Bulldogs Rally but Lose Tough One to the Chiefs, 7-6

Reading (6) – B. Flutie 4-0, Cataldo 4-1, Talis 3-1, Manzi 3-2, Fischer 3-1, Hartwell 4-1, Dewing 2-0, O’Leary 1-0, Gagnon 2-0, Dellorfon 3-1 Totals 29-7

Andre (7) – Bruinsma 3-1, Baillargeon 3-0, Pennell 3-1, Crisafulli 3-2, Andre 3-0, Deshler 3-1, Barbati 3-1, Boleski 3-0, Yanakopulos 3-1 Totals 27- 7

Doubles – Deshler, Manzi, Yanakopulos

WP- DiCato (3-2) LP- Boyle (1-3)

Reading 0003102 6 7 4

Andre 1003102 7 7 3

Wrap:

The Bulldogs suffered a tough defeat to the Andre Chiefs on Wednesday evening by a score of 7-6 in a game that may come back to haunt them in their quest for a playoff spot.

Reading showed fortitude coming back from deficits on three different occasions and taking a 6-5 lead in the top of the seventh, but allowed Andre to rally by making two errors that pushed across the tying and winning runs.

“We had some real clutch hitting tonight from a few guys," said Matt Morrison, "and Boyle pitched very well, but we allowed too many unearned runs. We really handed them the game on a night where we finally broke through and scored some runs on a team that has had our number."

After three innings, Andre was up 1-0 and the Bulldogs had no hits. The bulldogs found themselves on the losing side of no-hittter on their last trip to Huskins Field at Tufts College.

The Bulldogs then put together a three-run rally after loading the bases, which included Darren Hartwell getting the first Bulldog hit of the night. Andrew Dewing was then hit by a pitch bring home a run and Doug Dellorfon’s two out two run single put the Bulldogs up 3-1.

The Chiefs rallied for three runs, two which were unearned run after a potential inning-ending grounder was not executed by the Bulldog infield.

The see-saw game continued in the fifth when the Bulldogs tied it up on an Alex Fischer sacrifice fly. Andre countered again with an unearned run after an error put the lead runner on base.

The runner eventually came around to score the lead run on a play where Hartwell’s throw from centerfield almost cut down the runner at the plate. Zac Talis fielded the throw and flipped the runner over his back but, in the exchange, the ball came loose.

In the seventh, the Bulldogs' Talis hit a one-out single and scored the tying run on a long double from Trevor Manzi, who then came around on Fischer’s single to give the Bulldogs their second lead of the game.

In the bottom of the seventh, Sean Boyle, who pitched a strong game (2 ER, 7 hits, 6 k’s, 2 bb’s) gave up a leadoff double to Malden Catholic star Paul Yanakopulos. After an infield hit, the Bulldogs had a chance for a big out in the infield, but it instead resulted in a double error. From there, Andre scored twice on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly to walk off with the victory.

“We have a game every day now," Morrison said. "We can’t dwell on this disappointment. We all know that we have the talent to win. We just have to put all three facets of the game together in the same game. Our .500 record reflects the inconsistency we have displayed.”