CHAMPS! MURPHY'S SWEEPS HARRINGTON'S PUB, SWEEPS PLAYOFFS, WINS FIRST LBSL TITLE

It was evident from the first Sunday morning in early March that the Murphy's softball team convened
for the 2012 season that it was a group that had the potential to accomplish special things.

Talent? Check. Chemistry? Check. A collective, selfless approach? Check.

But going out and winning the first division and league title in the program's eight-year history, while it was certainly a possibility, it was far from a given.

That is, until Sunday, July 8th, 2012, sometime just between 11 a.m. and noon when the vision that 16 men initially shared some five months ago came to fruition.

Murphy's continued it's torrid run through the playoffs by sweeping its third straight opponent - this time Lower North Division winner Harrington's Pub -  to secure the Lower Bucks Softball League title for the first time in program history.

The Boys in Black pasted Harrington's Pub in six innings in Game One, 22-7, behind a 29-hit onslaught and then captured the crown with a 6-4 victory in Game Two - incidentally the team's lowest scoring output by two runs in any single game this season.

Murphy's finished the season with a 23-3 (.885) overall mark and was a flawless 6-0 in the playoffs, outscoring the opposition 105-54 over that span while winning three of those games via the 12-run mercy rule.

Murphy's will look to continue their momentous season when the 2012 Trentonian Tournament gets underway Saturday August 4th and Sunday August 5th. The champs are also slated to play in the 2012 Lower Bucks Softball League tournament the following weekend.

The first of three potential titles has been claimed and the other two are certainly not out of reach. Those are stories to be written at a later date, however.

The 2012 Lower Bucks Softball League champions
Back row (L to R): Eddie Gurt, Jim Trochak, Dan Rosar, Mike Simpson,
Andrew Graham,  Marc Rossi, T.J. Coles, Sean Walker, Colin Tosti and Joe Faust Sr.
Front row (L to R): Dave Rossi, Joe Faust Jr., Kevin Maloney, Josh Yeager,
Matt Harker and Evan Christie.

Murphy's wasted little time in delivering a haymaker to Harrington's. Matt Harker and Colin Tosti led the game off with singles and Kevin Maloney doubled home Harker for the game's first run. Mike Simpson followed with a two-run single and T.J. Coles, Joe Faust Jr. and Marc Rossi each added RBI singles during the six-run inning.

Harrington's responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first but Murphy's responded with a three-run top of the second inning. Sean Walker and Tosti reached on singles, setting the table for a three-run homer from Maloney over the fence in left-center field.

Harrington's would pull to within four runs, 9-5, with a three-run bottom of the third inning. The damage could have been way worse, however. Tosti tracked down a two-out blast to straightaway center field off of Bell's bat that would have scored at least two additional runs and kept Harrington's inning very much alive.

Instead, Murphy's would tack on three key insurance runs - Harker ripped a solo homer in the fourth and Graham and Trochak delivered RBI singles in the fifth - over the next two innings before exploding for a 10-spot in the top of the sixth that decided the game and ultimately allowed Murphy's to claim the series.

Harker and Tosti led off the frame with walks and Maloney lined an RBI single between short and third that allowed Harker to score. Simpson smoked a two-run single to right and Graham followed with a single. Both would race around to score on Trochak's triple - his second of the season - to give Murphy's a commanding 17-7 advantage.

Josh Yeager, Faust Jr. and Marc Rossi chipped in with RBI singles and Harker doubled home Rossi to keep the inning alive. Harker scored on Tosti's double for the 22nd and final run - the second highest total of the playoffs and third highest offensive output of the season.

Trochak recorded 13 of the 18 outs in Game One via pop out/fly out, allowed a lone double and didn't walk a batter in another outstanding effort on the hill.

Harker went 4-for-4 with four runs scored, a homer, a double and an RBI, Simpson went 4-for-4 with two runs, four RBIs and a triple and Tosti was also 4-for-4 with three runs, an RBI and a double.

Maloney was 3-for-5 with five RBIs, three runs, a homer and a double, Faust Jr. went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run and Trochak was 3-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs and a triple.

Graham, Coles and Marc Rossi each added multiple hits while Yeager and Walker each drove in a run.

A total team effort propelled Murphy's to a walk-away Game One victory
that gained enough momentum for a low-scoring victory in Game Two that allowed
the  Boys in Black to walk off the field as the LBSL champions for the first time
in the program's eight-year history.

Game two followed a much different blueprint but still managed to net the same end result, which is all that mattered.

Harker led off the bottom of the first with a triple and scored on Tosti's single through the right side of the infield. Coles delivered a major blow with a three-run homer to deep right-center field in the second inning and Graham tripled in Tosti for what proved to be the game-winning run in the third inning. Tosti singled home Harker, who roped a two-out double, in the fifth for a key insurance run.

Harrington's scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh and put the tying run on first base with one out. But Tosti tracked down a fly ball for out No. 2 and Harker fielded a grounder, pivoted and fired to Coles at second for the final out to secure the title.

Murphy's 11 hits in Game Two was ironically a season-low but the Boys in Black captured the title with timely hitting, by playing seal-tight defense and behind another stellar pitching performance from Trochak, who didn't yield an extra-base hit.

The tentative plan is for Murphy's to take off this week, gather for a practice next Sunday and scrimmage Murphy's other sponsored softball team - who was a little cocky after also winning their league's title - two weeks from now in preparation for making a deep run at the 2012 Trentonian Tournament title the first weekend of August.

The 2012 Murphy's softball team following a Week Two thrashing of WLTP
that proved to be the second week of a 13-week journey towards the
Lower Bucks Softball League title.

