  Softball weather finally arrived as we took the field in sunny, 60-degree weather.  Rob, Rich P., John R. and Cameron joined us for the first time this year.  The bright mood continued throughout the game as the runs started early and kept up throughout the night.  Tino held the opposing team to single digits for the second week in a row and John W. made a great catch at second to cement the win.  With daylight fading, a sixth inning was begun, but the game was called after the opposing team could no longer see the ball.  At 2-0, Seraphim hopes are high for the season.

Week Three:  The Seraphim traveled to Dix Hills for another cold weather game.  This is a new field for Dix Hills; sun glare is no longer a factor.  Unfortunately for the Seraphim, the Dix Hills players can place the ball very well!  The lesson is simple: in softball, it’s not how hard one hits the ball, it’s WHERE one hits the ball!

Week Four:  Gospel Community Valor is a brand new team from the relatively new Gospel Community Church on Greeley Avenue in Sayville.  (The field, however, is in East Islip!)  The team seems to be comprised of players under the age of 20, but perhaps our slightly older players underestimated them; the game was tied 8-8 until the bottom of the sixth, when the young guns doubled their score against the seasoned veterans.  Despite a fierce rally in the seventh, the Seraphim fell short.  Fortunately the next 5 games – and 7 of the next 8 – are at home.

Week Five:  Last year the team fought some epic battles with Living Word, marked by last inning comebacks and including a HUGE Seraphim comeback during the playoffs for a win.  The Seraphim home opener lived up to its billing.  The Seraphim were up 19-6 in the seventh and withstood a furious 11-run rally after Tino was knocked out of the game with a pulled calf muscle.  Before that, the team had two home runs (Fred and Chris), a spectacular track and field grab in left (Cameron), two roof doubles (Rob) and an amazing belly slide at home (Ed).  But even when the other team was rallying, the Seraphim stayed calm and got the crucial final out behind John at the mound.

Week Six:  The Seraphim played their hearts out on Monday night against the 2012 champions, New Life, who entered the game undefeated.  New Life proved their mettle with solid hitting, including a 14-run inning.  But the Seraphim held tight and almost pulled out a surprise comeback, ending the game down by only four as the sunlight faded and the ump (smartly) called the game.  Paul had a particularly great game with a triple and a double; Matt came back from college and hit a home run.  The next night was a different story, as the Seraphim were down 5-0 in mid-game but stayed cool, calm, and collected, with solid, steady hitting giving them 11 unanswered runs.  Jake hit one into the net in right center that otherwise would have been a home run, and Hans had an awesome game with great hitting, fielding and a slide through the bat to score a run.  Islip tried to rally in the 7th but fell short, giving John his first win as a pitcher and Rob his first win as acting manager.  We finish the season 2-2 against A teams as we now turn to the B and C teams for the remainder of the season.

Week Seven:  Kyle Steck had a hit in his first game as a Seraphim; welcome to the team, Kyle!  Hans had a massive home run, Rob made a great catch at first, Tino was back from injured reserve, and the team scored its most runs of the season and won by its biggest margin.  After the game, photos of “The Originals” were taken ~ those who have been playing since the team was formed a decade ago!  We hope to share these photos soon.  At the halfway mark, the team record is 5-3 and the Seraphim are solid contenders.  With two games next week – one home, one away – the team is ready to take control of its season!  Let’s go, Seraphim!

Monday, April 1 ~ Sayville Seraphim 20, Trinity Lutheran Revelations 9
Monday, April 8 ~ Sayville Seraphim 19, First Presbyterian Witnesses 7
Monday, April 15 ~ Dix Hills Servants 26, Sayville Seraphim 5
Monday, April 22 ~ Gospel Community Valor 16, Sayville Seraphim 11
Monday, April 29 ~ Sayville Seraphim 19, Living Word 17
Monday, May 6 ~ New Life Disciples 25, Sayville Seraphim 21
Tuesday, May 7 ~ Sayville Seraphim 11, Islip Methodist Prophets 7
Monday, May 13 ~ Sayville Seraphim 22, New Village Crusaders 7
Monday, May 20 ~ Lindenhurst Evangel Flames at Sayville Seraphim
Tuesday, May 21 ~ Sayville Seraphim at Bayport/Patchogue Methodist
Monday, June 3 ~ First Presbyterian Witnesses at Sayville Seraphim
Tuesday, June 4 ~ Trinity Lutheran Revelations at Sayville Seraphim
Monday, June 10 ~ Dix Hills Servants at Sayville Seraphim
Monday, June 17 ~ Sayville Seraphim at Eastport Bible Ironmen
Monday, June 24 ~ Temple Baptist Guard at Sayville Seraphim
Monday, July 1 ~ Sayville Seraphim at Lindenhurst Evangel Ravens