Reading Bulldogs

The Bulldogs entered Friday night with a 2-1 series lead over the Andre Chiefs and were looking to end the series and advance to the ICL Championship, while the Chiefs were hoping to pull out another victory and push the series to a game five.

The Chiefs got off to an early lead, scoring one run in the first inning on an RBI double by their catcher, Shane Stande. The Bulldogs did not waste any time answering back as they scored a run of their own in the bottom of the first. After Darren Hartwell reached on a double into short right field, he used his speed to score Reading’s first run on a ground out by Mike DeDonato.

The Bulldogs scored again in the third inning when Darren Hartwell manufactured another run with his speed, scoring on an error by Andre’s third basemen. The Bulldogs fought hard, but could not get any offense going after the third, as the Chiefs starter threw a complete game. The Chiefs then scored in the third, fourth, and fifth innings and went on to win by a final of 9-2.

Colby Morris starting for Reading and pitched into the fifth inning. Alex Mandrus and J.P. Songin both worked out of the bullpen for the Bulldogs, pitching a combined 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. On his birthday, Johnny Hayes went 1-2 with a single and Darren Hartwell picked up two hits and two runs scored.

The Bulldogs and Chiefs will take the semi-final round to a fifth game for the second straight year. The Bulldogs have played with a high energy and determination throughout their playoff run and look to finish off the series to take on the Blue Sox in the ICL Championship. Game five will be do or die for both teams and will take place Sunday at Pine Banks at 7:30 PM.

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

Already up 1-0 in a three-game series against Watertown, the Reading Bulldogs took home game 2 by a score of 4-2, advancing them to the second round of playoffs. The Bulldogs stayed confident the whole game and proved to be clutch when it mattered most to come away with this win.

Down 2-0 in the 4th inning, Chris Seidl came up big with a 2 out RBI triple to cut the lead in half making it 2-1 after 4. The momentum from Seidl’s triple carried into the 5th inning as Kevin Marciano and Zac Talis hit back to back singles and eventually loaded the bases after Chris Bosco was hit by a pitch. With 2 outs and the bases loaded, Steve Busby came up to the plate and didn’t disappoint when he smoked one to deep right field for a bases clearing double which scored three. Busby’s clutch and timely hitting put the Bulldogs up 4-2 after 5 innings.

A 2-run lead was enough for Reading as Colby “Kobe” Morris went three up and three down in all three innings he pitched. Morris was locked in on the mound and came away with the win after he silenced the Watertown bats for the final three innings. Alex Mandrus continued to pitch great like he has all season and gave the Bulldogs the start they needed giving up only 2 runs on 3 hits through 4 full innings.

In a game that was mostly dominated by pitching, Chris Seidl and Steve Busby were able to come up big with huge hits which were game changers. Seidl’s triple gave the Bulldogs some life offensively and then Busby’s clutch 3 RBI double allowed Reading to take the lead late in the game.

Advancing to the second round of playoffs after the win, the Bulldogs will play the Andre Chiefs Monday night at Pine Banks Field in Malden for a best of 5 series.

All photos can be found at: http://shartwell.zenfolio.com/bulldogs17 and the video of Steve Busby’s double comes from the courtesy of Mark Bosco.

The Reading Bulldogs took game one from the Watertown Reds in a best of three series on Thursday night. The Bulldogs looked locked in on the mound and at the plate as the final score was 6-2.

Readings starting pitcher Jack Burke was dominant over 6 innings allowing only 2 runs on 4 hits. Burke had everything working for him for last night as he was completely in control and gave a very good Watertown offense troubles. He finished with 7 strikeouts and 0 walks. Jack Theriault was able to come in for a 1-2-3 7th inning to secure the 6-2 win for Reading.

