Roosevelt Hotel Wins Softball Championship
The Roughriders of the Roosevelt Hotel capped off an incredible return to the Hotel Employees Softball League with a come from behind series-deciding win over the defending champions, the Hilton New York. It is the Roosevelt’s first championship since 2005.
After breezing through the season with an 11-1 record (their only loss coming at the hands of the Hilton in the regular season finale), the Roosevelt shut out the eighth-seeded Hudson Hotel 6-0 before edging out the Carlyle Hotel in a three-game series 10-9, 0-3 and 2-1, and then splitting the first two games with Hilton in the championship round, with both games ending 3-1.
In the deciding game, the Hilton New York jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the second inning behind the pitching of Rafael Torres Sr., who pitched a perfect game the first time through the Roughriders’ lineup. In the fourth inning, however, a pair of walks and singles cut the deficit to 4-2. The Hilton added a run in the top of the sixth inning and had two outs on the Roosevelt in the bottom of the sixth, before a costly error in the outfield gave the Roughriders new hope. The Roosevelt scored three runs to tie the game at 5.
The seventh inning was scoreless for both teams, but then the Hilton scored a pair in the top of the eighth in a determined effort to repeat as title holders. But the Roosevelt battled back in the bottom of the eighth inning, with another three runs to win the game and take the championship, 8-7. It was a terrific ballgame!
As we said, the Roughriders’ victory ended a seven-year drought, with their last title won in 2005, but it also ended an amazing record for the Hilton New York. As we noted earlier, the Hilton New York had won the Hotel Employees Sports League “Triple Crown,” having held the softball, soccer and basketball titles simultaneously. Congratulations to both teams on their fine seasons. Congratulations also go to all the players in the League for making the 2013 season such a fun and exciting time for all!
