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Section 3 Final:
 
RGMVM - 13 Staten Island Mid Island LL - 10

After winning their first two Section games with relative ease the boys from RGMVM had no idea what they were in for on this night. They would be put into a situation they weren’t familiar with, playing from behind, but they would come back and win the first ever Section 3 Title in league history. RGMVM sent their ace Chris Piteo to the mound and after two innings they were down 9-0. It wasn’t that Chris was throwing that badly it was the defense that wasn’t supporting their pitcher. Of those nine runs given up over the first two innings only one of them was earned. And that’s when the game changed.

With things looking bleak the boys woke up and exploded for 13 unanswered runs. After 2 innings with only one base runner the bats came alive. Nick Lante led off the inning with a walk followed by a Case Surdi single. After a fielders choice Brandon Acosta came to the plate and singled up the middle which cleared the bases after the center fielder misplayed the ball. Chris Piteo then doubled and was followed by singles by Eric Tully, Danny Ammirati, and Karl Klesin. An Austin Nieves walk and another Mid Island error and the boys from RGMVM were only down 9-6 and things were looking up. Things continued to roll in the 4th inning when RGMVM scored 5 more runs to take the lead for the first time. The first four batters of the inning walked scoring a run and then Klesin drove in another run with a fielders choice, but the big blow came off the bat of Paul Hyland who cleared the bases with a triple giving RGMVM a 10-9 lead. Two pitches later Hyland straight stole home giving the boys an 11-9 lead.

The locals had a big scare in the bottom of the 4th when Mid Island loaded the bases against Piteo with two outs. But then the defensive play of the tournament was made and saved the game. Joseph Portaro hit a major league high fly ball that left fielder Frank Chiodi, after running a long way and through a hole in the outfield, got under to catch and save the lead and possibly the Section Title.

Danny Ammirati then put the game away in the 5th with a two run single that gave them a 13-9 lead. Piteo surrendered a run in the 6th but it was too little too late as the boys from RGMVM were on to their first Section 3 Title in the leagues 55 year history.

The boys showed great heart and desire all night and never put their heads down, even with 100 degree heat beating down on them. Piteo showed the greatest heart pitching the last 3 innings with a severe headache. This win gives the boys a birth in the 9-10 year old State Tournament to be held in Islip, Long Island.

New York State Tournament Game 1
 
Sachem - 6 RGMVM - 1

Just three days after their thrilling victory in the Section Final the boys from RGMVM were off to Long Island to play for the State Title. Down to the Final Four teams in the entire state the boys drew the local Long Island team from Sachem, and things got off to another ugly start. Starting pitcher

Brandon Acosta got off to a shaky start allowing six runs over the first two innings but settled down and only allowed one more base runner the rest of the game. The bats for the RGMVM boys didn’t fair much better as they only could muster up six hits off Sachem starter James White, with the lone run coming in the third inning when Acosta scored on an Eric Tully single. White would go the distance and keep the local boys off balance all day. White only struck out three batters but the Sachem defense did a great job of only making one error all afternoon.

The boys got off to a bad start here but this is a double elimination tournament so tomorrow is another day.

State Tournament Game 2
 
RGMVM - 10 Brighton - 5

After a sluggish first day the bats came alive again banging out ten runs in the first two innings against the team from Brighton, NY, which is right outside of Rochester. From the first batter of the game the boys looked ready to forget yesterday’s game and start fresh. Brandon Acosta led off the game with a single, after a fielders choice erased Acosta, Chris Piteo singled followed by an Eric Tully walk. The bases were then loaded for Danny Ammirati who singled to center and after the ball took a bad hop over the centerfielders head the bases had been cleared and RGMVM led 3-0. Karl Klesin finished off the scoring for the inning with a double to right scoring Ammirati.

The bats kept at it in the second inning when the boys put up 6 more runs. Nick Lante, Mike Billera, and Brandon Acosta were the first three batters to the plate and all three would single to load the bases. After an out was made Piteo would double to right center scoring all three runs and gave RGMVM a 6-1 lead, but the scoring didn’t end there. After a fly out and a Brighton error Karl Klesin stepped to the plate and belted a two run homer over the left center field fence to give RGMVM a 10-1 lead. While all this was going on Chris Piteo was back at it on the mound throwing another complete game and running his tournament record to 4-0 includeing 2
no-hitters..

Piteo would go the distance allowing two earned runs and striking out eight Brighton batters. With this win the RGMVM boys would advance to the next round of the tournament and a rematch with Sachem.

