Secures Third Seed In Latest Triumph
On Saturday June 9, Rienzi and Sons finished their regular season at RGMVM with a 10 game winning streak and an overall record of 10-3. As a result, the team drew a third seed and will face off with Middle Village Hand Car Wash in the first round of the playoffs.
The team finished the season against Juniper Elbow. It was not as easy victory for Rienzi despite an earlier victory over Juniper Elbow and a better overall record.
Rienzi jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. August Larsen led off with a single and came home to score on a deep triple by Sam Navarra over the right fielder’s head. Navarra scored on a steal of home later in the inning. But Juniper came right back to even the score in the bottom of the frame off Larsen, who got the start for Rienzi.
Larsen struggled through the first with a tight strike zone, but still managed to strike out five in his two innings of work.
Derek Portalatin scored a third run for Rienzi in the second when he came home on a single off the bat of Kyle Conlin. Again Rienzi ran themselves out of the inning when they had a base runner picked off third with second and third and Larsen looming in the on deck circle. Rienzi went down in order unconventionally in the third with an out at home, a caught stealing at third and a strikeout.
In the bottom of the third, an er- rant call at first with two outs opened the gates for Juniper Elbow to score two and take a 4-3 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Rienzi took a 5-4 lead, when Nicolas Hutson and Massimo Todaro scored after Hutson singled and Todaro walked. In the top of the fifth, Rienzi would add three insurance runs with four consecutive walks and a pop up to first.
In the inning Joe Pizarro, Sam Navarra and Larsen each scored. With a 5-4 lead after three and a half innings, Rienzi turned to Derek Portalatin who pitched a scoreless fourth in his pre-playoff tune up, striking out two and leaving two base runners stranded.
The last inning was handled by closer Frank Navarra who sent Juniper Elbow down in order, striking out two of the three he faced, earning his eighth save of the season.
