by Joe Bello
Here is coach Brian Galligan and Lukas Dunn following their 10-0 championship win.
Dunn threw a no hitter (4 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 4 K)
and was 2/3, 2B, 2 R at the plate.CJ Amato went 3/3, 3 1B, 2 RBI, 3 R pic.twitter.com/uvtJLu9qRC
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 2, 2024
The championship game of the East Coast Youth Baseball Spring 10u National Division was held on Sunday, June 2nd at Pops Field in Farmingdale. The big game featured Merrick Mayhem-Galligan and New York Longhorns-Dorman.
The Mayhem, led by Lukas Dunn and CJ Amato, took down the Longhorns in a 10-0 victory.
Dunn, who started the game for the Mayhem, threw a 4-inning no hitter; the game was called due to the run-rule. He finished with 4 strikeouts and only allowed two base runners, one on a walk and another on an error.
The Mayhem came out hot with the bats, as Dunn led off the game with a double, only to be driven in the very next at bat by a CJ Amato RBI single. He then came into score on a fielding error by the Longhorns.
With a 2-0 lead already in the bottom of the first, Brooks Belvedre ripped an RBI single through the infield to make it 3-0 Mayhem.
The score would hold this way until the bottom of the third inning, where Nicky Gurrieri would make the score 4-0 on an RBI single. Another error by the Longhorns pushed Grant Guss, who got on base all three of his at bats, across the plate for a 5-0 lead.
Belvedre would then notch his second RBI single of the day to make it a 6-0 ballgame.
Dunn shut down the Longhorns offense in the top of the fourth inning, just as he did all day long. Ending the half inning with a swinging strikeout on his changeup which looked fabulous in this one.
The bottom of the fourth inning featured a 4-spot put up by the Mayhem lineup. Which included an RBI single by Amato, an RBI fielder’s choice by Caiden Dowling and a 2-RBI single for Gurrieri.
2 RBI single for Nicky Gurrieri makes it 10-0 Mayhem and ends the game. Merrick Mayhem-Galligan wins the @EcybTournaments 10u Spring National Division championship! pic.twitter.com/5MIBSozrrs
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 2, 2024
This would push the score to 10-0 in favor of the Mayhem, and end the game due to the mercy rule, marking them the champions of the division.
Axcess Baseball spoke to their head coach Brian Galligan following the win,
“It was a big, huge team win.” He said, “[Lukas Dunn] was an error and a walk away from a perfect game, he threw a no hitter today over four innings.”
“I am so proud of you Luke, great job,” Coach Galligan exclaimed as he turned to Dunn.
To go along with his great pitching performance, Dunn also went 2 for 3 at the plate, with a double and 2 runs scored.
CJ Amato had a fantastic day at the plate as well. He had three hard hit singles in all three of his at bats, driving in 2 runs and scoring every time he reached base.
“It was a huge season for CJ, stepping in and leading our guys, both on the field and off the field, he really stepped up towards the end of our season.” He said, “He was ripping balls, finding gaps and hitting the ball really hard.”