State Tournament Game 3
 
RGMVM - 6 Sachem - 5

With revenge on their minds the boys from RGMVM came out early and looked like they were here to take care of business. Eric Tully was sent to the mound looking to record his third win of the tournament. Tully was sharp early keeping sachem at bay while the RGMVM boys got out to an early lead. In the second inning Austin Nieves lead off with a single and was sacrificed over to second by Mike Billera.

After a Brandon Acosta single, Nieves scored on an infield hit by TJ Ritter, giving RGMVM a 1-0 lead. After Tully put up another zero on the board the boys jumped on Sachem for three more runs. Tully lead off with a walk and then back to back doubles by Danny Ammirati and Karl Klesin gave RGMVM a 2-0 lead. Then back to back sac flies by Nieves and Nick Lante and the boys had a 4-0 lead going into the 4th inning. Then Tully ran into some trouble giving up three runs before being relieved by Nick Lante who came into the game with runners on second and third. Lante would get a ground ball back to the mound, would look the runner back to third and throw to get the out at first. But when Lante threw to first the runner took off for the plate so Chris Piteo quickly came off the base and fired home to Acosta to turn the old 1-3-2 double play to end the inning.

RGMVM could get nothing going in the fourth and Sachem then jumped on Lante to take the lead in the 5th with two more runs. In the bottom of the 5th the local boys came right back and tied the game up when Austin Nieves scored on a Brandon Acosta bloop single into right. Lante shut the Sachem boys down 1-2-3 in the 6th and the stage was set for RGMVM to get the walk off win. With the middle of the order up for RGMVM the game looked to be over but when the first two batters made out it looked like we were headed to extra innings. But then Danny Ammirati singled to keep the inning alive. After Klesin reached on an error the stage was set for Austin Nieves to be the hero. Nieves proceeded to hit a single into left field scoring Casey Surdi who was pinch running for Ammirati and sending the boys and fans into an uproar with the exciting win.

The boys again showed great heart after getting down late and never giving up. With this win the RGMVM boys will face the team from East Greenbush – Castleton Little League for the State Title. EGCLL needs just one win since they are already 2-0, while RGMVM will need to win two days in a row to win the title.

State Tournament Game 4
 
East Greenbush – Castleton - 9 RGMVM - 2

With their backs up against the wall the RGMVM boys came out a bit sluggish against a very good EGCLL team and it cost them. RGMVM sent Danny Ammirati, who hasn’t pitched in at least a month, to the mound to try and keep their season alive. After giving up an unearned run in the top of the first RGMVM came right back and scored one of their own in the bottom half. With two outs Chris Piteo, Eric Tully and finally Ammirati singled to get RGMVM on the board. EGCLL would come right back in the top of the second with another unearned run, but RGMVM bounced right back again. TJ Ritter led off with a single and was then erased on a fielder’s choice. Brandon Acosta then singled and with two out Karl Klesin singled to score the second RGMVM run of the day. After two innings the boys hadn’t played their best baseball but they were even at two. In the third inning the wheels feel off and EGCLL scored four more runs, only one earned, and put them up 6-2.

They would tack on three more runs over the next few innings and go on to a 9-2 victory and the State Title. The EGCLL team went 3-0 in this tournament and deserved the title as they played solid defense with real good pitching and timely hitting all weekend.

Congratulations boys. I would like to thank all the boys on this RGMVM team as we became the first team in league history to win the Section 3 Title as well as reach the State Finals. We finished 2nd in the entire state of New York which started out with over more then 500 teams, so you have nothing to be ashamed of. I am extremely proud of all of you and you should be proud of yourself for all your accomplishments this summer. I would also like to thank all the parents for all their time they gave and all the support they gave these young boys. Finally I would like to thank my two assistant coaches Brian Chrzastek, and Hugh Tully who kept me under control in the dugout when things weren’t going so great, I couldn’t have done it without you. And remember boys “TU MADRE”.

Little League Sectional / City Championship
 
RGMVM 9-10 Yr. Old Tournament Team:
 
Monday, July 31, 2006
 
RGMVM - 8 Bedford Hills - 4
 
On Monday night in Elmsford, the boys from RGMVM, the District 27 Champion stayed hot and kept their hopes of winning the Sectional Title alive by beating the District 33 Champion Bedford Hills. The pitching match up was Eric Tully for RGMVM and Scott Michaels for Bedford Hills. Tully retired the side in order in the top of the first inning, striking out two batters. RGMVM would score two runs in their half of the first. The first two hitters, T.J. Ritter and Brandon Acosta walked, then stole third and second respectively. This set the stage for Eric Tully to help his own cause with a sac fly for the first run of the game. Daniel Ammirati singled to left for the second run.

