Pitching, Defense Lift Madison 11-Year-Old Little Leaguers

Matt Radelunas pitched five strong innings, and the Madison 11-year-old baseball all-stars defeated Roxbury, 7-4, Monday night in the first game of Pool B play in the New Jersey District 1 Tournament.

Matt O'Donnell and Emilio Egea each scored two runs to help Madison jump out to a seven-run lead after four innings, and the all-stars held off a late run to win at sweltering Sonny Vitale Memorial Field.

Roxbury scored four times and put the tying run on base in the last inning, breaking through with three unearned runs off Radelunas in the fifth.

Then, in the sixth, four Roxbury batters walked, though one was caught stealing by Madison catcher Drew Brosie, and a fifth was hit by a pitch. Roxbury pulled within 7-4 with the bases loaded and two outs, but Madison third baseman Colby Dixon made a sparkling defensive play, catching a hard-hit bouncer on an awkward hop and firing to first for the final out.

"Our defense helped us big-time today," said Madison coach Dan Betz. "It seemed like every inning ended on a tough play. I can't complain at all, they were awesome."

Radelunas helped himself out with some defense of his own, throwing a perfect strike to first base from his knees on the third-base side of the mound for the third out of the third inning.

The team continued its heads-up play at the on the basepaths as well. O'Donnell produced Madison's first run when he stole home in the bottom of the second inning, darting from third at the exact moment when Roxbury's catcher threw the ball back to the pitcher's mound.

After Bobby Samara made it 2-0 with an RBI groundout two batters later, the speedy Egea walked, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error, and scored on a wild pitch to give Madison a 3-0 lead.

O'Donnell hit a moonshot home run well over the right field fence in the next inning to make it 6-0, and that would prove to be enough offense for Madison.

All the while, Radelunas kept Roxbury's lineup at bay. The southpaw didn't allow a run in his first four innings, pouring in strike after strike and allowing just three runners to reach base.

"He was awesome today," Betz said. "He's just a good solid pitcher. He doesn't walk anyone, he was in control today."

The second of Madison's five Pool B games will take place Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Pepe Field in Boonton, where they will take on Tri-Town.

Roxbury   0  0  0  0  3  1  -  4  6  4
Madison    0  3  3  1   0  x  -  7  7  1

MADISON (1-0):
-Matt Radelunas: 5 innings, 3 runs (0 earned), 6 hits, 5 strikeouts, 0 walks
-Matt O'Donnell: 1-for-2, 2 runs scored, 2-run home run, stole home
-Emilio Egea: 1-for-1, 2 runs scored, 2 walks

ROXBURY (0-1):
-Donovan Brady: 2-for-3, run scored, RBI
-Eric Wheatley: 2-for-2, run scored, walk
-Joe Badgeley: 1-for-3, 2 RBI