The New Hyde Park Bluedevils defeated the Long Beach Mariners 5-3 in the finals to capture the first 13 U Nassau County Travel League Championship on Saturday Aug. 6.
The two teams played three classic games versus each other and the championship game was another classic.
The Bluedevils jumped out on top in the bottom of the first when Michael Greene singled and Michael Parsconda followed with a triple to drive in Greene.
Kyle Cajigas then delivered a big two-out RBI to score Parsconda.
Starter Doug Obidienzo held the Mariners in check until the third inning. The Mariners staged a two-out rally and tied the score at 2 after three innings.
The momentum clearly favored the Mariners and in the foruth inning the game hung in the balance.
After two on and no outs, Niko Rullo relieved Obidienzo. With runners on second and third Rullo attempted to pick off the runner at third. At first it looked to be the right call but the umpire called the runner safe.
Now the runner reached first on a subsequent walk and manager Art Savarese called Greene to the mound.
With the bases loaded Greene struck out the next three batters to shift the momentum back to NHP.
Greene pitched three solid innings for the win.
The Bluedevils pulled off a little trickery in the bottom on the fourth inning.
Catcher Brandon LaFroscia walked to start the inning and with one out Dylan Savarese sacrificed LaFroscia to second. Playing the speed up rule with two outs, Savarese replaced LaFroscia at second base.
Savarese stole third base as Matt Gorman was up. Gorman worked the count full and walked to put runners on the corners. The pitcher being a little upset about the walk turned away from home plate. At that instant Gorman broke for second and the pitcher forgot about the runner on third and threw to second base.
Gorman pulled up, and on the throw coach Bino Rullo sent Savarese home for the go-ahead run.
With Gorman on second and two outs Obidienzo delivered a single to center field to make the score 4-2.
The Mariners got closer in the fifth with another run and the Bluedevils added an insurance run in the sixth with a bases-loaded RBI walk to Michael Thornton.
Parsconda came on in relief of Greene in the seventh to record the save.
Greene was named the offensive MVP of the game and Parsconda was the defensive player of the game.
Niko Rullo made the highlight reel with a monster shot to left field for a triple. The Bluedevils finished the summer season 9 and 1.
The players: Michael Greene, Michael Parsconda, Niko Rullo, Brandon LaFroscia,Kyle Cajigas,Dylan Savarese,Matt Gorman, Doug Obidienzo,Michael Thornton, Vincent Balletta, Luke Iandoli, Anthony Pomara, Liam Gallagher and John Hayes. Coaches Chris Gorman, Bino Rullo and Manager Art Savarese
