Reading Bulldogs

By Jeff Pierce   Daily Times Chronicle 

 Reading (10) – Cataldo 3-1, Castoldi 4-1, Pedrotti 1-0, Manzi 4-1, Hartwell 3-2, Gagnon 2-0, Buitkus 3-1, Flutie 3-1, Halsey 2-0, Hayward 4-0, Totals 26-7 

Medford (1)-  Burgoyne 3-2, Azzarello 1-0, Salvati 3-3, Davis 3-0, Sheehan 2-1, DelPonte 3-1, Barber 3-0, McConnville 2-0, Napier 1-0, Pasho 2-0, Ohanesian 1-1, Barreira 1-0, Richard 1-0, Totals 26-8 

Reading   420 301 0   10

Medford   001 000 0    1 

Doubles: Hartwell

Home Runs: Manzi 

WP- Kelley  LP-   Moran   

Wrap: For the third straight season the Bulldogs waited to the final weekend to clinch a playoff spot but did so in an impressive fashion over the past week. After defeating Medford 10-1 on Saturday at Playstead Park, the Bulldogs finished off a 2-0-1 stretch versus playoff quality opponents, and sealed their spot with the Intercity League final six teams. The Bulldogs have had a history of playing close games usually coming down to the final out. However, on this day the only sweat was not from the pressure of the game but from the hot 90 degree temperatures on a cloudless afternoon. The Bulldogs made an early statement with a four run first inning keyed by the red-hot Darren Hartwell’s two-run double. In the second inning Reading went up 6-0 when one of the league’s top hitters Trevor Manzi hit a two run home run. Meanwhile Nick Kelley continued his recent run of strong pitching which lead to his fifth win of the season. Kelley allowed eight hits but they were scattered and he was aided by two inning ending double plays turned by Doug Flutie and Pete Castoldi. The Bulldogs play two more games before the playoffs begin that will determine their seeding in the playoff round. At this writing they will most likely be on the road for the first game versus either the Watertown Reds or Wakefield Merchants on Friday night.