GAME ONE

Murphy’s (22-3)             630      12(10)  x_22 29 0

Harrington’s Pub (19-6) 203       020      x_ 7  14 0

2B— M: Harker, Tosti, Maloney. HP: Shawn. 3B— M: Simpson, Trochak. HR— M: Harker, Maloney. RBI— M: Maloney 5, Simpson 4, Trochak 3, Coles 2, Faust Jr. 2, Tosti, Graham, Yeager, M. Rossi, Walker.

WP— Trochak (22-3). LP— Brian C. (19-6).

GAME TWO

Harrington’s Pub (19-7) 100      010         2_4 12 0

Murphy’s (23-3)             131      010         x_6 11 0

2B— M: Harker, Tosti. 3B— M: Harker, Graham. HR— M: Coles. RBI— M: Coles 3, Tosti 2, Graham.

WP— Trochak (23-3). LP— Brian C. (19-7).

HEADING TO THE 'SHIP: MURPHY'S SWEEPS PASQUALES, FACES HARRINGTON PUB IN CHAMPIONSHIP

Two. More. Dubs.

By sweeping Pasquales - 10-9 in Game One and 18-10 in Game Two - Murphy's captured the 2012 Lower Bucks Softball League Lower South division title and advanced to the LBSL championship this Sunday against Harrington's Pub (19-5) at Bensalem's Community Park.

It was the first division title for Murphy's (21-3) in the team's eight-year history and just the second time they've advanced to the championship game. 

Marc Rossi led a day in which everyone contributed to the victories by going 4-for-5 with nine RBIs and two homers. His grand slam in the third inning of Game Two put the stamp on a decisive seven-run frame.

Murphy's fell behind 9-6 in Game One but gradually chipped away at the deficit. Colin Tosti ripped a two-run homer - his fourth of the season - to help The Boys in Black get on the board quickly. Kevin Maloney followed a double and Mike Simpson laced a two-out, two-run homer, his team-leading sixth round-tripper of the season.

T.J. Coles homered with one out in the second, Sean Walker followed with a double and scored on Rossi's single. Tosti singled and scored on Simpson's two-out single in the third as Murphy's pulled within two runs, 9-7.

Rossi plated Joe Faust Jr. with a single in the fourth and Tosti came around to score on Jim Trochak's single in the fifth as Murphy's pulled even, 9-9. Faust Jr. led off the sixth with a walk and pinch runner Evan Christie came around to score on a wild dash on Marc Rossi's sacrifice fly to the plate for the decisive run.

While the offense was gradually pecking away at the deficit, Trochak was busy spinning zeroes on the mound. The veteran right-hander retired 15 of the final 17 batters he faced. Tosti made a nice sliding grab in right-center and Coles and Matt Harker combined on inning-ending double play to thwart a sixth-inning rally.

Tosti and Simpson each led the 15-hit attack with three hits apiece and Maloney and Rossi each had a pair of hits. Rossi and Simpson each drove in three runs and Tosti finished with a pair of RBIs.

Marc Rossi went 4-for-5 with nine RBIs and two homers - including a
back-breaking grand slam in Game Two - as Murphy's swept Pasquales
to capture the 2012 LBSL Lower South Division title and to set up a
showdown with Harrington's Pub Sunday morning for the 2012 LBSL title. 

Game Two followed a much different blueprint as Murphy's raced out to a 13-1 lead and never let Pasquales get back into the game.

Harker set the tone immediately with a double and scored on Tosti's single. Maloney followed with an RBI double and both Maloney and Simpson came around to score on Andrew Graham's two-run double.

Rossi launched a monster two-run homer to deep left-center field to give Murphy's a 6-0 lead through two innings. Maloney, Simpson and Graham all singled to lead off the third and Trochak reached on an RBI fielder's choice. Josh Yaeger singled and Coles worked a big two-out walk allowing Walker to bounce an RBI single through the hole between short and third.

Rossi stepped to the dish an launched a missile to straightaway center field, hitting the trees on the fly some 375-plus feet away and raced around the bases for what proved to be the coup de gras. Faust Jr. added an RBI single and Coles ripped an RBI double in the fifth.

Maloney had a sacrifice fly and Graham capped a five-RBI day with a two-run double that he came around to score on following a pair of errors.

Rossi finished Game Two by going 2-for-3 with six RBIs, two homers and two runs. Graham went 3-for-5 with five RBIs and Simpson was 3-for-4 with three runs and an RBIs. Harker, Tosti, Maloney, and Dave Rossi each had multiple hits.

This double play to end fourth inning of Game One proved to be pivotal
in Murphy's squeezing out a 10-9 victory and riding that momentum towards
a walk-away win in Game Two.

Evan Christie's graceful slide into home stood up for the game-winning run
in Murphy's 10-9 Game One victory.

The 2012 Lower Bucks Softball League Lower South Division Champs

Murphy's celebrates its first LBSL Lower South division title in the program's
eight-year history.

GAME ONE

Pasquales (14-9)               540         000         0_9 15 0

Murphy’s (20-3)                421         111         X_10 15 0

2B— P: Craig, Josh, Nolan, Ace; M: Maloney, Faust Jr., Coles, Walker. HR— M: Tosti, Simpson, Coles. RBI— M: Simpson 3, M. Rossi 3, Tosti 2, Trochak, Coles.

WP— Trochak (20-3). LP— Brian (14-9).

GAME TWO

Murphy’s (21-3)                427         020         3_18 21 0

Pasquales (14-10)            102         130         3_10 19 0

2B— M: Harker 2, Tosti, Maloney, Coles. 3B— P: Ace. HR— M: M. Rossi 2; RBI— M:  M. Rossi 6, Graham 5, Maloney 2, Simpson, Trochak, Faust Jr., Coles, Walker.

WP— Trochak (21-3). LP— Brian (14-10).

MURPHY'S MAKES STATEMENT, ROLLS TO A PAIR OF CONVINCING VICTORIES IN PLAYOFF OPENER

Now that's a fucking statement.

