by Trevor Dugan
11u Dodgers Nation – Redash and the NBNM Rebels met at Wantagh Park Saturday evening for a doubleheader, as part of East Coast Youth Baseball fall league play.
GAME ONE
Game one began at 4:00 P.M, and it was a hotly contested affair from the first pitch.
Dodgers Nation started J.J Schutte on the mound, while the Rebels tapped RHP Andrew Mulvey for the start.
The Rebels were able to score the first run of the day in the bottom of the first, but Dodgers Nation wasted no time responding.
With runners on second and third in the top of the second, a pickoff throw to second base allowed the Dodgers runner on third base to come in to score, tying the game at one.
The lead off man was able to reach base for the Rebels in the bottom of the second. After a walk and a few stolen bases, he came across to score. By the middle of the third, the score was 2-1 in favor of the Rebels.
Dodgers nation ties it up in the top of the second
Rebels 1 – Dodgers 1
Mid second pic.twitter.com/8jI83jWrSd— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 21, 2024
The Dodgers were able to jump out in front with three runs during the fourth inning. With two men on base, JJ Schutte drove in two with an RBI single to put them ahead 4-2. Shutte would finish the game 2-for-2 with two RBs.
Immediately however the Rebels scored three runs of their own to put them back on top.They led 5-4 by the end of the fourth, as Gio Ciancarelli drove in two runs during the inning.
Mulvey came out in the top of the fifth to preserve the slim Rebel lead. Each team would score two more runs before the game ended, but it ended up as a one run victory for the Rebels, 7-6. Mulvey was the winning pitcher, pitching five innings and allowing four runs, three earned.
The Rebels earn a one run victory in game one of the doubleheader
FINAL: Rebels 7 – Dodgers 6 @EcybTournaments pic.twitter.com/xVHAx8Pzxt
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 21, 2024
GAME TWO
After scoring 13 combined runs in game one of the doubleheader, there was even more offense to go around in game two.
Picking up right where they left off, the Rebels were scoring early and often in their second game of the evening. Their lineup looked to be unstoppable, and by the middle of the second inning they led 5-1. Brody Hislop drove in a run during the big second inning, he finished the game 2-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.
Rebels lead after a big second inning , one scoring on this RBI by Brody Hislop
Rebels 5 – Dodgers 1
Mid second @EcybTournaments pic.twitter.com/WTwJVc9G7D— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 21, 2024
The score would reach 7-3 as both teams struck for two more runs in the third inning. Zach Balnis recorded an RBI single for the Rebels in the third, driving a ball to the opposite field over the head of the leaping third baseman. He finished the day 1-2 with one RBI.
The fourth inning is when both teams’ bats truly came alive, the Rebels scored three more times to reach ten runs on the day. It was a very successful game for the Rebels offense, as all but one batter managed to reach base at least once, and eight different batters scored one run or more.
Dodgers Nation was just as good in game two. 10 out of 11 batters in their lineup reached base at least once, with six different players driving in one run or more. Matt Sodano had a particularly good day, leading the team in RBI with three and going 2-2 with two runs scored and one walk.
Over the course of the final two innings, the team would combine to score 10 runs. Neither offense seemed to be interested in taking their foot off gas, and had the game went past six innings they surely would have continued scoring.
After an eventful ending the Rebels and Dodgers tie in the second game of their double header
FINAL: Rebels 10 – Dodgers 10 pic.twitter.com/agk7tpd0c8
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 22, 2024
However, six innings was all we got to see of these two talented ball clubs. The Dodgers tied things up in the final inning thanks to an impressive rally, but the Rebels worked their way out of trouble to avoid a walkoff defeat. It was one of the most exciting ties you’ll see in a baseball game, but a tie nonetheless. The final score ended up as 10-10.
