by Joe Bello
The Central LI Rams took on Dodger Nation in a LI Boys of Summer 17/18u Varsity division double header on Wednesday evening.
The Rams, led by the excellent play all day long of Giancarlo Rengifo, took both games against the Dodgers.
Giancarlo Rengifo following game one of today’s double header.
Went 2/2 with 2 doubles, a walk and an RBI in the 6-4 victory. pic.twitter.com/tyjTQhuCNa
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 3, 2024
Game 1
Matt Kurz pitched a complete game in game one of the double header. He was very good, only running into trouble in the 7th inning. He pitched 7 innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 walks and 3 earned runs, while having 7 strikeouts.
The offense was headlined by Rengifo, who went 2 for 2 with 2 doubles, a walk and an RBI.
“Just simplifying things.” Rengifo told Axcess Baseball following game one. “Barrel on ball and that’s all.”
Ballgame over, Rams take game one 6-4 over Dodger Nation.
Game 2 starts at 6:00pm pic.twitter.com/Vq3FBRV8D2
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 3, 2024
Richard Luke also contributed on offense, going 2 for 3 with two RBI doubles.
On the other side of things, Gabriel Oh fired six innings on the mound for Dodger Nation. Oh also went 2 for 3 with 2 singles and an RBI.
Tim Camier went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI single.
Michael Cardozo following the Rams 10-9 win in game 2 of the DH against Dodger Nation.
Cardozo notched the game winning hit in the last inning. He also went 3/3 with 3 RBIs. pic.twitter.com/pL5VXg61x7
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 4, 2024
Game 2
Game two of the double header was a wild one, with the Rams coming away with a 10-9 win.
The Rams came away with the win following an RBI single by Michael Cardozo in the top of the 5th inning.
Going into the 3rd inning with a 1-0 lead already, the Rams would tack on 4 more in the top half of the frame. But Dodger Nation would proceed to drop a nine spot in the bottom half, giving them a 9-5 lead heading to the 4th.
But the Rams were relentless, as Cardozo would send two runners across the plate with a bases loaded single to cut the lead down to two.
Rengifo, who went 3 for 3 with a triple, double, single and 2 RBI, would drive in another runner to push the score to 9-8.
The Rams tied the game up on an overthrow of first base by Dodger Nation, making the score 9-9.
Michael Cardozo with an RBI single to give the Rams a 10-9 lead in the last inning! pic.twitter.com/AxLqhfpW87
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 3, 2024
Richard Luke, who came into the game in the 4th inning, helped secure the win with two scoreless innings on the mound.
In the top of the 5th, it was Cardozo who notched that go ahead RBI single. The Rams never looked back, taking the game 10-9.
Cardozo not only drove in the go ahead run but went 3 for 3 in game two with 3 RBI.
Mike Iadevaia also had a solid performance, going 2 for 3 with 3 RBI.
The player of the day couldn’t go to anyone else but Giancarlo Rengifo, who went 5 for 5, with 3 doubles, a triple, a walk, and 3 RBI.
Central LI Rams move to 3-5 in the summer following this double header, while Dodger Nation drops to 1-6.
