Major Division
Juniper Elbow 5, Kiwanis 0. The Snapple caps were popped as Juniper Elbow clinched first place with a 5-0 win over Kiwanis, improving their record to 10-2. TJ Fox pitched a complete game one-hitter for Juniper, striking out 14 along the way.
Juniper scored all the runs it would need in the third inning with a Justin Tableman double sandwiched by a walk and a hit batsman.That brought up Andrew Blanke, who lashed a long two-out triple into the right field corner, driving in all three runs.
Michael Bosco and Chris Hain, to support Juniper, turned in beautiful outfield plays. Special mention must also go to Anthony Cacioppo, who continued his excellent defensive play behind the plate. Joey Thompson, who pitched a strong game as well, led Kiwanis.
Rookie Division
The Metro Star Café 10, Kew Forest 0. Raindrops keep falling and so do the hits. The Metro Stars dropped their umbrellas and took to the field in the wet conditions at Seither Stadium. The Stars fired on all cylinders. The young Metro Star hurlers combined on a six-inning no-hitter, striking 18 batters while walking only three batters. Doing the masterful pitching work for the stars were Chris Piteo (three innings, nine strikeouts), Robbie Hofmann (two innings, six strikeouts) and Ryan Schulz (one inning, three strikeouts).
The rain and muddy conditions had no effect on the young flame-throwers. The Metro bats also got into the swing of things. Doing the hard hitting was: Chris Piteo (2-for-2), Zach Pabon (1-for-2), Robbie Hofmann (1-for-2) and Julian Ruiz (1-for-2).
The Stars got a couple of big shots in this one. Ryan Schulz ripped a long drive off the fence in center for a double, and the big blast came from Mike Guglielmi, who launched a climbing drive to center field that only the trees kept from being a grand slam. Everyone contributed to another great performance by the Metro Stars.
The 8-year-old “Bulldog” travel team
Bulldogs 9, Our Lady Of Grace 3. The RGMVM Bulldogs took to the field at Sunny Gill Hodges Stadium in Brooklyn for another matchup with the Grace All-Stars. The Dogs broke out early in the first behind some hard hitting from Matt Fox, Chris Piteo and Bryan Torres, who drove in four runs in the first.
They then handed the pitching duties to young flame-thrower Chris Piteo, who battled through a tough first inning and then got in gear and used a sharp fastball to keep the Doggies in front.
The Bulldogs chipped away, scoring single runs over the next five innings with everyone contributing by stealing bases and moving runners with timely hits. Getting the big hit for the Bulldogs was once again Johnny Murphy, crushing a drive in the right-center-field gap for a double, driving in run. The Dogs then handed the ball to crafty right hander Matt Fox.
Young Fox battled through a tough jam in the fourth, making a nice play on a comebacker and getting the force at the plate to kill a rally.. The Doggie defense came to play, with Chris Piteo killing an opposing rally and grabbing a hard line drive from the air in turning a double play. Brandon Acosta made a tremendous diving play in the hole to steal a hit from the opposition, and Bryan Torres made a great grab on a sinking liner in the sixth inning to help close the game. With a solid mix of pitching, defense and timely hitting, the Dogs continue to roll. The win keeps the team unbeaten at 9-0.
Bulldogs 15, the Bergen Beach Panthers 3. On an overcast Sunday morning the travel Dogs of RGMVM shed their raincoats and took to the field for a matchup with the Bergen Beach Panthers. The Bulldogs handed the ball to young hurler Robbie Hofmann for the first two innings. He cruised through in impressive fashion, striking out six Panthers along the way.
The Bulldogs’ offense got going early behind the hard-hitting middle of the Bulldog lineup. John Codelia (3-for-3, two doubles, one triple), Mike Guglielmi (2-for-2, four RBIs), Jonathon Murphy (1-1, double) and Ricky Fleri (1-2, double). The most impressive drive of the game for the Bulldogs was a long screaming line drive to right field by Johnny Murphy, who narrowly missed a home run off the top of the fence.
