by John Sullivan
Postgame interview with Aydan Gotterup of Dodgers Nation. He went 4 scoreless innings with 9 Ks while only surrendering 1 hit in a 9-1 victory against Five Star. pic.twitter.com/tydm2cm2oj
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 26, 2023
The opening game for East Coast Youth Baseball’s 14u Memorial Day Clash pinned Dodgers Nation-Paredes against 5 Star National NY-Towle. Early in the game it was easy to see that Dodgers Nation would have little problem keeping their opponent off the board.
Aydan Gotterup, starting pitcher for Dodgers Nation, set the tone early as he cruised through the top of the first inning with two strikeouts and no base runners allowed. Dodgers Nation would carry the momentum into the bottom of the first, when Devin Paredes ripped a single into right field to score Angelo Ilarda and give Dodgers Nation a 1-0 lead.
Once Dodgers Nation grabbed the lead, they never looked back. Gotterup would go on to strike out the side in the second, as well two more in the third. The strike throwing of Five Star starting pitcher Luke Gobler and the good defense he had behind him kept Five Star in the game, until the bottom of the third inning.
End of 3: Dodgers Nation with a huge third inning led by this double from Angelo Ilardo. They now lead 5-0. pic.twitter.com/q3gCkWmaVw
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 26, 2023
The Dodgers Nation offense exploded in the third for four runs. The big inning was started by Robert Morse who reached on an E5, which was followed up by a double from Niko Sumaras that was smoked down the left field line. After Ryden Nafte’s single the other way, the inning was capped off with a double in the gap from Angelo Illarda.
After Dodgers Nation blew the game open and knocked Five Star’s starting pitcher out of the game, Ayden Gotterup finished up his jem of a performance with a two strikeout, scoreless inning in the fourth. Gotterup’s final stat line was 4 IP, 1h, 4 BB, 9 Ks and 0 runs. His counterpart, Luke Gobbler’s final stat line was 3 IP, 3h, 3 BB, and 4 earned runs.
After Louis Iannacchino threw a scoreless inning in the bottom of the fourth, Jeremy Leone entered the game on mound for Dodgers Nation. After a walk and two errors, Leone found himself in a bases loaded, one out jam. Leone would get a huge strikeout to get out number two, but then Jack Lankowicz would hit an RBI single to get Five Star on the board and make it 5-1. Leone did not fold under pressure though, as he got the next batter to pop out to second to end the inning.
Leone’s escape from the jam would provide Dodgers Nation with the momentum they needed to end things, as they put up a four spot in the bottom of the fifth to enforce the mercy rule. This four run inning was led by two run singles from Devin Pardedes and Aiden Klocek.
Dodgers Nation will look to continue their success as they take on the B1000 Seminoles tomorrow and the South Shore Chiefs on Sunday for the rest of their pool play games. Meanwhile Five Star will look to turn things around against Long Island Strong tomorrow and the South Shore Pirates on Sunday.