Murphy's, the highest-seeded team in the eight-team Lower Bucks Softball League playoffs, opened the 2012 postseason in dominating fashion by steamrolling the Not So Athletics to the tune of a pair of mercy-rule victories Sunday at Bensalem Community Park's Lower Field.

Every player had multiple hits, nine of eleven players contributed multiple runs and Murphy's combined for nine extra-base hits in a 30-18, six-inning victory in Game One. Kevin Maloney went 4-for-5 and hit for the cycle and Colin Tosti, Jim Trochak and Mike Simpson each had four hits in the 35-hit barrage - besting Murphy's previous season high of 30 hits against Hot Movies back on April 29th.

Murphy's carried that momentum over to Game Two by pounding out 11 runs over the first two innings en route to a 19-6 triumph. Tosti went 4-for-4 with two doubles, a triple and a monster homer, Trochak was 4-for-4 with four RBIs and Graham went 4-for-4 with two doubles and a pair of RBIs in the win.

Top-seeded Murphy's (19-3) advances to take on third-seeded Pasquales (14-8), which defeated Schaffers, Sunday at 9 a.m. at Poplar Park for the South Division title. Murphy's swept Pasquales, 27-11 and 11-10, back on April 22nd.

No. 1 seed Harrington's Pub takes on No. 3 seed Paddywhack's for the North Division title Sunday at 9 a.m. at Core Creek Park. The winners of each games will meet next Sunday at a field to be determined for the LBSL Lower Division championship.

Murphy's wasted little time getting their prolific offensive day started. The 49 runs and 56 hits (in 11 innings) was by far their highest output thus far, surpassing previous totals of 41 runs and 51 hits.

Using eight consecutive base hits - seven of which were singles - to open the game, Murphy's pushed across six runs in the bottom of the first inning. They went right back to work their next trip to the plate using seven hits and two walks to throw an eight spot on the scoreboard. Maloney hit a two-run homer to left-center and Tosti and Yeager each had run-scoring doubles in the frame.

The Not So Athletics scored two times in the top of the third to pull within four runs, 14-10, but Murphy's stomped out any thoughts of an upset with a nine-run third inning. Maloney led the inning off with a triple and scored on Graham's double. Graham scored on Trochak's single and Simpson, Yeager, Sean Walker, Marc Rossi and Matt Harker each had RBI singles in the inning.

Walker and Rossi each had RBI doubles during a six-run fourth that effectively put the game out of reach for good. Tosti put the 12-run rule into place with a two-out single in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Harker went 3-for-3 with three runs and three RBIs, Tosti went 4-for-5 with three doubles, four RBIs and two runs, Trochak went 4-for-5 with four runs and an RBI and Simpson went 4-for-4 with four runs and three RBIs. Joe Faust Jr. went 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI, Yeager went 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs, T.J. Coles went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs and Walker went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs.

As a team, Murphy's put together perhaps the most impressive base running performance in the team's eight-year history. In what amounted to at least a dozen instances, Murphy's took the extra base and sometimes a pair of extra bases as Rossi did in scoring on Tosti's sacrifice fly from second base.

Kevin Maloney had a big day, hitting for the cycle in Game
One, as Murphy's pounded the Not So Athletics twice by
the mercy rule behind a 56-hit, 49-run onslaught. 

Game Two followed the exact blueprint from the first game with Murphy's parlaying six hits and two walks into a seven-run top of the first inning. Tosti, Maloney and Graham ripped three straight doubles for the game's first two runs, Trochak had an RBI single and Coles capped the inning with a three-run blast to right-center field.

Harker led off the second with a double and scored on Tosti's triple. Tosti scored on Maloney's single and Graham followed with a single. Trochak knocked in Graham with a single to right field.

Tosti launched a two-run homer to deep right-center field in the fourth inning and Murphy's scored six times in the top of the fifth. Rossi had an RBI single, Harker had a sacrifice fly and Rossi scored on Tosti's double. Maloney plated Tosti with a triple and scored on Graham's double. Graham would score on Trochak's eighth hit of the day.

The 21-hit attack in Game Two featured seven doubles, a triple and a pair of homers. On the day, Murphy's went a combined 56-for-83 (.675) with 16 doubles, two triples, three homers and 49 runs scored.

Trochak yielded just four hits - only one of which went for extra bases - in picking up his 19th win of the season in Game Two.

GAME ONE

Not So Athletics (11-10)   262       800         X_18 27 0

Murphy’s (18-3)                689       601         X_30 35 0

2B— NSA: Ed 3, Mike, Shawn, Darren; M: Tosti 3, Harker, Maloney, Graham, Yeager, Walker, M. Rossi.  3B— NSA: Kenny; M: Maloney. HR— NSA: Joe; M: Maloney. RBI— M: Tosti 4, Faust Jr., Coles 4, Harker 3, Maloney 3, Simpson 3, Yeager 3, Graham 2, Walker 2, Trochak, M. Rossi.

WP— Trochak (18-3). LP— Zeis (11-10).

GAME TWO

Murphy’s (19-3)                740        26X         X_19 21 0

Not So Athletics (11-11)    001       23X         X_ 6   4  0

2B— M: Harker 2, Tosti 2, Graham 2, Maloney. 3B— M: Maloney, Tosti. HR— M: Tosti, Coles; NSA: Wally. RBI— M: Tosti 4, Trochak 4, Maloney 3, Coles 3, Graham 2, Harker, Yeager, Walker.

WP— Trochak (19-3). LP— Zeis (11-11).

MURPHY'S GETS TO 17-3, CLINCHES NO. 1 OVERALL SEED

While it wasn't quite the way the Murphy's softball team had envisioned it, the end result is all that matters at this point.