Michaels would settle down after that and retire RGMVM in order the second and third innings. Bedford Hills would put together a little rally of their own in the second inning. An error and a walk put runners on for Henry Jacobs, who doubled to center to score a run. Unfortunately for Bedford that was all they scored in the inning as a runner was thrown out at home trying to score on a past ball by catcher Brandon Acosta. The catcher recovered quickly and flipped to pitcher Tully covering home. Tully would strike out the next batter to end the threat. Tully also would get into a grove and not allow a run over the third and fourth innings. RGMVM would score four runs in the fourth inning. There were four consecutive hits, a double by Tully, then singles by Daniel Ammirati, Karl Klesin and Paul Hyland. Bedford would make things closer by scoring three runs in the top of the fifth inning. There was a walk, a batter hit by a pitch, an error, a single and double, before Tully got relief help from Nick Lante to stop the rally. RGMVM was not going to let this game get away as they scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth. Karl Klesin tripled to left, scoring Frank Chiodi, who had singled earlier in the inning. Then Klesin stole home. Lante allowed a meaningless single in the top of the sixth before getting the final three outs of the game.

The Sectional Title game will be Wednesday night in Van Nest, Bronx between RGMVM and Staten Island.

Saturday July 29

RGMVM - 6 Eastchester Little League - 0
 
On Saturday July 29th, at beautiful Seither Stadium the District 27 Champions RGMVM Little League faced off against the District 20 Champions Eastchester Little League. The District 20 Champions made the trip down from Westchester County to Middle Village. They arrived with their cars painted with fancy logos and good luck praises for their hometown heroes, but that proved to be of no help as they ran into the strong pitching of Chris Piteo.
 
Piteo pitched a complete game no hit shut out on a total of only 77 pitches. In fact Piteo allowed only three base runners, two by infield errors and one on a walk. RGMVM got eight hits and six runs off Eastchester’s starting pitcher Nick Campana. In the second inning, Daniel Ammirati led off getting hit by a pitch. He would come in to score on Casey Sordi’s RBI sacrifice fly. Karl Klesin and Austin Nieves had infield singles and they were driven home by T.J. Ritter’s single.

RGMVM would go down 1-2-3 in both the third and fourth innings. In the fifth T.J.Ritter led off with a single to right field (Ritter was 3 for 3 in the game with two singles and a double). The next batter Brandon Acosta took the first pitch he saw deep over the right center field fence. RGMVM was not finished yet, Chris Piteo had an infield single and he scored on Eric Tully’s double to center field. Next up for RGMVM will be a trip on Monday July 31st to play the District 33 Champion Bedford Hills in Elmsford.

BOYS 10U MINOR TEAM WIN DISTRICT FLAG:

The boys 10U Minor team beat Ozone Howard Little League 12-2 to take the Queens District tittle.

Look for the full game summary to be posted.
 The boys now head for sectional play on Saturday July 29 at 11 AM.
The game will be played at RGMVM 's Seither Stadium.

UDATE 7/25/06:

Boys Major 12U Team Sectional Play Games Summary:

Tuesday July 25, 2006
 
RGMVM - 8
Bayside - 0

On Monday July 24th the Little League District 27 Major Division Champion RGMVM traveled north to Dutchess County to play the District 26 Champion Bayside Little League. The pitching match-up was Marco Martino for RGMVM and Christian Cruz for Bayside. RGMVM was the visiting team in the contest and they were looking to get off to a quick start in the top of the first inning.

First baseman Nicholas Picht walked, then Marco Martino singled. A double steal put runners on second and third. The stage was set for left fielder Rob Shanley, who stepped up to the plate and hit a hard grounder to the third baseman. The third baseman for Bayside threw wildly to first allowing both runners to score. RGMVM would score three runs in the third inning. Martino led off the inning with a double to centerfield. Third Baseman Kevin Lawlor singled to drive in Martino. A fileder’s choice erased Lawlor. Then right fielder Joe Mortillaro doubled to center field, catcher Mike Guglielmi walked and second baseman Ken Sumsky singled to deep centerfield to drive both of the runners home. Three consecutive hits in the fourth gave RGMVM two more runs. Shortstop Sal Ciccone led off with a triple, Martino plated that run with a double to centerfield and Shanley singled center to score Martino. After a fielder’s choice and a couple of stolen bases Shanley singled in the fifth inning for RGMVM’s final run of the game. While RGMVM was doing all the scoring, Martino had Bayside shut down. The District 26 Champion could do nothing to dent the scoreboard. Martino didn’t allow a runner to get past second base. Martino allowed two hits, two walks, and struck out 9 batters in the complete game shutout victory. The next game for RGMVM is the Sectional Championship game Wed night in Yonkers. Sunday July 23, 2006
 
RGMVM - 4 
Inwood Little League - 2
 
On Sunday July 23rd RGMVM, the District #27 Champion faced the District #23 Champion from Inwood, Manhattan Little League at Seither Stadium. The damp weather could not dampen the spirits of the two teams. This was a the first Sectional playoff game for the right to advance to Albany for the State Championship.

