The 8 Year Old “Bulldog” RGMVM Travel Team Wins The New York State 8 Year Old AABC (American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC) / Federation Roberto Clemente Division Championship by Beating The Staten Island Reds!
Game 1:
The RGMVM Bulldogs laced up their cleats and took their show on the road to Gil Hodges field in Brooklyn to take on the Staten Island Reds in AABC Federation playoff action for the New York State Championship. The Bulldogs would hand the pitching duty over to their young flame-thrower Chris "big dog" Piteo. The big dog would fire away over the first three innings striking out eight reds along the way. The Reds pitcher would match Chris over the first three striking out eight batters as well. The game would be knotted at a 1-1 tie after three. The Bulldogs would finally breakout in the fifth inning, Robbie Hofmann and Matt Fox would get on and once again it was Chris Piteo driving them home to jump out to a 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the fifth young set-up man Johnny "Kid" Codelia would run into a jam after a couple of defensive gems by Robbie Hofmann and Bryan Torres. Johnny would battle a tight strike zone and eventually give up a hard hit double down the first baseline that would give the Reds a 5-3 lead going to the last. In the last the Bulldogs would get the tying runs on base with two out with hard hitting Brett Buser at the plate, Brett would be called out on a controversial third strike to end the game. This put the Bulldogs down a game with their backs to the wall for the second game of the double header.
Game 2:
In game two of the double header, the sun was scorching and so were the Bulldogs bats that now were barking and making plenty of noise to support their pitchers. The Bulldogs would breakout early in the first with Chris Piteo knocking a double to center to drive in Fox and Hofmann. Johnny "Kid" Codelia would drive in two more with a hard hit single to right, giving the doggies quick 4-0 lead. The Bulldogs would hand the ball to young right-hander Matt Fox, the Fox would use his sinker and the defense would gobble up the grounders. The Bulldogs would chew out a couple of runs in the second behind the hard hitting of Kid Codelia, Brett Buser and Brandon "Boo" Acosta. The dog pound would keep the frenzy going in the third behind the bats of Matt Fox and Bryan Torres jumping out to a 9-0 lead.
The Dogs would then hand the pitching duty over to the "R-Train" Robbie Hofmann in the third innings, after a couple of defensive mishaps the Train would strike-out the side to kill a Reds rally. The Doggie defense was awesome in the 4th behind their pitcher, getting
three force plays from Chris Piteo at Short to Matt Fox at second making look so easy. In the fifth the dog pound would get jump started with a lead-off triple from Nick Lante, he would be driven in by Ricky Fleri. After a couple of walks Chris Flaim would lace a hard single to left to drive in Fleri and Acosta and give the Bulldogs a conformable 12-3 lead going into the bottom of the fifth. Mike Guglielmi who caught both ends of the double header would gun down a runner stealing to start the innings, the R-Train would cruise into the last stop striking out the last two batters going into the last inning.
The Dogs would go peacefully in the 6th, and hand over to Young Closer Brandon Acosta who would slam the door in the sixth inning by striking out the side. With the bounce back victory in the heat, the bulldogs will return to Gil Hodges Sunday for the Championship game.
Game 3:
On a day that was made for baseball the young Bulldogs loaded the bus and heading to Brooklyn on the belt walkway to play the deciding game of the AABC playoffs to represent New York State in the Eastern Regional. In the top of the first leadoff man R-Train Hofmann would walk and proceed to steal second and third, Matt Fox would follow with a walk and steal second as well. Clutch Hitting Johnny "Kid" Codelia would drive Hofmann in with a hard ground out to short, the dogs would however leave fox stranded at third. Once again the Bulldogs would hand over the pitching duty to crafty right-hander Matt Fox, and once again he was right on target. Fox would use his good sinker to keep the Reds offense totally off balance and strike out eight batters along the way without giving up a hit.
In the top of third the doggie offense would manufacture a run, Chris Flaim would walk and advance on a bunt single by Hofmann. Matt Fox would smack a hard shot to short and Flaim would be forced out at third. After a walk to Big Dog Piteo the bases were loaded for Kid Codelia who would smack a hard shot back to the pitcher who would gun down Hofmann at the plate. With two out and things looking bleak, Bryan Torres once again stepped up and laced a single to plate Matt Fox and give the dogs a 2-0 lead. In the fourth inning with the crowd fully behind the bulldogs the leash would break and the dogs were on the loose. The Reds pitcher was wild walking the first 4 batters, Big Dog Piteo would lash a hard triple to right center to drive in Buser, Fleri and Hofmann. Bryan Torres would slam a hard single up the middle to drive in Fox and Piteo.
The crowd was now in a frenzy with the sound of let's go Bulldogs, woof, woof, woof echoed throughout Gil Hodges Stadium.. The dogs kept pounding away with hits from Brandon Acosta and another bases clearing double this time from Ricky Fleri to drive in Acosta, Buser and Guglielmi. When the inning was over the Dogs had jumped out to a 11-0 lead, and the chants where going to the ship and where going to New Jersey rang out from the crowd.