By virtue of a pair of forfeits by Santucci's last Sunday at Bensalem's Community Park in addition to a Harrington Pub's loss, Murphy's improved to 17-3 and secured the No. 1 overall seed in the 2012 Lower Bucks Softball League playoffs.

The Lower South Division champions will face the Not So Athletics Sunday at 9 a.m. at Bensalem's Community Park. The Not So Athletics gave Murphy's their first loss of the season following a 10-0 start, a 12-11 walk-off win at Poplar Park back on May 13th.

Murphy's rebounded to pound out 18 hits - including five extra-base hits - in an 18-6 victory in Game Two of that day.

Matt Harker, Jim Trochak, Kevin Maloney, Colin Tosti, Josh Yeager and T.J. Coles all had multiple hits in Game Two. Harker, Trochak, Maloney, Andrew Graham and Sean Walker all had multiple hits in Game One.

2012 Murphy's Softball Team
Top left: Sean Walker, Matt Harker, Andrew Graham, Mike Simpson,
Jim Trochak, Marc Rossi, Ed Gurt, T.J. Coles, Dan Rosar and Josh Yeager.
Bottom left: Kevin Maloney, Colin Tosti, Joe Faust Jr., Evan Christie
and Joe Faust Sr.

Since that initial meeting with the Not So Athletics, Murphy's has won six of its last eight and is averaging 11.4 runs per game.

While the pair of 9-0 wins it received for the forfeits deflates that average a bit, Murphy's will almost certainly need to scorer higher than that average in order to reel off the six wins it will take to bring home the program's first title in its eight-yer history.

The playoffs are a "Best of Three" format. If Murphy's can get past the Not So Athletics this week, it'll take on the Schaffers/Pasquales winner Sunday, July 1st. The Lower Bucks Softball League championship is set to be played Sunday, July 8th.

That would give Murphy's a full four weeks to rest and prepare for the 2012 Trentonian Tournament, which is slated for Saturday and Sunday, August 4th-5th.

Lower Bucks Softball League Playoff Matchup's

North Division
No. 1 Harrington's Pub (15-5) vs. No. 4 Skybox (11-9), Poplar Park, 9 a.m.
No. 2 GTS (14-6) vs. No. 3 Paddywhack's (12-8), Charles Boehm, 9 a.m.

South Division 
No. 1 Murphy's (17-3) vs. No. 4 Not So Athletics (11-9), Bensalem Community Park, 9 a.m.
No. 2 Schaffers (12-8) vs. No. 3 Pasquales (12-8), Maple Point, 8 a.m.

Final 2012 Lower Bucks Softball League Lower South Standings

GOAL ONE ACCOMPLISHED: MURPHY'S SPLITS BUT CLINCHES LOWER SOUTH DIVISION TITLE

When the Murphy's softball team began preparation for this season back on mid-March, the team set their sights on four goals: to win the Lower South division, to secure the No. 1 overall seed in the Lower Bucks Softball League, to capture the program's first LBSL title and to make a legitimate run at a Trentonian title.

Goal No. 1 accomplished.

Jim Trochak fired his first-ever shutout and Andrew Graham, Mike Simpson and Sean Walker each supplied a pair of hits as Murphy's blanked Wolfpack, 8-0, in Game One at Edgewood Elementary.

Wolfpack did bounce back and and hand Murphy's a 20-8, five-inning defeat in Game Two - just the first time in nine weeks dating back to last season that Murphy's lost via the mercy rule - but the loss was inconsequential as far as it concerned Murphy's claiming its first division title in the program's eight-year history.

Trochak yielded just eight hits - only one of which went for extra-bases - and didn't walk a batter. He had three 1-2-3 innings and was backed by a pair of double-play balls.

He was backed by a five-run bottom of the third inning. Walker got it started with a single and scored on Evan Christie's sacrifice fly for the game's first run. Colin Tosti followed with a two-run homer and Trochak scored on the first of two triples from Graham.

Walker doubled to lead off the fifth and scored on Marc Rossi's triple. Ed Gurt plated Rossi with a sacrifice fly and Tosti plated Rossi with his sixth double of the season. Josh Yeager laced a one-out double in the sixth and scored on Joe Faust Jr.'s single.

Joe Faust Jr.'s jubilation could be felt team-wide as Murphy's
 dispatched Wolfpack, 8-0, in Game One to earn the program's
first-ever Lower South division title.

Murphy's fell behind, 16-1, in Game Two and just couldn't recover against a Wolfpack team that still had its playoff hopes on life support.

Simpson launched a two-run double and T.J. Coles followed with a two-run homer to highlight a seven-run fourth. Walker doubled and Marc Rossi had an RBI in the frame. Walker, who scored a pair of runs, came across the plate on Christie's single in the third.

Murphy's will look to continue its torrid run and clinch first place for the first time in program history Sunday when they take on Santucci's (2-16) at Bensalem Community Park's Lower Field.

GAME ONE

Wolf Pack (7-10)               000         000         0_ 0  8  0

Murphy’s (15-2)                005         021         X_8 14 0

2B— W: Jim, Josh; M: Simpson 2, Yeager, Walker. 3B— M: Graham 2, M. Rossi, Gurt. HR— M: Tosti. RBI— M: Gurt 2, Tosti, Graham, Faust Jr., M. Rossi, Christie.

WP— Trochak (15-2). LP— Chris (7-10).

GAME TWO

Murphy’s (15-3)                001         70X         X_  8 12  0

Wolf Pack (8-10)               736         04X         X_20 27  0

2B— M: Tosti, Graham, Simpson, Walker; W: Steve, Jimbo. 3B— W: Josh, Dom. HR— M: Coles. RBI— M: Simpson 2, Coles 2, Rosar 2, Christie, M. Rossi.

WP— Chris (8-10). LP— Trochak (15-3).

MURPHY'S POUNDS SKY BOX BEHIND ANOTHER OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT, IMPROVES TO 14-2

That's the well-oiled machine that we all know and love.

