LaRoche wins Field of Dreams championship

WOONSOCKET - They won when it counted most.

LaRoche Dental lost to Cam HVAC in the only two times they met during the regular season, and then lost the opening game of their best-of-three series for the playoff championship in the Field of Dreams Senior Softball League.

But then LaRoche, the defending champs, found another gear and swept the next two games of the series to take the 2009 championship Friday at Baldelli Field.

Unable to get its offense untracked, LaRoche dropped the first game, 9-6, scoring five of its six runs in the sixth inning. Cam led throughout, holding a 4-1 lead heading into the sixth and answering the LaRoche five run-inning with five of its own, and then holding on for the win.

Pacing the winners were Phil Anez, Roger Roy, Jerry Turgeon and Bill Suden.

But in the second game, LaRoche's bats came alive and they put together an easy 13-4 win. Cam scored three of its runs in the first inning, but then seemed to run out of gas, scoring only once more for the rest of the game. Meanwhile LaRoche plated five runs in the first, two in the second and then had a huge five-run fourth inning to put the game out of reach.

Leading the way were Jim Penta, Jim Feeley and Mel Steppo.

With veteran pitcher Vin Ferrini on the mound, who missed a large portion of the season with an injury, LaRoche pasted Cam in a mercy-rule 14-2 win in the rubber game that ended when Fred LaFazia cracked a long homer to provide the 12-run mercy rule differential.

The outcome was never in doubt as LaRoche scored five in the first, three in the second, two in the third inning and three in the fourth before LaFazia's blast ended it. Cam was held to single runs in the first and fourth innings.

LaFazia had three other hits in the game, and steady Jim Feeley punched out three more hits for the playoff champs. Cam was the regular season champs, with LaRoche in second place.