Final: Dodgers Nation 7, Black Diamonds 1
WP: Nick Giardino @liboysofsummer pic.twitter.com/YKSYtzM8MC— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 5, 2020
When you pitch at a highly-successful program like Clarke HS, you need to utilize the summers to improve your command and repertoire of pitches. Rising junior Nick Giardino, younger brother of Chris, has been doing just that this summer while playing for Dodgers Nation 16U in the Boys of Summer. That was on display this afternoon in a 7-1 victory over the Black Diamonds. He was very effective, going five innings with his only blemish coming on a solo HR to left field in the third inning by Matt Marmo.
“I was feeling great today,” he said. “I just wanted to hit my spots because I have a great defense behind me,” he added. They certainly did play well, and SS Phil D’Aguanno (Bethpage 2021) flashed the leather with an extraordinary play in the second inning with his back to home plate and avoiding his center fielder that was closing ground quickly.
Dodgers Nation put together a well-rounded victory, and they wasted zero time getting on the board in this one.
Giardino got things started by drawing a leadoff walk in the top of the first, advancing to second on a wild pitch and advancing to third on a ground out. He scored when D’Aguanno drove a fly ball to center field that was deep enough to score the run. After Chris Downes was hit by a pitch and stole second, he came around to score on an RBI single to center by Jon Connors.
Giardino was on top of his game, striking out three in the first inning, using his whole arsenal of pitches.
In the top of the second, Dodgers Nation extended the lead further. Brendan McCann walked to lead off the inning. Victor Guidotti and Nick Schimmel hit back-to-back singles to load the bases for Joe Hagmaier who drew a bases loaded walk to. Giardino made it hurt with a two-run single just inside the third base line to score Guidotti and Schimmel.
The Black Diamonds went to the bullpen after Conor Burns singled to keep the inning going but Alex Czarnomski did a nice job of striking out the next two batters to put out the fire.
Giardino went back out for the second inning and struggled a bit, allowing a leadoff single to Tucker Schiavoni and a walk to Jake Donnelly, but he eluded any damage by inducing a ground out to D’Aguanno at short. His offense would not stop, they added another run in the third on an RBI single by Guidotti to score Brendan McCann. They also added a run in the fifth on an RBI double to right center field for Mike Bloom that scored Chris Downes.
Conor Burns came on in relief in the sixth inning and worked around a leadoff walk to Nick Veiga to slam the door on the victory.
With the win, they improve to 6-1-1 on the season. Overall, it’s been a great summer for them as they also performed well in their tournaments.