After consecutive weeks in which the Murphy's softball team managed only a pair of splits, the Boys in Black reverted to their juggernaut form in roasting Sky Box in a pair of lopsided victories at Truman High.

Murphy's racked up 21 hits in a 15-4 victory in Game One and kept it rolling by pounding out 23 hits en route to a 21-1 thrashing in Game Two.

In the form Murphy's had shown repeatedly through the early portion of the season, they can put the big inning together like perhaps no other team in the league. Game One included an 11-run third inning and Game Two featured a seven-run second inning and a 10-run fifth inning.

It was the 16th time this season Murphy's had pushed across six-or-more runs in an inning.

It proved to be the sign of things to come when Jimmy "Jimmy Jax" Trochak struck out Sky Box's first batter of the day. He would allow just six hits - four doubles and two singles - in Game One and was backed by more than enough offense than he would need.

The offense featured 21 hits and eight extra-base hits, with Dave "Boston Strangler" Rossi ripping a tape-measure two-run homer to highlight the day. Colin "Quintonious" Tosti paced the offense by going 3-for-3 with a triple and four RBIs out of the leadoff hole. Tosti is hitting a scorching .700 (28-for-40) with a team-high 27 RBIs on the season.

Mark "Joey's Dad" Rossi made his triumphant return to the lineup by going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Sean Walker was 2-for-2 with two RBIs, two runs and a double and Josh Yeager "Bomb" went 3-for-3 with a double. Matt "Hollywood" Harker and T.J. "Morpheous" Coles each went 2-for-3 with a double and combined for five RBIs.

Yeager led off the 11-run third and scored on Coles's RBI double. Dave Rossi put his emphatic imprint on the inning by launching a two-run shot onto the island deep over the home run territory in left field. Murphy's would string the ensuing nine runs together with doubles from Marc Rossi, Andrew Graham and Harker and a three-run triple from Tosti.

Sean Walker went 4-for-4 with four RBIs, five runs, a double and reached
base in all five trips to the plate to spark a 44-hit day as Murphy's pounded
Sky Box by a combined tally of 36-5 to improve to 14-2 on the season. 

Murphy's carried that momentum into Game Two, breaking out for a seven-run second inning. Mike Simpson bombed a two-run triple to get the inning started, Shawn Walker added a two-run single and Kevin Maloney plated Walker with a single to cap the inning.

Walker went 4-for-4 with four RBIs, five runs, a double and reached base in all five plate appearances on the day.

Even after jumping out to an 11-1 lead thru four innings, the Murphy's offense would not be satisfied. The good guys sent 15 batters to the plate in the top of the fifth and scored 10 runs behind 11 hits. Joe Faust Jr. and Yeager ignited the inning with RBI singles. Joe "Ichiro" Faust bounced a two-run double, Maloney followed with a two-run double and Graham scored Maloney with a double. Harker closed out the frame with a two-run shot, his fifth of the season.

Trochak was a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs in Game Two and was 6-for-7 on the day. Yeager went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored and Maloney went 2-for-2 with five RBIs and a double.

Simpson went 2-for-2 with three RBIs, three runs and a triple, Dave Rossi went 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI and Harker was 2-for-2 with 1-for-2 with three runs, two RBIs and a homer. Evan Christie also added two hits, including a double.

Murphy's (14-2) will look to retain the No. 1 record in the LBSL this Sunday when it takes on Wolfpack (7-9) at Edgewood Elementary at 9 a.m.

GAME ONE

Sky Box (10-5)                  012         100         0_  4  6  0

Murphy’s (13-2)                00(11)     112         X_15 21 0

2B— SB: Gary, J.R.; M: M. Rossi 2, Andrew, Harker, Yeager, Coles, Walker. 3B— M: Tosti. HR— M: D. Rossi. RBI— M: Tosti 4, Coles 3, Simpson 2, D. Rossi 2, Walker 2, Harker, Trochak.

WP— Trochak (13-2). LP— Tom (10-5).

GAME TWO

Murphy’s (14-2)                  072         2(10)X     X_21 23 0

Sky Box (10-6)                    001         00X         X_1   6   0

2B— M: Faust Sr., Maloney, Christie. 3B— M: Simpson. HR— M: Harker. RBI— M: Maloney 5, Simpson 3, Yeager 3, Walker 2, Faust Sr. 2, Harker 2, Graham, Faust Jr., D. Rossi.

WP— Trochak (14-2). LP— Tom (10-6).

MURPHY'S SPLITS AGAIN, MOVES TO 12-2

If the Murphy's softball team is going to accomplish the two biggest goals - winning a Lower Bucks Softball League title and making a legitimate run towards a 2012 Trentonian title - it set forth coming into this season there's going to be the proverbial bumps in the road.

And for the second time in as many weeks, the Boys in Black proved there as adept at dealing with adversity as any other team in the program's seven-year history.

After getting dealt a 14-8 setback in Game One to The Sillies, Murphy's rebounded with an energized, all-around effort in avenging that loss with a 13-6 victory at Edgewood Elementary.

Murphy's did rack up 15 hits in the first game but only managed to push eight runs across the plate. Matt "Hollywood" Harker led the way by going 3-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs and a run.

Kevin "Mon Dog" Maloney, Colin "Quintonious" Tosti, Joe "Ichiro" Faust Sr., Josh Yeager "Bomb" and T.J. "Morpheous" Coles each added two hits. Coles ripped a three-run homer in the sixth inning and was an absolute terror for the opposition on the base paths all day.

T.J. Coles went 5-for-5 with six RBIs, a HR, three doubles and three runs
scored but Murphy's split for the second straight week to move to 12-2

Just like they had done the previous week after getting dealt their initial setback of the season at the hands of The Not So Athletics, Murphy's rebounded in a convincing way in Game Two.

