The NEAA Dodgers play baseball in both the RBI League sponsored by the Boston Red Sox and the Lou Tompkins All-Star League. The RBI league kicked off two weeks ago and Tompkins starts this coming week.
In the RBI league the Dodgers have a 13-15 year old team and a 16-18 year old team. In Tompkins they have a 13-14 year old team and a 16-21 year old team. The Dodgers have started strong in the RBI league. The Junior Dodgers (13-15) have a 3-1 record and have been riding the red hot bat of Robert Pagliuca and strong pitching from Anthony Freni, Fernando Soto and Lorenzo Pantaleo. Freni was brilliant in the opener throwing a complete game while allowing 3 hits and no walks in the Dodgers 2-1 victory over the South End Astros. After a setback in game two, Fernando Soto was equally strong throwing six innings in the Dodgers 15-4 rout of the Twins. Picking up the Dodger’s third win of the season was Lorenzo Pantaleo. Pantaleo threw four innings allowing only three hits and two runs as the Dodgers pounded the Brighton Tigers 12-2. The Junior Dodgers have combined strong starting pitching with clutch hitting and rock solid defense to sit atop the standings at 3-1. Some of the Dodgers big hits have come from Robert Pagliuca, Owen Locke, Fernando Soto, Chris Troiano, Coleman Shea and Eli Swab.
The Senior Dodgers (16-18) have also come out of the gate flying with a 2-0 record while outscoring their opponents a combined 25-2. In their opener Vin Lopi threw a masterful five innings striking out 9 and allowing only two hits and no runs while the Dodger’s clubbed the Twins 12-2. Nick Iudiciani went 4 for 4 with 2 home runs and six rbi. For good measure Nick struck out the side while pitching the last inning. Also in this game Steve Passatempo hit his first home run of the year as he and Nicky went back-to-back in the bottom of the 1st inning to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead. Joining the Dodger hit parade was Nathan Tikonoff with two hits and two rbi. In game two the Dodgers crushed the Brighton Tigers 13-0 behind a hitting barrage and five innings of dominant pitching from three Dodger pitchers. Anthony Coppola got the start and threw two shutout innings before straining his arm in the 3rd inning. Nick Iudiciani came in and struck out the side in the 3rd and 4th innings giving him nine strike outs of the nine batters he has faced this year. Mark Fusco cleaned up in the 5th inning also striking out the side. Hitting stars were Mark Fusco with 3 hits and 2 rbi, Nick Iudiciani with 2 hits and 2 rbi, Steve Passatempo with 2 hits and 1 rbi, Nate Tikonoff with 2 hits and 1 rbi and Jon Posada with 3 hits and 3 rbi.
