Cardinals Take 2 in Fall Opener

The 12U Cardinals opened up the 2008 NJBL Fall season with a doubleheader sweep of the Roslyn Rockets up at East Hill Community Park.

Game 1
Anthony Wallitsch got the opening day start for the Cardinals and was quickly staked to a 2-0 lead. Chris Sarni led off the game with a single and quickly stole 2nd and 3rd. After Mike Chicarella reached first on a dropped 3rd strike, Sarni then stole home. Chicarella also stole 2nd on the play, followed by a steal of 3rd and finally a steal of home.

The Rockets scored a run in their half of the first, but the Cardinals came right back with 4 in the top of the second, with Ryan Fama, Matt Tsotras, Danny Taggart and Kyle Carroll all scoring runs and Carroll and Joe Oliveto picking up the RBIs.

The Rockets came back with 3 in the 2nd and 2 in the 3rd to tie the game. Despite pitching well, Wallitsch's pitch count was high, so Nick Schoen relieved in the middle of the third and pitched 3 1/3 innings of shut out ball.

The score remained tied until the 5th, when the Cardinals broke through for two more runs. With 2 out, Kyle Lamb worked a walk and went to 3rd on Kyle Cashman's single. Cashman then stole second and Chicarella plated them both with a single to right centerfield.

The Cardinals plated two more runs in the 6th. With 1 out, Andrew Purcell singled. Schoen followed with a single of his own, moving Purcell to third. After Schoen stole 2nd, Fama reached on a drop 3rd strike. Danny Taggart then singled in Cashman and Purcell to close out the scoring and secure the 10-6 victory.

Game 2
Andrew Purcell got the nod in game two and pitched a scoreless first inning. In the bottom of the first, the Cardinals again jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Joe Oliveto started the inning off with a single and moved to second on a walk to Kyle Cashman. Andrew Purcell then doubled them both home.

The Rockets came back with a run of their own in the 2nd, but that was all they would get, as Purcell continued on and pitched a beautiful 3-hit, 1 run complete game.

The Cardinals cored two more runs in the 3rd, as Matt Tsotras led off the inning with a walk, followed by a single by Kyle Lamb. With 1 out and runners at second and third, Joe Oliveto stroked a single into right center to plate both runners.

The Cardinals came back with 5 more runs in the 4th. With 1 out, Anthony Salamone singled, followed by walks to Taggart and Wallitsch to load the bases. Chris Sarni then singled home two runs, with Wallitsch moving to 3rd. Sarni then stole second. After a walk to Tsotras, Lamb singled home two more runs. Tsotras then stole home to close out the scoring and give the Cardinals a 9-1 victory.

Defensively, there were some outstanding plays by Salamone at 3rd, Fama in center, Wallitsch at first and Tsotras in right.

Our next game is Sept 14, 1:30 at Stillwell vs the Syosset Braves.

See you on the fields

Coach Carroll