Special to the Times-Free Press
Last week the Yankees, coached by Anthony Forbes and Brian Lynch defeated the Giants coached by Nick Free, Tommy Welch, and Frank Cali two games to one in a very well-played and exciting championship series. The teams were very evenly matched and played a total of seven games over the course of the season, all but one decided by one run.
Game one was a Giant victory. They scored 3 runs in the 1st inning. Emanuel Calderon knocked in Catcher Free and Sam Welch with a double and was eventually knocked in on a hit by Sebastian Rua. The Yankees scored two of their own in the bottom of the 1st but Calderon held them scoreless the rest of the way with 16 strike outs. Noah Schnittjer, Fredy Mancia, and Timmy Lynch combined to shut the Giants down over the last 5 innings.
In game 2 the Giants jumped out to a 4 to 0 lead behind the hitting of Welch, Free Calderone, and Frankie Vigliotta. Schnittjer pitched for the Yankees and shut the door for the next 3 and 2/3rds innings. Catcher Free was pitching for the Giants and held the Yankees scoreless during the first two innings. The Yankees got going in the 3rd scoring 3 runs led by Miki and Ethathan Mortimer and Talia Forbes. They took the lead for good with 3 more runs in the 4th courtesy of hits by Jonathan Curet, Schnittjer, and the Mortimer twins. Talia Forbes capped the scoring in the 6th with a hit and steal of home. There were several excellent defensive plays in this game for the Yankees by Mancia, Curet, Lynch, Rinaldi, and Forbes and for the Giants by Noah Wooten, Noah LaGuerro, Free, Welch, and Vigliotta. With two outs in the bottom of the 4th and Giant runners on second and third after hits by Giacobbi Gunn and LaGuerro Sal Rinaldi, the hitting star for the Yankees all year, entered the game to pitch. He struck out 4 of the last 5 batters that he faced to preserve the victory.
Game 3 was played on Wednesday night and Marty Melcher stepped in at third base for the Yankees and played very well. The Giants jumped out to a quick 2 to 0 lead courtesy of hits by Free, Calderon, and Wooten. Fredy Mancia pitching for the Yankees settled down after that and pitched a great game recording 13 strikeouts enroute to the victory. The Yankees tied the game in the 2nd courtesy of three rookies. Ethan Mortimer worked a walk and Lorenzo Bucella, a defensive standout during the series, bunted him over to 2nd. Andres Paz y Puente delivered his biggest hit of the season knocking in Ethan. The Yankees took the lead for good in the 3rd with Lynch and Forbes manufacturing two runs. Frankie Vigliotta was pitching well for the Giants recording 6 strikeouts and 3 putouts over 4 innings before exceeding the pitch count. Rinaldi and Mancia lead off the 5th with solid base hits and Forbes surprised the Giants with a well-placed bunt that scored two runs and sealed the victory.
This was an exceptionally well played series with outstanding performances by many players. Free and Forbes scored 5 runs apiece. Calderon, Mancia, Rinaldi, Lynch, Free, Rua, and Schnittjer turned in excellent pitching performances. Finally, Nathan Doherty, Bennet Falewicz, and Aiden Ruiz played well for the Giants.
The East Boston Little League coaches would like to thank President Nick Free and Vice President Brian Lynch for all their hard work. They spent countless hours working behind the scenes to ensure each player had a great season. The season was very successful