Reading Bulldogs

Since Monday, the Bulldogs have faced off against the Chiefs in the first 3 games of a 5-game series. After having 3 games in 3 days, the Bulldogs lead the series two games to one.

Game 1 lasted 11 innings and took two nights to finish due to time constraints and lights turning off before being able to finish the game on Monday night. There was a great pitching battle going on all night as starting pitcher Cody Hall gave up only one run through 7 strong innings leaving the game with the scored tied at 1. After resuming game 1 on Tuesday in the 11th inning with the bases loaded and no outs, Mike DeDonato hit the first pitch he saw for a 2 run double to take the lead 4-2. The next batter, Zac Talis, hit the first pitch he saw as well for a 2-run homerun increasing the lead to 6-2. Jack Burke came in to finish off the game in the bottom half, and the Bulldogs took game one 6-2.

After winning game 1, the Bulldogs look to build off that momentum for game 2. Jack Burke started this game for Reading who were the home team. The Chiefs scored an early three runs in the 2nd inning but the Bulldogs responded quickly in the bottom half when Chris Bosco tied it up with a three-run homerun to left field. Losing the lead to Andre again after they score one more run to make it 4-3, the Bulldogs came back in the same inning and put up two-runs off of a Zac Talis double making the score 5-4. Colby Morris relieved Jack Burke of his pitching duties in the 4th inning and absolutely dominated the rest of the game. He allowed 0 hits and 0 runs in 4 innings of work to earn the win in game 2. Reading tacked on an insurance run in the 6th with an RBI single from Johnny Hayes to make the final score 6-4.

On Wednesday night the Bulldogs were back at Pine Banks Field in Malden for game three. The Andre Chiefs took advantage of free bases and started the first inning with a 7-0 lead. The Bulldogs kept battling though as they score one in the 3rd, one in the 5th, and three in the 6th to pull with in two runs of the Chiefs after making the score 7-5. However, the Chiefs added one more run in the bottom half and the Bulldogs were unable to make the comeback in the 7th inning, losing 8-5.

With the series at 2-1 Reading, game 4 will be played Friday night at Morelli field in Melrose where the Bulldogs look to advance to the championship series to face off against the Lexington Bluesox.

All photos can be found at: http://shartwell.zenfolio.com/bulldogs17