Sports

Poppy's Takes Bragging Rights at Rye Rec

Patch Reader Steve Massinello recaps Poppy's Cafe victory at the Rye Rec A League Softball Championship.

Reader Steve Massinello was part of the winning Poppy's Cafe team Monday night at Rye Recreation and wrote Rye Patch a great update, with photos, from Monday night's A League Softball Championship game:

Poppy's Cafe beat High Intensity 13-8, taking the Series 2 games to 1.

In the first round, Poppy's dispatched Tony's Legacy 2 games to none and High Intensity beat Rollins 2 games to none. 

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A close game until the 6th inning, Bobby Milano broke it open with a grand slam with over the right center-fielder's head with John Castelhano Brian and Randy Bach on base. Scott "Weather Man" Connor added a solo home run of his own.

High Intensity threatened in the top of the 7th, but could only muster two runs.

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Poppy's finished 1st in the A league with a 10-3 record.

This marks the fifth A Division championship in 10 years for Poppy's; the team has 8 championships total. Team members Jimmy Groglio, Anthony DeRenzis and Steve Massinello have been there for all 8. 

Poppy's Cafe owner Gerri Piovesan as well as Robert Piovesan were on hand to witness the victory.

Last week the Ball Busters won the women's softball championship, a team Gerri has played on for more than 30 years.

"The key was pitching and defense, JC was shaky early on but settled down and shut them down late in the game, said GM Luke Walsh. "My boys can hit, I wasn't worried about that aspect of the game, I tell them to keep their WEIGHT BACK and they do the rest."

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Editor's note: The original story mistakenly identified one of the team's players as John Geni. Geni is not a member of the team and the reference has been deleted.


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