The Lifetime Hoan A's continued their winning ways this season with a thrashing of the Reds on Saturday, April 24, 24-7. The A's were led by another superb pitching performance by Alex Siegel, who tamed the Reds by scattering five hits over four innings of pitching. Jordan Weisen stepped in and pitched a perfect inning in relief before the umpire invoked the "mercy rule" after five full innings and declared the A's the winners.

The Reds struck first in the game, as Mac Tichner and Justin Rudolph opened the game with walks and Andrew Dorman cracked a three-run homer, giving the Reds the early lead. Things looked even more promising for the Reds when starting pitcher Jeff Guber struck out the side in the first.

However, it was all downhill from there, as the A's kicked into gear with four runs in the second on consecutive base hits by Josh Friedman, David Skurnik and Sean Tolkin. The third inning then sealed the Reds' fate as the A's erupted for 16 runs as they sent 21 players to the plate. The barrage was led by Jordan Weisen, David Skurnik, Alex Siegel and Brandon Cohen, who each had two hits in the incredible third inning. In addition, every player in the lineup except one scored a run in the fateful third inning - an amazing accomplishment!

The Reds received stellar performances in defeat by Eddie Mishan and Steven Ballen, who both scored in the second inning. In addition, Ryan Goldsmith played his usually steady game as catcher and contributed offensively with a couple of solid hits. In addition, the Reds received an excellent relief pitching performance by C.J. Tolkin, who calmed the A's bats from the fourth inning on.

Harris Fine broke out of an early season hitting slump with a solid base hit and run scored. In addition, every member of the A's contributed to the rout, including Steven Edwards, Jason First, Greg Rosenberg and Matt Chamish.

In a pitcher's duel, the Lifetime Hoan A's improved their undefeated early season record to 4-0 with an exciting come-from-behind 5-3 defeat of the Cardinals on Sunday, April 25.

The Cardinals led the contest most of the way as pitcher Max Wattenberg held the athletics potent bats in check for the first four innings. Meanwhile, A's ace Josh Friedman matched Wattenberg for most of the game, allowing only three runs while striking out five.

Shortstop Daniel Palmieri was the Cardinals' hitting star, leading off the game with a home run and also driving in two runs with a single in the third inning. However, the A's stayed close as David Skurnik tripled and scored in the second and Harris Fine singled and scored in the fourth on Jordan Weisen's sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the fifth, with the A's trailing 3-2, the Cardinals made a pitching change, bringing in Sohil Patel. Patel pitched very well, but the A's managed to eke out the lead in the fifth on singles by Sean Tolkin and Alex Siegel. Once they captured the lead, Friedman retired the Cards in Order in the sixth to secure the victory.

Defensively, the Cards were led by the brilliant play of center fielder Brian Schwartz, who robbed several A's of extra base hits by catching everything that came his way. In addition, Ian Brand, Neil Shah, David Klein, Jeff Klein and Aaron Ok excelled on defense.The Athletics' team defense is what kept them in the game. The defense was led by Alex Siegel at catcher, Brandon Cohen at third base, Matt Chamish at second base and the excellent outfield play of Jason First, Harris Fine, Ryan Atlas, Greg Rosenberg and Steven Edwards.

The undefeated A's are feeling a sense of accomplishment in the early going that they hope will extend throughout the season into the playoffs!

The Bressler Futures Braves improved their record to 2-1 with a hard-fought win over the Gilbert Display Mets. The Mets took an early four-run lead in the first inning behing the clutch hitting of Dustin Shorr and Danny Gaffan. In the bottom of the inning the Braves scored 3 runs behind key hits from Scott Marks and Roy Tuccillo.

Behind the bats of Alex Jacobs, Josh Weiss, Adam Mancin, David Meredith, Shiv Kothar and Jacob Shimon, the Braves captured the lead. The Mets came roaring back to tie the score with key hits from Greg Warren, Jeremy Goldenberg, Brett Weithorn, Andrew Tiffen, Evan Kirchblum, Evan Gettinger and Jason Feldman.

The Mets got strong pitching performances from both Shorr and Weithorn. Both Brett Bader and Gaffan made spectacular catches to keep the game even through five innings and Matt Lieberman was solid behind the plate.

The Braves had strong pitching performances from Tuccillo, Weiss and Garett Goodman, to go along with the excellent defensive play of Jonathan Cantor and Justin Charles.

In the bottom of the sixth, Goodman's single scored Tucillo with the game winner.

This was an exciting, well-played game by both teams.

On Saturday, April 24, the Sheft Kahn Yankees defeated the Gaines Berland Athletics by the score of 16-9 to extend their record to 3-0. The Yanks jumped out to a four-run lead in the top of the first inning when, with one man out and a runner on third, Brian Kahn tripled in the first run. Brian Harris (3 for 3), Evan Kirchblum and Adam Kronengold followed with run-scoring singles. John Goldsmith started for the Yanks and held the A's scoreless in the bottom of the first.