Jimmy "Jimmy Jax" Trochak limited The Sillies to just six runs and one extra-base hit in improving to 12-2 on the season. The right-hander was backed by solid defense, including a tremendous defensive play from Coles at short to end the first inning.

Posey lined a shot back up the box that took a crazy hop back up to the right before it got to Coles. But the standout shortstop somehow snared the wicked hop up over his right ear and fired to first in time for the out. Maloney made a nice running grab to rob Wayne of an extra-base hit in the fifth inning.

Coles' three doubles highlighted a 23-hit, eight extra-base hit onslaught in game two. Coles was 3-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs in Game Two and was 5-for-5 with six RBIs, a homer, three doubles and three runs scored on the day.

Trochak backed his own cause at the plate by going 3-for-4 with two runs, an RBI and a triple. Tosti went 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI and reached base in all four plate appearances. Harker, Maloney, Andrew Graham, Yeager and Joe Faust Jr. each had two hits in the convincing victory.

Murphy's, which maintained sole possession of first place in the Lower South standings, will square-off with a Sky Box (10-4) team that's been hot as of late at 9 a.m. at Truman High.

GAME ONE

Murphy’s (11-2)                100         213         1_  8  15 0

Sillies (8-5)                        640         121         X_14 23 0

2B— M: Faust Jr.; S: Mamenski 3, Posey 2, Derrick. HR— M: Harker, Tosti, Coles; S: Buddy. RBI— M: Coles 3, Harker 2, Maloney, Tosti, Yeager.

WP— John (N/A). LP— Trochak (11-2).

GAME TWO

Sillies (8-6)                        030         001         2_  6  13 0

Murphy’s (12-2)                600         601         X_13 23 0

2B— M: Coles 3, Harker, Maloney, Faust Jr. 3B— M: Trochak. HR— S: Derrick. RBI— M: Coles 3, Harker 2, Maloney 2, Yeager 2, Trochak, Graham, Tosti, Faust Jr.

WP— Trochak (12-2). LP— Greg (N/A).

MURPHY'S DEALT FIRST SETBACK, REBOUNDS IN A BIG WAY IN GAME TWO

Something had to give.

The Murphy's softball team entered its showdown with the Not So Athletics Sunday morning with a flawless 10-0 mark while the veteran Not So Athletics had managed to split with their opponents every single week through the first five weeks of the season.

The future will prove whether it's a good thing or a bad thing but it was Murphy's hopes of an undefeated season that came to an end behind a 12-11 loss in Game One. The Boys in Black rebounded in a major way by pounding out 18 hits and three homers en route to an 18-12, five-inning win in Game Two.

Even despite the initial setback, Murphy's enters Week Seven with a comfortable four-game lead in the Lower South standings and the head-to-head advantage over Schaffers and Pasquales, both 7-5. Murphy's will see the other 7-5 club, Sillies, this Sunday at 9 a.m. at Edgewood Elementary.

Game One had all the makings of another victory as Murphy's used a five-run third to stake an early 6-2 lead. Matt "Hollywood" Harker doubled him Dan Rosar and both Harker and Evan "Pinky" Christie scored on Jim Trochak's two-run single. Kevin Maloney knocked in Trochak with an RBI double and Maloney came around to score on Andrew Graham's RBI double.

Murphy's struck for a solo run in the fourth on Eddie "Big Cat" Gurt's sacrifice fly and jumped out to a commanding 11-3 lead behind a four-run fifth. Trochak doubled home Christie with a double - his third hit of the day - and Maloney knocked in Trochak with a single, also his third hit of the day.

Graham's RBI single plated Maloney - also his third hit of the day - and came around to score on Colin Tosti's double.

But that would be where the boys in blacks positive mojo came to a half. The Not So Athletics pushed across seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to pull within a run, 11-10. The Not So Athletics did rack up eight hits in the inning but the damage shouldn't have been quite as bad as it was.

With one out and the bases loaded, Mike lifted a fly ball to left field. Graham caught the ball, came up and fired to second base where he clearly caught Zies two feet off of the bag for what should have been the third out of the inning.

Instead, the umpire - visibly still feeling the effects from a late Saturday night - inexplicably was looking at home instead of second base, did not see the tag and called the runner at second base safe. The out at second proved to be a two-run swing as Ed wouldn't have crossed home plate by the time the out was made at second and Zies scored another run on an ensuing single.

The Not So Athletics went ahead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth and Murphy's missed a golden opportunity to go ahead with the top of the lineup coming up in the top of the seventh.

Andrew Graham went 3-for-5 with three runs, two RBIs
a double and three walks to help Murphy's improve
to 11-1 on the season.

But as they've done time and time again this season, Murphy's responded to the adversity by unleashing a pounding in Game Two.

Mike Simpson, Josh "Jager Bomb" Yaeger and Tosti each homered and Trochak chipped in three hits for the second straight game as Murphy's jumped out to a monster lead early and finished off the Not So Athletics with Graham's walk-off walk with no outs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the bounce-back win was that Murphy's scored 11 of its 18 runs with two outs.

Seething from the setback, Murphy's pushed across six runs in the bottom of the first inning. Harker and Trochak led off with singles and Maloney followed with a single to score Harker. Tosti, who finished with five RBIs for the game, plated Trochak with a single

Simpson followed with a smashed-shot to deep left center field and raced around for his fifth homer of the season that plated Maloney and Tosti. Yaeger followed with a solo homer - his first of the season. It was the first time Murphy's had back-to-back homers on the season.

But it was in the second inning that Murphy's showed the attribute that's been the most impressive in what's been a downright dominating start to the season.

Christie ripped a single to left-center to leadoff the inning. After consecutive outs, Maloney kept the inning alive with a single and Graham followed with a walk. Tosti singled home Maloney and Simpson knocked in both Graham and Tosti with a single. Yaeger followed with an RBI single, Sean Walker followed with a single and T.J. Coles plated both Simpson and Yaeger with a two-run double.