The Bulldogs offense broke through in the 3rd inning to take the early lead. After Chris Seidl reached 1st base to start the inning from a throwing error, Rosario Missiti put down a perfect bunt and reached base with an infield single. The next batter was Darren Hartwell who continued to stay hot and roped an RBI double to left field scoring Seidl. The scoring didn’t stop here as Zac Talis hit a sacrifice fly to score Missiti and later in the inning Steve Busby reached base which allowed Hartwell to come around and score with some great base running. Reading came out of the third inning up 3-0.

The 4th inning was no different for Reading as they tacked on three more runs and looked to pull away. Chris Bosco and Mike Taylor started things off with back to back singles which set up Missiti to bring in Bosco with an RBI single and his second hit of the night. After a fielder’s choice and stolen base by Hartwell, runners were on second and third with two hits and Kevin Marciano at the dish. Marciano came through with a clutch 2 out 2 RBI double to score both Taylor and Hartwell, extending the Bulldogs lead to 6-0.

Zac Talis and Rosario Missiti had two hits each for Reading, as Hartwell, Marciano, Bosco, and Taylor all had 1 hit apiece. The offense was able to put together great at bats and find holes in key situations with runners on base all night.

The final score ended 6-2 Reading with Jack Burke earning the win in his stellar performance.

The Bulldogs look to take the series with a win tonight where they will be the home team while playing Watertown at Lexington High School.

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

In two must win games for the Bulldogs, they came away 2-0 on the night while securing their spot in the playoffs. Both games were played at Endicott College against the Arlington Trojans.

The first game played started off in the bottom half of the fifth inning as it had previously been suspended due to rain with a score of 5-3 Bulldogs. In the 6th, Rosario Missiti started things off with a double and was advanced to third base with only one out. Missiti scored off of a fielder’s choice from Johnny Hayes pushing the lead to 6-3. Now in the 7th inning, Chris Bosco lead off with a single and advanced to second on stolen base. The next batter, Mike Taylor, smoked a line drive up the middle to plate Bosco and push the score to 7-3.

Steve Hueston pitched the final three innings for the Bulldogs of this game, allowing only one hit in a dominant performance. He struck out 3 and rolled one double play to help seal the win for Reading.

In the second game, Reading was firing on all cylinders and put together solid performances in all phases of the game. Colby Morris took the mound for Reading and allowed only 2 runs on 4 hits through 5 full innings. Alex Mandrus came into relief for the final two innings where he gave up only 1 hit and struck out 4.

The offense started earlier and often when Darren Hartwell singled and ended up scoring after a throwing error by the catcher. In the second inning, Corey DiLoretto led it off with a single and advanced to second base on a fielder’s choice. Mike Taylor then came through with RBI single making the score 2-0. The next batter, Rosario Missiti, doubled to left center putting Taylor on third with only one out. Darren Hartwell came up next and did his job by hitting a sacrifice fly to score Taylor from third.

The third inning is when the Bulldogs really broke the game open putting up a 5 spot on 5 hits. Mike DeDonato started it off with a double and then scored off a RBI double by Zac Talis. After a Chris Bosco walk and a pass ball allowing Talis to move to third base and Bosco to second base, DiLoretto knocked Talis in with a sacrifice fly. Bosco went on to score off of a pass ball. With the offense still rolling, Mike Taylor crushed an opposite field homerun to deep left field. The scoring didn’t stop yet as Rosario Missiti hit another double and then scored off of an RBI single by Darren Hartwell. At the end of this big inning the score was Reading 8, Arlington 0.

The Bulldogs went on to score two more runs in the game and ended up winning by a final score of 10-2. Reading finished with 10 runs off 14 hits, 7 of which were extra base hits.

Up and down the lineup, everyone contributed in this offensive attack. Darren Hartwell had 3 hits with 2 RBI’s, DeDonato hit two doubles, DiLoretto hit two singles with 3 RBI’s, Taylor had two hits which included a homerun to go along with 2 RBI’s, and Missiti had a pair of doubles.

Looking to build momentum off of these two big wins, Reading awaits to here who they will play and when they will play for the first round of playoffs.

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