Reading Bulldogs

Reading vs. Arlington  8-11-13 at Endicott College (Game One) 

Arlington (1)   Reensterna 2-1, Pizzaro 4-1. Lennane 4-0, Way 3-1, Cunningham 2-1, Perkins 0-0, Brown 3-0, Friedman 3-0, Bradlee 3-0, Mansfield 2-1, Totals   26-5 

Reading (4)– Hartwell 2-0, Oringer 3-0, Talis 3-0, Taylor 3-2, Padovani 3-2, Bingel 2-0, N. Conti 2-0, Sitarz 2-1, Halsey 3-1 Totals 25-6 

Arlington   100 000 0  -1

Reading    030 000 x  -3 

Triple: Sitarz 

WP- Boyle

LP-  Curran  

Wrap:  by Jeff Pierce Daily Times Chronicle 

The Bulldogs escaped the opening game of the post season with a 3-1 victory over Arlington at Endicott College on Sunday night, in a game they were on the verge of losing all night. With the win in game one of the best of three series, the Bulldogs were able to take a series lead for the first time in their four year history. Their prior series wins all involved coming back after losing the opening game. The Trojans entered the league the same year as Reading but this was the first year they qualified for the playoffs. Arlington wasted no time in getting their playoff legs in the first when they loaded the bases with one out and a run already across. However, in the first of three critical double plays, Nick Conti started a 6-4-3 twin killing to limit the damage. The Bulldogs lone offensive attack was started in the second inning when Mike Taylors sky ball landed untouched on the turf when it was lost in the lights by the right fielder. Dante Padovani singled but after a sacrifice bunt and a pop out the Bulldogs needed a clutch hit. Those two out hits were provided by Colin Sitarz with a triple to right and John Halsey with an rbi single. Bulldog pitcher Sean Boyle was put in jams in both the fourth and fifth innings with some sloppy infield plays and two walks of his own. However in each case with the lead run on base he was bailed out by a nice defensive play. In the fourth Hank Oringer fielded a hot shot, tagged the runner coming back to third base then threw across the diamond for the second out to end the threat. In the fifth the Trojans had the bases loaded and no outs but again it was Oringer fielding the ball at third. He threw home to Halsey for the force out and he fired to first to complete the double play. Boyle who had to battle all night, extinguished the final Arlington threat himself in the seventh with the tying runs on base, by striking out the Trojan's leading hitter to end a tense night on the mound. " It wasn't pretty out there", noted Manager Matt Morrison, "our defense gave it to them and then took it back on a few occasions tonight". " The key play in the game was the double play turned by Hank (Oringer) and Johnny (Halsey). It looked like we were in big trouble there in the fifth". Morrison appreciated Boyles effort first and foremost, " He was our MVP tonight he made the tough pitches when he needed to and induced a lot of infield grounders. They actually only hit one hard ball off him tonight". The series resumes with an early start time (5:30) at Summer St Field in Arlington on Monday.