Smokehouse Wins Co-Ed Upper Division League and Playoff Championships

Smokehouse Tailgate Grill Manager/Pitcher Joe Brown admitted that even he got nervous when Ron Blacks third baseman Richard Bastar slammed a three-run homerun to make the score 9-8, in the sixth inning of Game Two of the White Plains Recreation Co-Ed Upper Division Softball Playoff Championship.

And why wouldn’t Brown get anxious with Ron Blacks closing the scoring gap. Smokehouse’s undefeated season was on the line in Game Two of the Co-Ed Upper Division Playoff Championship.

Earlier on Wednesday, Aug. 19, Smokehouse won Game One, 12-7, for their 16^th straight victory this season. They could clinch the best two-out-of-three games Playoff Championship with a win in Game Two.

However, the Game One win did not come easy for Smokehouse. The Tailgate Grill jumped out to an early 7-1 lead, but Ron Blacks came back to score five runs in the fifth inning to make the score 8-6, before Smokehouse pulled away for the win.

Nonetheless, as Smokehouse has consistently done all season they won Game Two of the Playoff Championship series. Smokehouse Tailgate Grill beat Ron Blacks, 10-8, to capture the 2015 White Plains Recreation Co-Ed Upper Division Softball Playoff Championship, with an undefeated record of 17-0.

“The first game was easier than the second game, they were both good games but the second game was very close and I was very nervous,” commented Brown, the winning pitcher in both games of the Playoff Championship series.

The keys to Smokehouse’s 2015 Playoff Championships were that Brown did not issue a walk in either game of the Championship Series, combined with good team-defense and solid line drive hitting throughout the Playoffs.

The defense was led by third baseman Steve Sheeky, first baseman Casey Gregory, shortstop Peter Kilgallen and his daughter second baseman Christie Kilgallen joined with quality outfield play.

Sheeky also led the hitting for Smokehouse with three homeruns in the Playoffs, including a two-run dinger in Game Two of the Championship Series and a three-run homerun and two-run homer in the First Round against Elements. “It is more about the team, as long as we win that is all that counts. I love this team, they are the best,” stated Sheeky.

Smokehouse Tailgate Grill also won the White Plains Recreation Co-Ed Upper Division Softball League Championship, while posting a 14-0 record in the regular season. Of course it did not hurt Smokehouse one bit that they incorporated five women players from Brewskis, the 2015 Women’s Softball League Champions on their team this season.

Smokehouse Tailgate Grill, the number one seed, advanced to the Playoff Championship by beating the number four seeded Elements, 19-8, in the Playoff Semifinals. With the two-game sweep of the number two seeded Ron Blacks in the Playoff Championship series, Smokehouse recorded a perfect undefeated season at 17-0.

Brown, the Smokehouse Manager and pitcher has been participating in the White Plains Recreation Softball Leagues since 1992. “Lately, this is one of the best teams that I have put together. We had the same team in the Fall League and in the Summer League last year, they are a good crew,” complimented Brown.

Ron Blacks (12-5) beat the number three seeded Red Rockets, 5-3, to advance to the Playoff Championship. Ron Blacks was Smokehouse Grill’s main competition all season. The last game they played against each other in the regular season, Smokehouse won by scoring one run in the last inning.

“I am very proud of my team, all season and every game. They bring humor, they bring heart and they come to play, but they also have fun,” stated Manager Casey Kenny, whose Ron Blacks team will have to settle for runner-up this year.