The Bulldogs then handed the ball to John Codelia, who took the mound for the first time this season and battled through a jam in the third and cruised through the fourth, striking out five along the way.
The Dogs handed the ball to young flame-thrower Nick Lante, who used his riding fastball to shut the door on another Bulldogs victory. With the win, the Dog pack stays unbeaten at 10-0.
League News and Reminders
The All-Star Sunday that was supposed to take place June 1 has been rescheduled for June 21. The games that were scheduled for that day have been moved. Please call you player agent with any questions you may have.
The day’s events and times will be the same as originally posted. Come down and watch the stars of the League give their all! The Instructional, Boys’ Minor, Girls’ Junior and Major games are scheduled for 11 a.m. The Rookie, Boys’ Major and Girls’ Senior and Big League games are scheduled for 3 p.m.
The League raffle and awards ceremonies are scheduled for 1 p.m. There will be a baseball clinic after the awards ceremony (2 p.m.) sponsored by the Long Ball Club.
The rainout dates will be posted and listed on the bulletin board at the field as soon as possible. It is the manager’s responsibility to check up on the makeup dates. Don’t wait for a phone call. These dates cannot be changes or moved. Also, it is the manager’s responsibility to check at the field on game day in case any game is canceled due to inclement weather! Managers, please do not wait for a phone call.
All managers are responsible for putting back the bases on the rack in the trailer at the end of the day’s last game. The dugouts must be cleaned of all garbage, and the mound covers must be put back on the mounds. The mounds must be filled in and put back the way they were found prior to the start of the game. Any managers failing to do so will be charged a $25 fee.
The board staff has been spending at least an extra hour each night cleaning the dugouts, putting the mound covers on, filling the mounds and putting the bases away. These jobs are part of the manager’s responsibilities. No team can take batting cage on a game day.
Also, only one sign-up per week per team. The Instructional equipment bags must be picked up at the concession stand and be brought back and checked in. Mangers will be charged for any missing equipment. Managers, please do not assume that any equipment you may find lying around is yours for the taking. Ask first.
All Instructional Division games must end on time, even if your game starts late. This is especially true for the last game of the day on the weekends. Remember, guys, there is no score and no standings in these games. All managers are required to attend a majority of general meetings. Failure to do so can result in that manger being asked to step down. Please make every effort to attend the general meetings. This is your League so please participate.
Please see the bulletin board for the update on the two-hour rule in all divisions. All players must be in uniform, and that includes the gray pants. All of the Cyclone tickets for the RGMVM League Night event that will be held on July 2 have been sold out.
The league players who attend this game will be invited on the field for the national anthem and stand at the position of their choice with the players. These tickets will be distributed around the middle of June.
Please continue to sign up for the mandatory three-hour work detail. Any parent not performing the mandatory work detail will be charged a $50 assessment on registration. That child will also not be allowed to participate in any All-Star game to which he may be elected. Three hours is not a lot to ask for your child to play in the finest baseball and softball facility in Queens.
All returned equipment bags at the end of the season with missing equipment will be assessed a $50 fee.
The schedules for all divisions and the manager contact list are posted and can be downloaded on the League’s Web site at www.rgmvm.com.
Limited lessons are available in fast-pitch softball, baseball pitching and hitting for both baseball and softball. Please call Hedda Hofmann for more information at 718-847-4406.
Any manager looking to start travel teams should contact his or her player agent. These travel teams will help develop the ball players in the League to compete at the next level of play and will encourage the serious ballplayers in the League to play and practice year-round.
These new programs show the League’s commitment to helping our players continue to practice and train for the upcoming season. These programs are part of the League’s new “Practice, Train and Play Ball Year-Round” campaign. The Ladies Auxiliary is looking for a few good women! Get involved! Help the League and our kids! Call Hedda Hofmann at 718-847-4406 for more information.
Please visit the RGMVM Little League at: www.rgmvm.com. All game write-ups should be e-mailed to rgmvm@rgmvm.com.
