Dix Hills, NY – The NBNM Rebels lost the final game of Section 6 pool play tonight, 4-2, to Commack South LL at Otsego Park. The Rebels offense sputtered managing just 2 hits. By virtue of NBNM and Commack both finishing 4-1, they will match up again tomorrow night for the Long Island championship.

The Rebels just couldn’t get the bats working, going down 1-2-3 in the first two innings. Meanwhile Commack jumped out early converting two singles and two home runs into in a 4-0 lead after their first turn at bat. NBNM caught a break in the bottom of the third when Commack starter Salerno allowed consecutive walks to Kevin McCleneghan and Eric Solomon. After a successful sac bunt by Michael Proios moved McCleneghan and Solomon to second and third, Billy McAdam singled to score McCleneghan. But Salerno, who collected 10 strikeouts in his complete game victory, limited the damage at 4-1. Commack and NBNM traded zeros in the fouth and fifth innings with solid relief coming from the Rebels’ McCleneghan, Alec Acri and Jack Delaney, that continued into the bottom of the sixth. With one out and nobody on, Brian Porricelli looked for a first-pitch fastball and drilled it well over the centerfield wall to cut the lead to 4-2. But that was all the Rebels could muster.

Boxscore and game details

Tonight the Rebels welcomed back Proios who returned from the DL having recovered from a broken leg suffered in May. In a game that didn’t mean much, he threw 46 pitches over three innings including first-pitch strikes to 10 of the 15 batters he faced and walked none.

The final game for the Section 6 title is scheduled for tomorrow July 20 6:00 pm at Lions Field in Port Washington.