Bulldogs roll into the Postseason beginning Tonight

The Reading Bulldogs begin their run in the Intercity league playoffs tonight at 7:45 at Endicott College versus the Arlington Trojans.

This is the fourth straight playoff appearance for the Bulldogs in their four year existence, and in the prior two years they reached the semi-final round both times.

In 2013, the Bulldogs finished 16-11-2 in the regular season for their best regular season winning percentage in the four year period, and for the first time they gained home field in a first round matchup.

The Bulldogs received some standout performances to date from Darren Hartwell, Zac Talis, Dante Padovani and Hank Oringer.

Hartwell (North Reading HS/Williams) was just three plate appearances short of qualifying for league leader status in several. The speedy and athletic centerfielder hit .400 with six extra base hits and nine steals, while arguably being the best defensive centerfield in the league.

Talis, was third in the league in batting at .366 and is a career .346 hitter. Talis (Lynnfield HS/UMass-Dartmouth) was named to play in the All Star game both of the past two years.

Padovani (Lynnfield/Bentley)  was a real gamer and All Star who filled in wherever he was needed. Dante ended up sixth in the league batting race .324 while compiling seven extra base hits and ten rbis. In the last week of the season the natural outfielder took the mound and had a key complete game victory for the Bulldogs solidifying their home playoff seed.

Oringer (Bishop Feehan HS/Endicott) has an excellent chance to be named Rookie of the Year in the league. He was fifth in the league in batting at .338 while being in the leaders in almost every offensive category while having eight extra base hits, fourteen rbi , and six steals. The All Star was an almost flawless third baseman had just two errors on fifty-eight chances at the hot corner.

This year the Bulldogs featured four Reading natives , Steve Buitkus, Jack Burke, Bill Cataldo, and John Halsey.