Kew Forest Plumbing #52

RGMVM-LL- MAJORS TOURNAMENT

The RGMVM Majors Division team entered the Little League  Tournament  as an underdog to the strong favorites from Ozone-Howard. As Faith would have it, after drawing a bye in the first round , RGMVM would face –off against Ozone –Howard on July 7, 2011 at Rosedale.  

 

In the top of the first inning, Ozone Howard jumped out to 1-0 lead with a homerun from Rivero. But the kids in BLUE came to play, leading off with a single by Vincent Rosario-walk to Steven Hansen –a single from Matt Nickel and a single from Gaspare Artale—RGMVM jumped out ahead 3-1 and never looked back.  RGMVM tacked on another run in the bottom of the second on Collin Ritter’s inside the park homerun and one more in the 4th with Vincent Rosario’s speed- 3 stolen bases and scoring on a passed ball. That’s all the scoring RGMVM would need with a strong defensive effort by Lenny Lynaugh, Steven Hansen, Justin Cortese, Chris Gentilella ,Brandonn Taphouse and Charlie Esposito .RGMVM’s  southpaw Matt Nickel was dazzling holding down the big bats from Ozone/Howard over 5 innings and Frank Cerillo picked up the save coming in the 6th inning with the base loaded and no one out to slam the door shut.

 

RGMVM wins 5-3 final score. RGMVM scoring was lead by Gaspare Artale 2 for 3 with 2 rbi, Vincent Rosario 2 for 3 with 2 runs, Matt Nickel 1 for 1 with 2 walks and 1 run-5 innings pitched-with 7 strikeouts.

 

 After losing Game 2 to Ozone/Howard on July 11, RGMVM was ready to play on Tuesday, July 12 and determined to bring home the flag.

 

Matt Nickel was back on the mound for the Blues vs. Morrisey for the Tigers setting up a game 1 rematch. RGMVM  lead off  with a double from Vincent Rosario and a single from Matt Nickel. With both on , Frank Cerillo crushed a fastball to right center for a tremendous 3 run homerun and an RGMVM lead 3-0. In the second inning, RGMVM would tack on 5 more runs with clutch hits by Vincent Rosario, Steven Hansen and Brandonn Taphouse to jump out to an 8-1 lead. Ozone/Howard would respond with 3 runs in the second, 1 in the third ,2 in the fourth  and  fifth inning to take a 9-7 lead .Anyone who has followed these two teams over the last few years knew  this was going to be a classic and come down to the wire. In the top of the sixth inning Ozone/Howard 3rd baseman and short stop collided on a leadoff pop up by Matt Nickel and dropped it . That’s all the opening RGMVM would need as they rattled off 5 straight hits by Gaspare Artale, Frank Cerillo, Colin Ritter, Steven Hansen and a bases clearing double by Brandonn Taphouse to retake the lead 12-9. Frank Cerillo would make sure the door stayed shut closing out the last two innings with 3 strikeouts. RGMVM hitting was lead by –Vincent Rosario 2 for 4 with 2 runs, Matt Nickel 1 for 3 with a walk and 3 runs, Gaspare Artale 2 for 4 -2 rbis,Frank Cerillo 2 for 3 with a walk and 3 run homerun, Colin Ritter 3 for 3 with a walk,Steven Hansen 2 for 3 with a walk and Brandonn Taphouse 2 for 4 with 3 rbi’s.   Congratulations to all the kids on winning the District 27 Championship. –RGMVM BLUES—Gaspare Artale, Frank Cerillo, Justin Cortese, Charlie Esposito,Christian Flores, Chris Gentilella, Steven Hansen, Lenny Lynaugh, Philip Murtha, Matt Nickel, Colin Ritter,Vincent Rosario, Brandonn Taphouse,Owen White.