In the top of the second, the Yanks struck again after Daniel Schneider and Goldsmith both reached bases on a hit batsman and a walk. Scott Weinberbger then singled in a run and Brian Kahn (3 for 4, five RBIs) hit a monster three-run homer to stake his team to a 8-0 lead.

The A's fought back in the bottom of the second with five runs to make the game close. David Ackerman (3 for 3) and Michael Klimcheck (2 for 3) hit consecutive singles, while Greg Oxenberg and Matt Coleman drew walks. Goldsmith then struck out the next two batters, but Ricky Schweitzer walked, Adam Rotter had an infield single and Max Rosen walked to drive in the fourth run. Weinberger came on to pitch and, after walking Adam Reisman, struck out the next batter to finally end the threat.

Max Rosen came on to relieve Ryan Saunders for the A's in the top of the third. Saunders was extremely impressive with his two innings of work. The Yanks went to work once again and scored four more runs in the third inning. Chris Kraly and Kronengold led off with bases on balls. Matt Loeb then hit a single to load the bases. Harris Kahn picked up an RBI by being hit by an errant pitch and Harris Moore knocked in a run with a groundout. Goldsmith (2 for 2) then tripled in two more runs to give the Yanks a commanding 12 - 5 lead.

Ackerman saved several more runs with a phenomenal play at shortstop when he dove to stop Kahn's smash and threw to second for a force. The A's came back with two runs in the bottom of the third with a leadoff homer to left-center by Saunders and singles by Ackerman and Coleman.

The Yankees padded their lead in the fourth inning on Daniel Schneider's bases-clearing single. Weinberger held the A's scoreless in the bottom of the fourth. Matt Coleman came in to pitch the top of the fifth for the A's and held the Yanks to only one run. The A's tried to mount a final comeback on consecutive doubles by Saunders and Ackerman and singles by Klimcheck and Eric Elberg, but were unable to overcome their deficit.

In a game worthy of a subway series, the Sheft Kahn Yankees defeated the Direct Access Marketing Mets 15 - 14 on Sunday, April 25 by coming from behind in their last at-bat. The Yanks raised their record to 4-0 in this marvelous, see-saw, heart-wrenching game.

Josh Besserman started for the Yanks and limited the Mets to one run in the top of the first on singles by Ben Kriegel and Shane Birnbaum. Kyle Vieira was throwing smoke for the Mets but was touched up for two runs in the bottom of the first on RBI walks to Matt Loeb and Adam Kronengold.

In the top of the second inning, Joey Stabile led off with a lined triple to right for the Mets. Nicolas Barilla and Anthony Stabile then worked out walks to load the bases. When Miles Tacher hit a grounder to third, the Yanks elected to come home for the force, but Stabile scored on a close play. With two outs, Eric Singer smacked a two-run double and Vieira followed with a run-scoring single to put the Mets on top 6-2.

The Yanks came back for the second time to score five runs in the bottom of the second to go ahead 7 - 6. Brett Novick led off with a walk and John Goldsmith cracked a moonshot to deep left center for a two-run homer. Scott Weinberger (4 for 4) and Harris singled, while Loeb and Kronengold once again drew RBI bases-loaded walks. Ben Davis came in to relieve Vieira and was spectacular, recording consecutive strikeouts to escape further damage.

Besserman shut down the Mets in the top of the third with the help of Weinberger's terrific catch in deep center off the bat of Davis. Davis was outstanding in limiting the Yanks to a single and a walk in the bottom of the third while striking out another three batters.

The Mets broke through with five big runs in the top of the fourth to take an 11 - 7 lead. Brandon Schwartz, Singer and Kriegel walked to load the bases. With one man out, Brian Harris came in to relieve Besserman and induced a groundout to first. Birnbaum then hit a shot just inside the rightfield line for a grand slam homer. Davis' double and Joey Stabile's RBI-single rounded out the scoring.

The Yanks came back once again in the bottom of the fourth. Kronengold drew his third walk, Novick his second, and Harris Kahn was hit by a pitch. Goldsmith then crushed his second homer, this one a grand slam, to even the score at 11.

In the top of the fifth, the last inning, Adam Rochman led off with his second walk. Harris induced two grounders to first as Rochman moved to third. Tacher then drilled a two-run homer to give his team the lead. Singer followed with a solo shot to right center to put the Mets on top 14 - 11.

The Yankees came back for the last time when Harris led off with a walk, while Evan Kirchblum and Loeb hit infield singles. Davis recorded his 10th strikeout and with one out and the bases full of Yanks, Besserman hit a two-strike fly ball inside the right-field line for a bases-clearing double to tie the game.

Novick then got the game winner on an infield single which resulted in two very close plays. Novick just beat out the throw to first and, with Besserman running all the way from second, he slid under the tag at home for the exciting winning run.

The game featured outstanding performances by both teams with Brian Harris pitching great in relief for the Yanks to earn his second straight victory. Ben Davis was remarkable for the Mets in that 10 of the 11 outs recorded during his appearance were strikeouts.