In the fourth the dogs would hand over the pitching duty to there young flame-thrower Chris Piteo. Young Piteo would cruise through striking out the side. In the fifth the dogs would put the game away, the dogs would once again load the bases behind singles from Fox a walk to Piteo and a single from Torres. This would set the table for Brandon Acosta, Boo would hammer a shot to center field that would clear the bases and increase the lead to 15-0.
With the impressive victory the RGMVM Bulldogs win the 8 Year Old New York State Federation / AABC Championship! They now advance to the AABC / Federation Eastern Regional Tournament Representing New York State.
Congratulations to all the Bulldogs.
1. Chris "Big Dog" Piteo
2. Robbie "R-Train" Hofmann
3. Mike "Wheels" Guglielmi
4. Matt "Slick" Fox
5. Ricky "Speedy" Fleri
6. Brandon "Boo" Acosta
7. Nicky "Snapples" Lante
8. Brett "Lefty" Buser
9. Johnny "Kid" Codelia
10. Johnny "Boomer" Murphy
11. Bryan "Smiley" Torres
12. Chris "CJ" Flaim
13. Matthew "Moose" Hofmann
The Bulldogs Capture The Brooklyn Federation Tittle !
Bulldogs – 21
BBYO – 3
The sun was scorching on a sunny evening at Bergen beach. The Bulldogs of RGMVM took to the field to face the Cougars in Federation league action. They dogs would get off to a rocky start behind starter Robbie Hofmann, but relief pitcher Chris "Big Dog" Piteo would right the ship and strike out the side. The dogs would then break out the lumber and get the offense going scoring early and often. Getting it done for the Dog Pound offense were.
- Chris Piteo (2-3)
- John Codelia (2-3)
- Robbie Hofmann (2-2)
- Mike Guglielmi (3-3)
- Brett Buser (2-2)
- Brian Torres (1-2)
- Johnny Murphy (2-2)
Yes, there was a Moose sighting. The Moose Matt Hofmann, would jump from the bench to steal a couple of bases during the game. Chris Flaim, would steal 4 more bases on the day as he continues to be a terror on the base paths. Not to be lost in the game was the fine pitching performance by right hander Bryan Torres. Bryan would pitch 2 solid innings striking out six batters along the way to the victory great job.
The Bulldogs Clinch The Federation Tittle!
Bulldogs – 19
Good Shepherd – 10
The Sun was shinning over Brooklyn's beautiful Marine Park, as the Bulldogs took to the field to face off against the Good Sheppards. The Bulldogs sent young righthanded pitcher Bryan Torres to the mound for the start, he would run into some rocky road and would be relieved by Matt Fox who would limit the oppositions rally with a sharp fastball.
Matt would hold the opposition’s offense at bay in both the second and third innings giving the Bulldog offense a chance to wake up from their slumber and get going with the lumber.
The lumber company would finally get going scoring 19 runs over the next 4 innings to jump out in front, getting it done for the Bulldog offense were.
- Mike Guglielmi (2-3, Double, Grand Slam, 5RBI's)
- Ricky Fleri (3-4, 2-Triples, 5RBI's)
- Robbie Hofmann (3 - 4, Triple, HR, 4RBI's)
- Matt Fox (2 - 3, Double, 2RBI's)
The Bulldogs would then turn the lead over to their young closer, "Cardiac Kid" Robbie Hofmann. Young Hofmann would battle a tight strike zone and wiggle out of a couple of tight jams to slam the door another Bulldog victory. With the Victory the Bulldogs improved to 16-0 and clinched first place in the Brooklyn Marine Park Federation League. Congratulations to all the Players and Coaches, and dedicated parents for all their support.
The Bulldogs Beat The Brooklyn Bonnies Again To Go 18-0!
Bulldogs – 12
Brooklyn Bonnies – 3
Once again the Bulldogs were heading to Gil Hodges field in Brooklyn for a matchup with the Brooklyn Bonnies. The Bulldogs were heading in via train, planes and automobiles. The dogs would jump out early in the first behind clutch hitting from Brett Buser, Nick Lante, and Jonathon Murphy. The pitching duty would go to crafty right hander Matt Fox, young fox would keep the opposing hitters off balance with his arsenal of slippery pitches. Matt would fire three excellent innings, leaving with a 6 to 3 lead and would get the victory.
The dogs would string together multiple hits in the fourth and fifth to
break the game open, doing the hard hitting for the bulldogs were.
- Brett Buser (3-3)
- Chris Piteo (2-3)
- Nick Lante (2-3)
- Johnny Murphy (1-3)
The Dogs would hand the ball over to Chris Piteo in the last three innings and he would throw a barrage of fastballs to close out the game striking out 7 batters along the way.
With the Victory the Bulldogs have improved to an impressive 18 - 0 on the season.