The low score was not indicative of the high level of play by both teams. Rob Shanley was the starting pitcher for RGMVM and his counterpart for Inwood was Joseph Morel. RGMVM would get on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning as Shanley helped his own cause by singling to drive in shortstop Sal Ciccone, who had previously doubled. Shanley cruised thru the top of the first striking out two of Inwood’s first three hitters. However, Inwood would tie the score in the bottom of the second inning. First baseman Eric Roman would single in the pitcher Morel who had led off the inning with a single back up the middle, but bad base running cost Inwood a chance to take the lead as three base runners were cut down at third base. RGMVM would regain the lead in the third inning. First baseman Nicholas Picht led off the inning by grounding out to third. The next batter Sal Ciccone blasted a long drive over the right center field fence. RGMVM was not done as centerfielder Marco Martino walked, Rob Shanley singled. Third baseman Kevin Lawlor sacrificed to move both runners up one base. Mike DaGostino followed that with a single driving in Martino. Rob Shanley would steal home for the third run of the inning. RGMVM would not come close to scoring over the final three innings, as Morel settled down and got help by his second baseman Stephen Alamais, who leaped to snare a liner off the bat of left fielder Patrick O’ Reilly in the top of the sixth inning. A definite web gem play.

The question now was could Shanley hold the lead. Yes he could with help from his defense. Catcher Mike Guglielmi threw out a would be base stealer in the fourth, but the highlight came in the bottom of the sixth as both Marco Martino and Patrick O’Reilly made game saving diving catches of line drives. These catches would be highlight film replays. I say game saving because the third batter in the sixth inning Inwood’s third baseman Anthony Fernandez took Shanley’s first pitch over the left field fence. Shanley quickly recovered striking out the next batter to move RGMVM on to their next contest against the District #26 Champion Bayside Little League. That game will be played Monday July 24th in Patterson N.Y. Dutchess County.

Monday July 17:

The boys major 12U team beat Rockaway Little League 16-2 On Monday July 17th at Seither Stadium, to win the Queens District Championship. RGMVM started quickly in this game. Although the game ended after four innings due to the mercy rule RGMVM scored in every inning. Rockaway started Kyle Schreiner. He was the same pitcher that had started the game last Thursday. This time RGMVM was ready as evidence by the final score. There were contributions from many players in this game. Three hitting stars carried the game for RGMVM.

They were Marco Martino, who went 2-3, 2 Hr’s, 7 RBI’s, Mike Guglielmi who went 4-4, Hr, double, 2 singles, 4 RBI’s, and Rob Shanley who went 3-4, double, 2 singles, 2 RBI’s. All this hitting power was not wasted as RGMVM’s starting pitcher, Joe Mortillaro struck out five batters in three innings giving up just two runs on two hits. Rob Shanley worked a 1-2-3 4th inning to close out the game.

The next game for RGMVM is Saturday July 22nd at Seither Stadium 11am start. They will face the winner of a game to be played Friday night between Manhattan-Riverdale and Brooklyn

Minor Baseball Division Team District Game Summary 

The RGMVM Minor Division All-Stars took their game on the road for a match up against the previously undefeated Rockaway Little League team. The game was played at Fort Tilden Rockaway on Saturday on July 15 on a hot summer day.

On the mound making his first start of the tournament was Chris Piteo. RGMVM was the away team and the bats started out quickly as they jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. The Rockaway team put forward a great effort but the big bats of the RGMVM team kept banging out hit after hit. The hitting was contagious as everyone in the line-up had multiple hit games. Brandon Acosta (who caught a great game) 4-5, Nick Lante 3-5, Karl Klesin 4-5 with a couple of hard line drives, Eric Tully 4-4, Paul Hylnad 2-3, Casey Surdi 2-3, Chris Piteo 5-5, Danny Ameranti 4-4, T.J. Ritter 4-4. The story of the game was the pitching of RGMVM as Chris went 4 innings (due to the forfeit 10 run rule) of no hit ball as RGMVM rolled to a 16-0 win.

The team seems to be rock solid as their pitching and defense has not allowed a hit in two games while scoring 28 runs. Their next opponent for the District 27 Minor Division flag will be Ozone Howard Little League July 20 at 5:30 PM Thursday night at RGMVM Seither Stadium.