Massapequa, NY – The North Bellmore North Merrick Little League Rebels entered onto the road to Williamsport last night at a high rate of speed when they defeated Bellmore Little League 13-0 by run-rule after just 3-and-a-half innings. The decisive victory featured effective pitching, sufficient defense, and offense that gathered momentum as the game proceeded.

After Bellmore went down without scoring in the top of the first, NBNM plated two in their frame by way of a fielder’s choice by Billy McAdam, a single by Brian Porricelli and a three-base hit by Matt Conry. After Rebels pitchers Kevin McCleneghan and Jack Delaney combined to put Bellmore down quietly in the second, McCleneghan helped himself with a lead-off double and moved to third on a ground out by Matt Coster. McCleneghan scored on a drive to right field by Eric Solomon but Solomon was cut down at second base trying to stretch it after some indecisive baserunning. A double in the left-center field gap by Delaney, a deep drive off the right-center field fence for a double by McAdam, a walk to Acri, a double down the right field line by Porricelli, and wild pitch led to four more Rebel runs and a 7-0 lead after two.

Delaney kept Bellmore quiet in the third starting with a strikeout of their lead-off man. After the next hitter reached on an error, Delaney induced a ground ball to shortstop where McCleneghan rolled up a 6-6-3 double-play. NBNM got things going in the third with a well-struck single lined to left by Matt Coster. With special pinch runner Solomon on first, Matt Nilsen hit a tapper toward third for an infield hit that was thrown away by Bellmore allowing Solomon to score and Nilsen to reach third. After Nilsen scored on a wild pitch, McAdam singled up the middle. That was when the crowd at Burns Park were treated to an impressive display of offensive power. Acri took the first pitch he saw over the scoreboard in center field for a two RBI dinger. Next, Porricelli, also first-pitch swinging, launched one well beyond the right field wall. After Bellmore went to their bullpen, Conry stepped in, offered at the first pitch and dropped a bomb to left to complete a tear of back-to-back-to-back home runs and give the Rebels a 13-0 lead. (Nick Valeriano followed with a blast that smacked off the wall in left-center field missing a fourth consecutive Rebels home run by five feet). Delaney came out and tossed a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fourth to end it.

Boxscore and game details

While Bellmore presented a decidedly weak opponent, NBNM nonetheless set the tone with a solid showing and established a momentum they hope to ride through the tournament.

The Rebels return to Burns Park tomorrow night, Friday June 29 at 8:00pm, to face District tournament host Massapequa Coast.