Reading Bulldogs

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

Arlington (2)   Reensterna 3-0, Bradlee 1-0,Pizzaro 4-2, Way 3-1, Perkins 3-2, Lennane 4-1, Freidman 3-1, Brown 3-0, Cunningham 3-2, Mansfield 3-0 Totals   30-9 

Reading (5)– Hartwell 3-1, Oringer 4-3, Talis 3-0, Taylor 2-0, Cataldo 0-0, N. Conti 3-1, Sitarz 2-1, Bingel 2-0,  Padovani 2-1, Crehan 2-1  Totals 23-8 

Arlington   100 000 1  -2

Reading    013 100 x  -5 

Doubles: N. Conti, Pizzaro, Perkins

Triple: Sitarz 

WP- Pedrotti

LP-  Robinson  

Wrap:  by Jeff Pierce Daily Times Chronicle 

The Bulldogs took the deciding game in the three games series with Arlington on Tuesday night 5-2 , advancing to the league semi-finals for the third straight year. With the win the Bulldogs moved to 7-1 at their home away from home at Endicott College. "We play well here, the turf makes it a speed game and we are fast team at the top of the order and the ground balls bounce true here which plays to the strength of our infield defense" said Coach Morrison. Reading did not have long to dwell on their double digit loss the evening before in Arlington and with a suddenly short staff it looked like it was going to be an uphill fight to put away a team that blasted three home runs the day before. Morrison had only two live arms available due to injuries and other circumstances. He chose Brian Pedrotti who has been used primarily as a closer the past two seasons. "Brian is a very competitive player who was an All-Conference pitcher in college (UMass-Dartmouth). I knew he was the type of guy who had the ability and the attitude to pitch in this circumstance". After the Trojans went up 1-0 in the first the Bulldogs tied the game in the second on a leadoff double by Nick Conti, a sacrifice bunt followed by Dante Padovani's sacrifice fly.  "This is how we play the game, and when we execute the basics, we usually win" said Morrison. In the third the Bulldogs displayed more small ball skills with a walk to Darren Hartwell followed by a hit and run single by Hank Oringer (3 hits) who then stole second. Zac Talis nicely grounded to the right side to being home a run.  With two outs Conti then beat out a hit to the shortstop scoring a run and Colin Sitarz tripled to deep left scoring Conti who stolen second. " We scored three runs with only two balls hit to the outfield" said Morrison, "all with our legs and hitters being smart and clutch". Pedrotti allowed nine hits but they were scattered and he was aided by the team executing its fourth double play in the last two games at their home field.  In the fifth, with runners on first and second and one out, the Trojans cleanup hitter hit a shot to Oringer at third where he stepped on third and threw across to first for the inning ending out. After escaping that threat the Bulldogs pushed across their fifth run in the bottom of the inning on Oringers rbi single scoring the catcher Paul Crehan. Pedrotti finished off his complete game outing after allowing a meaningless run in the seventh and propelling Reading to the semi finals once again. "Brian looked in control at all times tonight making the pitches when he had to and staying ahead in the count. He came up big for us when we had limited pitching options in an elimination game" said Morrison.  The Bulldogs now begin a best of five series against the defending champion Andre Chiefs at Malden Catholic on Wednesday at 8 PM.