Tosti's three-run homer in the third inning - his first round-tripper of the season - allowed Murphy's to open up a 17-0 lead.

Up 17-6 entering the bottom of the fifth, Harker and Trochak led off with singles. Maloney was intentionally walked and Graham walked on three pitches for Murphy's fifth mercy-rule victory of the season.

Props to Dave Rossi for making the trip down from Boston to give a depleted Mothers Day squad some much-needed depth and to Joe "Tommy Bahama" Faust Sr. for his continued stewardship of the squad.

Murphy's will look to get back to their dominant ways Sunday against Sillies when it will welcome Joe Faust Jr. back from a two-week, globetrotting hiatus.

GAME ONE

Murphy’s (10-1)             105         140         0_ 11 19 0

Not So Athletics (6-5)    110         172         X_12 19 0

2B— M: Trochak 2, Harker, Maloney, Graham, Tosti, Walker; NSA: Kenny. 3B— NSA: Darren. RBI— M: Trochak 3, Maloney 2, Tosti 2, Harker, Graham, Simpson, Gurt.

WP— Darren (6-5). LP— Trochak (10-1).

GAME TWO

Not So Athletics (6-6)       000         60X         X_ 6  12 0

Murphy’s (11-1)                683         01X         X_18 18 0

2B— NSA: Joe, Ed; M: Harker, Coles. HR— M: Tosti, Simpson, Yeager. RBI— M: Tosti 5, Simpson 4, Coles 2, D. Rossi 2, Trochak, Maloney, Graham, .

WP— Trochak (11-1). LP— Darren (6-6).

MURPHY'S GETS PAST SCHAFFERS TWICE, PUSHES RECORD TO 10-0

Whew.

It took a pair of closer-then-they-would-have-liked victories, but the Murphy's softball team improved to 10-0 on the season with a pair of wins against defending champions Schaffers at Truman High School.

Andrew Graham laced a two-run single and Jim Trochak and Colin Tosti etched added RBI singles to break a 4-all tie with a four-run bottom of the sixth inning to lift Murphy's to an 8-4 victory in Game One.

Mike Simpson homered twice and racked up seven RBIs and Eddie Gurt's RBI single proved to be the difference as Murphy's edged Schaffers, 15-14, in eight innings in a tension-packed Game Two.

Game One featured 16 hits - with Tosti's RBI double in the fifth inning as the lone extra-base hit - five of which came in the tide-turning bottom of the sixth inning. Kevin Maloney and Tosti had RBI singles in the first and T.J. Coles added a sacrifice fly as the boys in black pushed three runs across in the top of the first.

They would be held scoreless until Josh Yeager's RBI single in the fifth. Schaffer's tied the game in the top of the sixth but Trochak was able to get out of the jam by stranding runners on first and second.

Colin Tosti went 6-for-7 with three doubles, four RBIs
and three runs to help Murphy's to a pair of close victories
that helped push the team to 10-0 on the season.

Game Two personified the growth this Murphy's team has made as the season's progressed as it was probably a game they would have lost in previous years.

Up five going to the bottom of the seventh inning with the 8, 9 and 10 hitters come to the plate, Murphy's was in position to cruise to a program-record 10th straight victory. Of course, the good things in life never come easy.

After Trochak retired the first batter, the next three batters reached base on singles. Scaffer's No. 2 hitter, Vince, crushed a three-run triple to deep right field, bringing the game-tying run to the plate in the form of John.

John lifted another deep shot to right field and raced all the way around for a homer to tie the game at 14-all.

With the momentum firmly in Schaffer's possession, Murphy's came within four feet of its first defeat when Andy smashed a shot to deep left-center field. The ball landed just over a yard short of counting for a home run and instead went into the books as a ground-rule double.

Trochak would escape the jam and strand Chris on second, leaving Schaffers thisclose to dealing the hottest team in the league its first loss.

Yeager led off the eighth with a double and scored on Gurt's RBI single to right for what stood up as the game-winning run.

Again, Murphy's looked like they would record victory No. 10 in relative ease when they recorded the first two outs on two pitches. But the next three batters reached to load the bases and put the game-winning run on second base. Trochak got Vince to line out to second and Graham snared the liner as the team let out one collective sigh of relief.

Simpson went 3-for-4 with 7 RBIs and two runs in Game Two and Graham and Tosti each had three hits and combined to score five runs. Matt "Hollywood" Harker had two hits and Sean Walker drove in a run.

Eddie Gurt doubled and drove in two runs, Evan Christie doubled and scored a run - and also struck out, earning pink shirt honors next week - and Dan Rosar singled and drove in a run. Coles tripled and scored in a five-run first inning.

Simpson ripped a three-run homer in that aforementioned first inning and added a key two-run shot in the top of the seventh inning.

Christie and Gurt also did an outstanding job keeping the book in the absence of head coach Joe Faust Sr., who sources spotted in the Florida Keys on Sunday rocking sandals and an unbuttoned Tommy Bahama shirt with a pina colada in his hand.

Murphy's will look to keep its undefeated record in tact Sunday at 9 a.m. at Poplar Park when it takes on the Not So Athletics, which are 5-5 and have split its contests in each week thus far.

Game One

Schaffers (5-4)                    010         111         0_4 0 0
Murphy’s (9-0)                   300         014         X_8 16 0

2B— S: Tosti; M: Andy, Vince. RBI— M: Graham 2, Tosti 2, Trochak, Maloney, Coles, Yeager.

WP— Trochak (9-0). LP— Tom (5-4).

