Swee Brand Works Holds their Own in B League with 7-6 Victory over Tompkins Community Bank

Please see pledge, subscribe and tip button below

After winning the C League regular season last year in Somers Men’s Softball, Swee Brand Works lost in the playoff finals to Tompkins Community Bank. The team was asked to move up to B Division nonetheless, and did so with some hesitation, according to Chris Swee. "Knowing the level of competition, we were a little nervous,” said the team manager. But their actual performance has proven that move was within range.

“We’re holding our own,” he said, and a 7-6 victory over Radding Insurance Riverdogs on Monday, July 17 helped make the point.

A 6-7 record resulting, Swee didn’t wait to get started either. Declan Talleur stroked a single up the middle, Mike Mauro lashed a one out triple to center, and Anthony Costanzo’s single opened up a 2-0 lead. Costanzo’s son Vinny then singled in run number three, and there was more to the RBI than padding the family stats.

Four father and son pairings, the wins and losses take second. Playing with our kids,’ said Swee, “It’s why we do this.”

Unfortunately, the family affair didn’t help Dad in this case. The centerfielder hit into a double play to end the inning.

At 9-3, Radding Insurance did answer back by getting on the board. John Vitale blooped a single to left, Dave Phillips lined a single to right, and Joe Andriano singled in Vitale.

A 3-1 game, Swee went right back to work. Chris Herzegovitch stroked an easy single to center, Bill Sweeney put a liner down the third base line, and Rich Haigh loaded the bases with an infield hit.

Nobody out, Talleur singled to center, Ricky Haigh reached on an error to make it 5-1 and sacrifice flies by Mauro and Anthony Costanzo opened a 7-1 lead.

So Radding chipped away again. Chris Radding walked, Dave Brooks singled and Lucas Andriano doubled in a 7-2 deficit.

The teams then traded donuts through the next three half innings, and the lull looked like it might carry. That is until Lucas Andriano woke up the ballpark in the bottom of the fourth. Chris Radding led off with an opposite field single, and Andriano went yard for a 7-4 game.

Swee continued to oblige in a scoreless top of the fifth, but in the bottom, they weren’t so amenable in the field. With Radding on with another single and Tim Whipple reaching on a one out walk, Bill Sweeney made the play of the day.

He dove into the second base hole on a grounder up the middle and flipped to second for the force. “Young mind and the body responded,” said the 62 year old.

Swee got out of the inning unscathed, and while the visitors put two runners on in the top of the sixth, three ground outs kept the score status quo. No damage by either side over the next two half innings, and the bottom of the seventh had the game well within reach.

And Radding Insurance made sure Swee knew it. The home team got hits from Joe Andriano, Chris Cohane and Whipple to put the tying run on second. Unfortunately, for the home team, Radding lined to second, and Dave Brooks flew to center to end the game.

A win in the books for Swee, Bill Sweeney took the long view instead. “I played with my dad, I’m playing with my son and I hope he continues the tradition,” concluded the second baseman.

If you're looking for a sports photographer for any sport at any level please contact me at 914 318 0997 or [email protected]