O'Shea, Kelley hurl Bulldogs into Semi-Finals

Game Two

Testa Corp (2)-  Allen 4-1, Eruzione 3-0, Serino 2-0,  DeMartinis 2-1,  Witkowski 3-1, Rey 3-0, Gad 3-0, O’Flynn 3-2, Roberts 3-0  Totals 26-5

Reading (4) – B. Flutie 3-1, Cataldo 3-1, Manzi 2-2, Fischer 3-1, O’Leary 3-1, Talis 3-2, Buitkus 3-1, Hartwell 3-1, Dellorfon 2-0, Totals 25-10

Doubles – Cataldo, Fischer

WP- Kelley (3-1)  LP-  Rowan  (3-5)

Testa Corp.  0010100     2    5    0
Reading        202000x     4   10   1 

Game Three

Reading (3) – B. Flutie 2-1, Cataldo 4-1, Manzi 3-1, Fischer 1-0, O’Leary 3-0, Talis 3-0, Gagnon 3-1, Hartwell 2-1, Dellorfon 2-0, Totals 23-5

Testa Corp (1)-  Ma. Addessa 2-0, Serino 3-0,  Klimkiewicz 3-0, Mi. Addessa 3-2,  DeMartinis 3-1,  Witkowski 3-0, Eruzione 3-1,  Roberts 2-0, OFlynn 2-0, Totals 24-4

Doubles – Cataldo, Gagnon, Mike Adessa

WP- O”Shea (4-2)   LP-  Rey (0-1)

Reading        2100000     3   5  1
Testa Corp.  0001000     1   4   1

Wrap: 

The Bulldogs captured their first playoff series win in their two-year history, coming back from a one game deficit to defeat the Testa Corp Bombers twice in a 24-hour period and move into the semi-finals to face the four-time defending champion Blue Sox.

In the deciding Game 3, 19-year old Ben O’Shea put down the Bombers with a four-hit, twelve-strikeout performance in the Bulldogs 3-1 victory.

“That was a dominant performance by Ben against as good a hitting a team as there is in our league” said acting Manager Ed Silvey. “Everyone here witnessed why he was drafted into the Major Leagues and has a Division 1 scholarship waiting for him.”

To get to this point, the Bulldogs relied on an “older” pitcher in Game 2. Reliable starter Nick Kelley allowed just five hits and seemed in charge most of the evening in the Bulldogs 4-2 series tying win.

The team established an early lead when Alex Fischer hit a two run double in the first inning scoring Bill Cataldo (double) and Trevor Manzi (single).

After Testa scratched home a run in the third inning, the Bulldogs cemented the lead with two of their own in the bottom of the inning.

Brett Flutie lead off with a single, and, afer advancing to second, scored in Manzi’s hit. Manzi was advanced to third on a Kevin O’Leary single and then scored on the back end of a double steal attempt.

In the fifth, the Bombers threatened, but Kelley induced slugger Lemarre Rey to bounce back to the mound with two runners in scoring position.

From there, Kelley retired the last six hitters for the complete game 101 pitch win.

“This was a complete team victory with eight different players getting hits and superior offensive and defensive execution,” Silvey said.

Silvey was also impressed how Kelley battled through seven innings, “Nick is a gutty competitor. He wouldn’t look at me between innings because he didn’t want to come out. He saved us from using O’Shea by completing the game on his own and now it frees up Ben for the finale.”

In Game 3 it was the “O’Shea show’” but not before the Bulldogs gave him a nice cushion to work with early on.

The Bulldogs strung together three straight hits to start the game with RBIs from Cataldo (double) and Fischer (sacrifice fly) giving them a two-run first inning for the third straight game.

“We talked about scoring early and then letting O’Shea and the defense bring it home and the guys answered the bell once again with some aggressive first inning at-bats.” Silvey said.

The Bulldogs picked up another in the second inning after an Andy Gagnon double and a throwing error. But, from there on, Bomber starter Rey shut down Reading with no hits in the last five innings.

An unearned Testa run cut the lead to 3-1 and then in the seventh they put two runners on with singles and just one out. However, O’Shea was undeterred, striking out Game 1 hero Nate Witkowski and then inducing the tough Vin Eruzione to ground into a fielders choice to end the game.

Silvey wanted to ensure that the catcher, Zac Talis, got his share of credit for the back to back pitching gems.

“Zac called two straight terrific games and both pitchers wanted to make sure he got his due,” Silvey said. “This was a great game today and a very big series win for the entire Bulldogs organization... we keep setting the bar higher for ourseves”.