Huge's Garage/The Afterdeck win fifth annual Tommy Dowd softball tournament
Monroe - Huge’s Garage/The Afterdeck won the 2006 Tommy Dowd Memorial Tournament by defeating the Wel Foundation/J.B. McMinnions. They came out swinging, scoring seven runs in the first en route to a 11-0 five-inning mercy rule win. Tournament MVP Mike Hennessy led the way with a leadoff home run, his second of the tournament, and The Afterdeck followed with eight more hits in the first. In the second, it was more of the same, with Anthony Rizzi hitting a three-run home run to give Papo Rodriguez more than enough support to seal the championship and Most Valuable Pitcher Award. The Afterdeck finished with 15 hits in four innings, with Hennessy, Bruce Weyant, Anthony Rizzi, Scott Goldstein, John Degennaro and Dan Welch each contributing a pair. Tommy D’s came back from four runs down to tie the score in the sixth and then scored a run in the bottom of the seventh for an 8-7 win over the Wel Foundation/J.B. McMinnions. Wallance and Berry defeated FGFP and then was sent into the losers bracket by eventual Tournament Champion Huge’s Garage/The Afterdeck. Superior Shine played a back and forth game with Loyal Tire and won in extra innings. Winner’s bracket In the winners bracket, Superior Shine defeated Tommy D’s and then lost a tough 3-0 game to Huge’s Garage/Afterdeck. In the losers bracket final, Wel Foundation/J.B. McMinnions eliminated Tommy D’s 6-4 behind the strong hitting and pitching of Jerry Jefferson. In the winner’s bracket final, The Afterdeck and Superior Shine were locked in a tight pitcher’s duel between Dan Henderson and Mike Mancuso, who matched each other with five shutout innings. In the sixth, The Afterdeck broke the scoreless tie when Arman Kurth ripped a double to the gap scoring Anthony Rizzi who walked. That was followed by consecutive run-scoring singles from Dan Henderson and John Degennaro for a 3-0 lead. Dan Henderson and the defense made the score hold up as Henderson completed the two-hit shutout with six strikeouts Awards The following players and teams received awards at the post tournament party held at J.B. McMinnions: MVP: Mike Hennessy, Hughes Garage/Afterdeck Most Valuable Pitcher: Papo Rodriguez, Hughes Garage/Afterdeck Defensive Player: John Sega, Wel Foundation/J.B. McMinnions Team Sportmanship Award: Superior Shine, Rob Weyant, Manager Home Run Derby Winner: Rad Gonzales, Best Bud on the Table, Best Looking Player: Matty Casserly, Best Bud on the Table Fashion Consultant: John Murray, Best Bud on the Table Thanks Through the tournament, the Tommy Dowd Memorial Foundation provides scholarships in the name of Tommy Dowd, a Monroe resident who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. The foundation would like to thank Pete Lunaro, Shannon Gleeson, Marty Diamond, John Grasso and members of the Monroe Senior Softball League for all their help during the Tournament. A special thanks to Barbara O’Connor, Jean Turco, Alicia of Incredible Caterers and Dominick Dinapoli of Smokey D’s for contributing to and helping with the concessions. And as always, Henry of the MWCSD Grounds Crew for all his assistance. In addition, we would like to thank all our Major Sponsors for their generous contributions to this year’s event: J.B. McMinnions, Dana Distributors, Graphics Systems Group, Best Mechanical, Nebrasky Plumbing & Heating, Capitol Risk, Mike & Linda Casey, The Monroe-Woodbury Little League, Alex Jamieson, Healey Chevrolet and Egg Electric.