Threatening gray skies couldn’t put a damper on a recent softball championship game.
On Tuesday, April 9, winners of each half of the Fross & Fross 70s League, Domino’s Pizza and Munn’s Air Conditioning & Heating, squared off for the overall title.

Domino’s got off to an early lead but Munn’s came roaring back with nine straight runs in the bottom of the first and second innings to take a 9–2 lead. Gary Nicholay, Dale Travis, Gary Roth and Steve Wilson all had key hits and sparked the rally.

Munn’s Air Conditioning & Heating team members include, front row, left to right: Gary Roth, Frankie Murth, Jim Nocito, Larry Martin, Gary Nicholay, John Iorio, Ken Ruffo and John Zrinski. Back row, left to right: Dale Travis, Ron Severson, John Flor, Larry Oliver, Steve Warren, Eddie Haith, Manager Frenchy Le Tan and Bill Cini.

Domino’s came back with four runs in the third inning, featuring five straight hits from the middle of their lineup, to cut the lead to three at 9–6. But Munn’s quickly increased the margin to six after four innings on the back of a triple by Rod Severson.

With Domino’s rallies in the fifth and sixth, the margin was cut to one run, 13-12. But in the bottom of the sixth inning, Munn’s responded with three more runs with Severson, Travis, Roth and Wilson all contributing. Munn’s then held off the pizza makers in the seventh inning to seal the victory.

Munn’s timely fielding may have been the difference. Although outhit 26–20, Munn’s turned three double plays in the second, fifth and sixth innings to stop Domino’s from getting started.

Two key plays from right-centerfielder Gary Nicholay were significant. With Domino’s rallying in the fourth, Nicolay’s throw to the plate snuffed out one Domino’s rally and a second was stopped on a sensational shoestring catch of a likely extra base hit in the sixth.

After the game, manager and League Commissioner Frenchy Le Tan said, “This is without a doubt the best 70s and older league in the state and probably the country. Winning this championship is very special. All of our players made contributions and I want to thank them for their efforts throughout the long season.

“My congratulations to Domino’s for putting together a very strong team and we’ll look forward to playing again next year in what should be an even stronger league.”

League Secretary-Treasurer Dave Mamuscia is urging all Villages players who will be 70 or older in 2020 to consider forming another team or letting the league know if they would like to play. He can be reached at [email protected].