By The TimesLedger
In the semifinals of the Metro Federation Championship the Midville Dodgers were matched up against the Bronx Gothams, a team which recently returned home from a national tournament in Florida in which they placed third.
The Dodgers sent ace righthander Kevin Conlin to the mound. Conlin has come up big all season and again he was up to the task.
In what was probably his best game so far this season, Conlin dominated opposing hitters, striking out 10. He did run into trouble in the sixth inning after giving up three consecutive hits and allowing the Gothams to score twice. But he shut the door with the help of Dodgers standout shortstop Vinny Johnson. Johnson made three spectacular catches and anchored the Dodger defense and, between him and Conlin, lodged 17 of the 21 recorded outs.
Hitting stars were Chris Kaible, who was 2-for-2, Kevin Conlin, with a triple, and Dean Andriotis, with a huge run-scoring double. Tommy Maser, Vinny Johnson and Denson Ambrose all had key hits in helping the Dodgers to gain their way into the Metro Federation Championship Game at Keyspan Park Monday, Aug. 12, against the Brooklyn Bonnies. The Bonnies advanced to the finals by ousting the Westchester Wolfpack, 9-4.
Midville ends regular season with 7-0 whitewash over Bayside Yankees
On Tuesday, July 30, at St. John’s University, the Midville Dodgers Juniors finished off the regular season with a convincing 7-0 win over the Bayside Yankees Nationals. Midville sent Danny Pagan to the mound. He struck out seven and allowed only three hits and did not allow a walk in five innings of work. He was relieved by workhorse Anthony Bruno, who shut down Bayside in the final two frames, allowing no hits, no walks and no runs.
Denson Ambrose, Vinny Johnson, Matt Rizzotti, Chris Kaible, Dean Andriotis and James Lally all collected hits to help the Dodgers cause.
The MV Dodgers finished off the season with a 34-10-1 record and two league championships, the Elite Eight and the Long Island Baseball Association.
Schindler, Dodgers’ Frosh keep it tight at East Meadow
In East Meadow action on Wednesday, July 31, Matt Schindler pitched a gem of a game, allowing only four hits and two unearned runs over seven innings, but Midville had to settle for a tie.
In the first inning, a walk to Justin Leisenheimer and a fielder’s choice by Robert Keen allowed Leisenheimer to move to third. Michael Goldberg then drove him in with a double to deep left.
In the second, Schindler walked to lead off the inning, stole second and Clete Schuyler drove him in with a hard single up the middle.
However, East Meadow Gold answered right back with two unearned runs, one in the second and one in the third.
This is how the game went on for eight innings. The game ended in a 2-2 tie. Schindler finished strong with five strikeouts and two walks.
Dodgers Stumble to Seaford, 7-4
The MV Dodgers Freshmen squad suffered their first loss of the East Meadow Tournament to Seaford, 7-4.
Midville got on the board first with two runs in the first inning, but pitcher Andrew Kapela did not have his usual good stuff and had trouble throughout the game.
In the bottom of the second, Seaford opened it up with four runs on a Dodger throwing error. Although the Dodgers failed to capitalize on a few occasions it was a well-played game.
