2001 Indian Lakes

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The Indian Lake Community Club is an organization of about 500 households situated around a scenic 99-acre lake in the Town of Denville in northern New Jersey. It is a private association and use of the lake and its’ facilities require membership in the lake association. The lake association was founded in 1924 and just celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1999. Indian Lake is a member of the Hub Lakes League and competes against 11 other local lake communities in diving, golf, horseshoes, softball, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track & field and volleyball. Indian Lake four-peated as men's softball champions to highlight the 2001 season.

Indian four-peats in Hub softball Four years ago, Indian Lake trailed 7-2 in the second inning of the championship game against Rock Ridge. That was the low point since 1998 as Indian rallied for a 9-7 victory to claim the title that year and followed with back-to-back crowns in 1999 and 2000. On Sunday at Gardner Field in Denville, Indian edged in front 1-0 in the bottom of the first and a pitchers' battle ensued between Randy Reeves and Frank Gallagher before Indian pushed three more runs across the plate in the fifth to build up a four-run advantage. Rock Ridge answered in the top of the seventh when Keith Van blasted a gigantic homer with two mates on base to cut the margin to one run before Reeves retired the final two batters on fly balls to the outfield to give Indian Lake its fourth straight title. Indian drew first blood quickly when Mike Reeves single and Darren Dashkowich followed with a single, putting runners on first and second before they moved up a base on a passed ball.

Front Row: Josh Cacella, John Lezak, Michael Weldon, Darrin Dashewich, Matt Dunbar, Bob Plucinsky Back Row: Bob Halm, Michael Reeves, Dan Cacella, Bob King, Randy Reeves, Peter Reich, Justin Connolly, Glen Knudsen

Randy Reeves aided his own cause when he dribbled a ball slowly to first with his son Mike scoring the first run of the game on a fielder's choice play.

Reeves and Gallagher matched goose eggs over the next three innings before Indian added to its lead in the fifth. Josh Cacella singled to center and Bob King walked. Glen Knudsen, the DH, ripped a double to center, scoring Cacella and Jon Lezak went in to run for Knudsen who is hobbled by a knee brace as he is rahabbing an injury. Left fielder Bob Plucinsky followed with a two-run double down the right field line and Indian was in front 4-0.

In the top of the seventh, Gallagher aided his own cause with a single to left and Billy Provost drew a base on balls, bring Van to the plate with one away. He laid into a Reeves' pitch, sending the over the left field fence with it landing in the tennis courts about 350 feet away.

"It was an awesome blow," said Dan Cacella, the Indian Lake coach who is normally the starting catcher but was sidelined with a broken ankle. "The fence in left is about 240 feet from home and is 20 feet high. It was the longest hit I have seen in a softball game and it certainly made for an exciting finish."

Defense was the key to Indian's successful defense of its title. With Matt Dunbar at the hot corner and Bob Halm playing left-center and Peter Reich in right in the 10-man defensive alignment, Reeves received great support from the men behind him.

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