2009 Flint/Recorder Tournament A-Team

September 5 & 6, 2009

At the Lynch Softball Diamonds

2009 A-Team Tournament Team
The 2009 A-Team Tournament Team posed for the official 2009 team photo on Saturday, September 5, 2009 on "The Hill." Located down the right field foul line from the Lynch #1 softball diamond and just aways down from the parking area, this spot was a favorite viewing area for the late Rich Auricchio. It was a yearly right of passage for him to watch the end of the year tournament and it is this spot that the team, named after Rich and sporting a likeness of him batting on the tournament tee shirt chose to gather and celebrate his life and his love of softball. The members of the A-Team, both ex-teammates and opponents also remembered another ex-teammate who passed away much too young, Johnny Merendo. Better known as "Johnny Bananas" the team chose to honor John with a likeness of a banana on their tournament tees. The fun loving John would have loved the festivities and surely been a part of "The Hill" celebration.

Diamond Notes took many photos during the A-Team participation in the 2009 Flint/Recorder Tournament. Many local softball stars took the field with the Post 701 squad to play in the memory of fellow teammates Rich Auricchion and Johnny Merendo. Both Rich and Johnny would have been proud of the turnout and the celebration.

Assistant Skipper Matt Beck was caught by the DN lens going over game two strategies with the Massachuscetts connection. Joe Fabozzi, son Anthony and fellow Mass citizen Anthony Ortiz are seen as they intently listen to Beck going over the third base signs and where to put the empties.

PHOTOS OF THE GAME

In this sequence of photos Diamond Notes captured Post 701 star shortstop Bobby Lopuch lining a base hit. Mike Andrews was captured with perfect hitting form while lining out and the last photo in the sequence is the all-time Post leader in wins, Charlie Archinal, throwing a strike in game 2.


Matt Beck is spotted in deep thought on the sidelines before game one and is caught once again by the Diamond Notes lens with teammate Hap Hartig following game one after some 12 ounce pick me ups and laughs (you'd laugh too if you saw game one). Matt, who hit .375 during the regular season with 16 ribbys and 12 runs scored, shared some laughs with long time teammate Hap as they discussed the post game spread and whether to go with the honey mustard or dijon. A core member of the Kiddi Korp Danny Auricchio is seen lining one of his 4 hits in the tournament. Danny hit .667 going 4 for 6 with a run scored and 3 rbis.

The A-Team went 0-2 during the 2009 tournament. They hit .316 as a team with Rick Jobin batting a 1.000 (2 for 2) and Danny Auricchio leading all batters with a .667 ba. Stymie and Rick Semiprivo each had three hits and youngster Aaron Kelly went 2 for 6 (.333) as they were the only batters to hit over .300, The rest of the team hit an anemic .118 (4 for 34) as the A-Team scored only 7 runs in the two games. Charlie Archinal pitched to a 2.00 era giving up only two earned runs in his only tournament appearance.

Long time Post veterans Matt Beck and Marty Tambasco are seen in Game 2 at the Lynch #3 softball diamond taking their licks againts the big lefty Paul Brinkman. Meanwhile, Mass resident Joe Fabozzi is spotted by the DN lens relaxing after a hard inning of coaching first. Stymie and Mike Andrews are seen in action in the outfield while Hap Hartig is getting ready to pitch in Game one. Have you ever heard of "Taking one for the Team." Well, Bobby Lopuch did just that between games one and two. Aaron Kelly, the newest member of the Post Kiddi Korp shows perfect form (as taught by Dad, Jimmy Kelly) in Game two and Hap Hartig was photographed letting his hair down after the day of playing was completed.