Merrick Slugs Past North Bellmore-North Merrick to Reach Little League District Finals

The Merrick Little League team is discovering that it's very easy to win games when you don't allow any runs.

Merrick's 12-year-old team held cross town rival North Bellmore-North Merrick (NBNM) scoreless Thursday evening at Merrick Road Park en route to an 11-0 victory. It was the second shutout of the tournament for Merrick, and they have now outscored their opponents 29-2 over the course of three games.

"I thought we did everything great today," Merrick coach Bob Pizzimenti said. "We played great defense and got great pitching by our money guys again. We also hit the ball better today than we did last time. We practiced hard this week and focused on being serious."

They were serious indeed, as they secured their place in the district finals with the victory.

Jonah Zeitlin, who pitched a complete game shutout against Wantagh last Wednesday, pitched four more shutout innings Thursday while Josh Duren pitched a scoreless final inning. Kelvin Pabon hit a three-run walk off home run in the fifth to give Merrick the win via the "mercy rule."

"I thought it was a great overall win today," Pabon said. "The walk-off home run really made my day."

NBNM certainly had their opportunities. They loaded the bases in the first inning after singles by Brendan Harkin and Tom Muraca and an intentional walk to Christian Bennett, but Zeitlin got Steven Simone to pop out and Tom White to strikeout to end the threat.

Bayyan Ngala-El got things going for Merrick in the bottom of the first with a leadoff walk, and James Ferry followed with a single. Mike Schwartz then scorched a line drive up the middle, but he hit it so hard that the center fielder was able to toss the ball to second base to get the force out.

However, back-to-back two out RBI singles by Eric Pauly and Frank Pusateri plated the first runs of the game, and Logan Eisner followed with an RBI single to put Merrick up 3-0.

NBNM loaded the bases again in the second after singles by John Amon, Dan Mullane and Muraca, but Zeitlen bared down once again and struck out Chris Gale to maintain the shutout.

"We have to continue to practice and work hard to reach our potential," NBNM coach John Harkin said. "As young guys, when you lose you have to come back. That's what makes you a team."

After walks by Pusateri and Josh Schuit in the bottom of the third, Brett Pizzimenti reached with a bunt single. Zeitlin then drew a bases loaded walk to make it 4-0.

Merrick broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth. After a single by Schwartz, Pabon drove him in with a single of his own. Schuit drove in a run later in the inning with an RBI fielder's choice, and then both Pauly and Schuit would come around to score on wild pitches to put Merrick up 8-0.

"We played well today," Schwartz said. "We didn't make any mental mistakes or any physical mistakes, and Kelvin's home run was huge. I loved watching that sail over the fence."

Finally, in the bottom of the fifth, Pabon launched a three-run homer over the right field fence to give Merrick an 11-0 lead, and effectively ended the game on a count of the 10-run mercy rule.

The win propelled Merrick into the district finals next week, and since they have yet to lose, they will have to lose two consecutive games in order to be eliminated.  They, on the other hand, will only have to win once against whomever they play.

"They came through today and every single kid contributed," Pizzimenti said. "It was a great game for us. Now we're in the district finals for the third year in a row."

With its first loss in the tournament, NBNM still has a chance to come out of the losers bracket and challenge Merrick for the title.

The team that wins the district finals will then compete in the sectional tournament round as they continue the long trek to a possible trip to Williamsport, Pennsylvania and the ultimate Little League World Series.