Timely Hitting Leads NBNM Over Merrick in Williamsport Tourney

What does this current heat wave have in common with the North Bellmore-North Merrick boys little league offense?

They both do not show any signs of cooling off any time soon.

The 10-year-olds from North Bellmore-North Merrick (NBNM) scored 13 runs to defeat their counterparts from Merrick by a score of 13-2, after five innings on Tuesday evening at Merrick Road Park in the third round of the district Williamsport Tournament.

The Merrick little leaguers played a solid game throughout, playing fundamental defense and running the bases with intelligence, but the NBNM team was able to find gaps in the infield and outfield for their line drives time and time again.

Nick Valeriano pitched a complete game for NBNM, striking out four batters in his five innings of work. Valeriano was able to consistently throw strikes, giving only two batters a free pass over the course of the game, one by walk and one hit batsmen. 

In the top of the first inning, Anthony Molinari hit a one out double for Merrick, and it seemed as if Merrick was going to get on the board first. Next up was the Merrick catcher, Jake Gallito who hit a sharp ground ball to the left side of the infield. Gallito was retired at first, while Molinari attempted to take third on the throw, but was tagged out in the process, ending Merrick's scoring chance in the first.

Nick Vicino started the game on the mound for Merrick, striking out five batters in his three innings of work. Vicino set the NBNM team down in order in the first inning, and after one inning in the books it looked like there might be a pitcher's duel between these two squads.

In the bottom of the second inning, NBNM scored the game's first run on an RBI double by Matt Coster, plating Kevin McCleneghan who singled earlier in the inning. Vicino retired the next batter, to preserve the 1-0 deficit for his team.

The bottom of the third inning was huge for NBNM as they were able to score six runs and bat around in the process. The NBNM leadoff batter, Jack Delaney got the rally started with a bunt while Matt Conry was on first base. By the time Vicino fielded the bunt, there was no play on Delaney at first. Conry then noticed that there was no one covering third base, and advanced 60 feet because of it.

Billy McAdam drove in the first run of the inning with an RBI single. Valeriano hit a two RBI single, followed by an RBI double by McCleneghan. Brian Porricelli then laced an RBI triple to the gap in right-center field, capping the NBNM rally.

"The team is amazing," Ray Valeriano, one of the NBNM coaches said. "The second time through the line-up we came out swinging the bats hard, and one through nine all hit line drives."

But the team from Merrick showed their heart and determination, by continuing to play hard. In the top of the fourth inning, Merrick had a rally of its own going. Gallito started off the inning with a double, and two batters later Kevin Yohe drove in the first Merrick run with an RBI single. Frank Bruno drove in the second with an RBI groundout, cutting the lead to 7-2.

The Merrick bench was loud throughout the game, but in the fourth inning they made sure they were heard. "What do ya say kid?" was heard from the Merrick dugout dozens of times, especially in the fourth.

Valeriano buckled down and struck out the next two batters to get out of his only jam on the evening.

"I thought he did a solid job," Valeriano said of his son's pitching performance. "He was in control of all his pitches, and when he needed a big out, he got the big out."

Bruno pitched the final two innings for Merrick, retiring NBNM in order in the fourth. NBNM proceeded to score another six runs in the fifth inning, capped by a two RBI double by Delaney, sending everyone home early.

The 12-year-olds teams from Merrick and NBNM face-off Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. at Burns Park in Massapequa.  Patch will have full coverage of that game as well.

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