Item Sports: Dodgers top Clinton Area Little League Majors with win over Cardinals

CLINTON – The Dodgers captured the Clinton Area Little League (CALL) Majors division championship, with a 7-3 victory over the Cardinals in the recent double-elimination tournament held at Savage Field.

The Dodgers Jake McNamara pitched a strong game, allowing no runs on one hit in 3⅔ innings, while striking out 10 batters. Drew Nawrocki finished the game in relief.

Brent Frisch and Aiden Ball also pitched well for the Cardinals.

The Dodgers scored five runs in the home half of the first inning, which is all the runs they would need.

After Jack Wilson and Sam Pupecki walked, McNamara helped his own cause by ripping a two RBI double to deep center field. Singles by Nawrocki and Mason Rouillard, an error and an RBI ground out by Daniel Wilson brought in three more runs.

The Dodgers added to their lead with two runs in the top of the fifth on a walk, a double by McNamara and an infield single by Nawrocki.

The Cardinals came back with a solo run in the fifth and two in the sixth, but it wasn’t enough.

The Dodgers were led by McNamara, who went 3 for 3. Nawrocki added two hits.

Playing outstanding defense for the Dodgers were Lucas Colleton in right field, Jack Wilson at shortstop, McNamara at first base and Nawrocki on the mound.

The defensive leaders for the Cardinals were Ball at shortstop, Austin Silvio at first base and Tristan Cutler at catcher.

“It was a great game and we were hitting the ball and playing defense, and it went our way this time,” Dodgers manager David Wilson said. “The pitching started great and ended great.

“The Cardinals were a very worthy opponent, and it just ended up on our side this time,” he added. “I’m happy for the kids and I thought the league went well, especially getting to play with West Boylston teams (due to the regular season merger).”

Jay Laganelli, the Cardinals manager, echoed Wilson’s comments.

“The kids showed a lot of fight and it was a great game, and a great season,” Laganelli said. “We have so much support from the families and the town, and it all works well.

“We caught fire at the end, and battled in every game,” he added.  

After the Cardinals defeated the Dodgers in the tournament semifinals, the Dodgers needed a win to force a final and deciding game.

To stay alive in the tournament, the Dodgers took a 9-6 decision from the Cardinals to advance to the championship contest.

In that game, the Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Wilson and relief pitcher Nawrocki both turned in fine performances.

Wilson pitched four innings, allowing three runs, only one of which was earned and five hits, while striking out 10 batters.

Equally tough on the mound were Cardinals hurlers Cutler and Frisch, who combined for 19 strikeouts.

In that victory, the Dodgers took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in their initial time at bat. After Wilson singled to open the inning, Pupecki walked, with both runners moving into scoring position on a wild pitch.

 McNamara plated both runners with a two RBI single to center field.

The Cardinals knotted the game at 2-apiece, with a pair of runs in the home half of the first inning. A single by Ball, a wild pitch, and an RBI single by Frisch brought in one run. Carter Gardy drove in the second run with an RBI double to right field.

The Dodgers scored solo runs in the second and third frames to take a 4-2 lead.

The Cardinals got one run back in the fourth frame to get to within one run, 4-3.

In the top of the fifth, the Dodgers scored two runs to go up 6-3. The big hit in the inning was an RBI stand-up triple by Pupecki.

Trailing 6-3, the Cardinals answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 6-all. After Ball led off the inning with a titanic shot over the left field wall for a solo home run, Austin Silvio walked.

With two outs, Grady reached first on an infield hit. An error and an RBI single by Nathan Laganelli plated two more runs.

The Dodgers won the game in the sixth inning, when they scored three runs. Wilson and McNamara provided the big hits in the inning with a double and triple, respectively.

The Dodgers were led by Wilson and McNamara, with both going 3 for 3. Grady was the big stick for the Cardinals with three hits, while Ball added two safeties.

Playing outstanding defense for the Dodgers were Pupecki at catcher, Wilson at shortstop, and Nawrocki on the mound.

CALL notebook

• Back in the press box this season was Master of Ceremonies (MC) extraordinaire Joel Bates, who was aided by Sarah Laganelli, the scoreboard operator, who also did some MCing. Gary Lamlein also operated the scoreboard.

• The other two teams in the Majors were the Orioles and Red Sox.

• The CALL president is Matt Kobus. The members of the league board of directors are Matt Varakis, Jay Laganelli, Brian Silvester, Chuck Mandeville, John McNally, John Baer, Matt O’Toole, Gary Lamlein, Dan Lucking, Mike Alvarado and Tom Nelson.

• The District-4, 12-year-old, all-stars are in action this week. The members of that team are Aiden Ball, Tristan Cutler, Calum Jonassen, Nico Marzilli, Samuel Massalski, Jake McNamara, Drew Nawrocki, Grady O’Malley, and Austin Silvio.