Game Two 

Murphy’s (10-0)                502         122         11_15 20 0

Schaffers (5-5)                    510         120         50_14 29 0

2B— M: Tosti 2, Yeager 2, Walker, Gurt, Christie, Harker; S: Andy. 3B— M: Coles; S: Chad, Vince. HR— M: Simpson 2; S: Jon. RBI— M: Simpson 7, Tosti 2, Gurt 2, Harker, Rosar, Yeager.

WP— Trochak (10-0). LP— Tom (5-5).

MURPHY'S DOMINATES HOT MOVIES, IMPROVES TO 8-0

Being at the top isn't easy.

One week after dispatching a very good Pasquale's team behind a 27-11, five-inning drubbing in Game One and an 11-10, walk-off victory in Game Two on the strength of Andrew Graham's two-out, eighth-inning single to remain undefeated through six games, the Murphy's softball team found itself in a position it had not been in some time (if ever) at this point of the season: first place.

But the 2012 squad isn't one that's satisfied with the designation of being in first place or undefeated through three weeks of play.

It's a group that has a collective goal of bringing home a Lower Bucks Softball League championship in dominating fashion and utilizing that championship run as a catalyst for a deep run in the 2012 Trentonian Tournament in August.

Murphy's passed their first test as the team to beat without much turbulence, pounding out 40 runs on 50 hits in a pair of convincing victories over Hot Movies at Levittown's Queen Anne Park.

Kevin Maloney and Mike Simpson each had a homer, two hits and drove in three runs in the 20-7, Game One victory. Colin Tosti put the 12-run rule into effect with a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning -- Murphy's fourth mercy-rule victory of the season.

Game Two featured a 30-hit onslaught highlighted by a grand slam and six RBIs from Matt "Hollywood" Harker and homers from Simpson and Maloney en route to a convincing 21-9 victory to improve to 8-0 for the first time in program history.

Wasting little time to get to work, Murphy's pushed nine runs across the plate in the bottom of the second inning to race out to a commanding 9-0 lead. Joe Faust Jr. ignited the inning with a single and advanced to third on Colin Tosti's RBI single. Josh Yeager plated Faust Jr. with a single and T.J. Coles followed with an RBI double to score Tosti.

Sean Walker drove in both Yeager and Coles with another double and advanced to third on Evan Christie's single. Both Walker and Christie came across on Harker's single and Jim Trochak kept the inning alive with a single to right to put runners on first and third for Maloney.

Delivering an early offensive contribution to compensate for the subpar day he'd have in the outfield, Maloney smoked a first-pitch offering into the woods in left field for a three-run shot. It was, shamefully, his first legitimate home run since he was 12-years old.

Murphy's pushed two runs across in the fourth on Simpson's two-run blast to straightaway center field, added a pair of runs in the fifth and put an early ending to the game with a six-run sixth that was capped by Tosti's two-run, walk-off single.

Harker and Faust Jr. led the 20-hit attack with three hits apiece and Trochak, Maloney, Tosti, Simpson and Christie each added a pair of hits.

Trochak improved to 7-0 on the season with the victory, allowing just 10 hits -- amazingly none of which were extra-base hits.

      Mike Simpson went 5-for-6 with two homers, six RBIs and six runs to
help Murphy's improve to 8-0 on the season.

Game Two picked right up where the first game left off as Murphy's used eight hits and a walk to shock Hot Movies with an eight-run second inning. Harker's grand slam -- his eighth round-tripper of the season -- highlighted the frame.

Simpson followed his cousin's bomb with a two-run homer during a three-run third inning and Maloney ripped a two-run shot in the fourth to cap Murphy's three-homer limit for the game.

Shawn Walker had an RBI single and Ed Gurt and Dan Rosar each added sacrifice flies during a three-run fifth.

Up 16-3 through 5 1/2 innings, Murphy's looked poised to end yet another game via the mercy rule. Perhaps Hot Movies found some life or perhaps the boys in black let off the pedal a bit, but Hot Movies gained a little bit of momentum by scoring six straight over the fifth and sixth innings to pull within seven runs, 16-9.

After Murphy's first two batters went down in order to lead off the seventh, the door looked like it would be left open a crack for Hot Movies to stage a miracle comeback. But Simpson got yet another two-out rally started with a single. Five batters and five singles later, Murphy's had added five key insurance runs to completely quash any comeback hopes for Hot Movies.

Harker went 4-for-5 with a homer, a double and six RBIs in Game Two, Simpson went 3-for-3 with four runs and three RBIs and Rosar was a perfect 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs. Walker went 3-for-4 with four runs and Maloney went 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs.

Both Graham and Maloney hit round-trippers following the team using up its three allotted homers and will share pink shirt duties this Sunday.

The pair of wins allowed Murphy's to remain as the lone undefeated team in the seven-team LBSL league -- three of which are co-ed. Murphy's will look to continue it's torrid start to the season Sunday when they take on the defending champions, Schaffers (5-3) at Truman High School at 9 a.m.

GAME ONE

Hot Movies (2-5)              000         511         X_9  10 0

Murphy’s (7-0)                 090         226         X_19 20 0

2B— M: Faust Jr. 2, Coles, Walker. HR— M: Maloney, Simpson. RBI— M: Tosti 4, Maloney 3, Simpson 3, Harker 2, Faust Jr. 2, Walker 2, Trochak, Yeager, Coles.

WP— Trochak (7-0). LP— Wayne.

GAME TWO

Murphy’s (8-0)                 083         230         5_21 30 0

Hot Movies (2-6)              002         124         0_9  18  0

2B— M: Harker, Maloney, Faust Jr., Coles, Simpson; HM: Eric, Kevin, Keith, Darrell. 3B— HM: Darrell. HR— M: ; HM: Darrell. RBI— M: Harker 6, Walker 3, Simpson 3, Maloney 2, Christie 2, Rosar 2, Trochak, Graham, Gurt.

WP— Trochak (8-0). LP— Bryan.