Fall Guys take down Ball Busters for Great Neck softball title

Amelia Camurati
The Fall Guys, a group of North Shore men from Roslyn, East Hills, Great Neck and beyond, defeated the Ball Busters Thursday to win the Great Neck Modified A-2 softball title. (photo courtesy Peter Wagner)

The Fall Guys defeated on Aug. 10 the Great Neck Ball Busters in a best-of-3 series to win their second Great Neck Modified A-2 softball title in 11 years.

Behind steady pitching from Matt Markowitz of Roslyn and Bob Henrickson, the Fall Guys — a group of North Shore men who have mostly played together for more than 15 years — swept Team Chalet 10-3 and 6-2 in the first round at Memorial Field in Great Neck.

The team, captained by Peter Wagner of East Hills, then faced in the finals Alvin Smilow’s team the Ball Busters, a mainstay of the Great Neck fastpitch league, handily beating them 11-3 in the first game played at Kings Point Field No. 1.

In the deciding game of the series, the Ball Busters, down 9-2, mounted a fierce comeback with 5 runs in the sixth inning to narrow the score. Despite the big inning which cut the lead to two runs, the Ball Busters were unable to push across any runs in the seventh after loading the bases.

Wagner said the team’s win was highlighted by a game-ending 5-3 double play started by David Sigadel, formerly of Roslyn Estates, at third base.

After the first inning of the first playoff game, The Fall Guys led the entire way, Wagner said.

Wagner said assistant coach Sigadel’s defensive positioning was instrumental in the stellar play throughout the playoffs.

Highlights of the deciding game, Wagner said, include two triples and a spectacular catch by Josh Forst of Great Neck as well as great defense by Sigadel, Matt Suh, rookie Ryan Levy of Roslyn, Jeff Giller of Roslyn and the game MVP, Rex Zachofsky.

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