North Bellmore, NY – The Rebels of North Bellmore North Merrick greatly improved their chances of reaching the National Junior Baseball League play-offs yesterday when they swept both games of a double-header with the Sachem Youth Advisory Group Braves, 2 – 1 and 5 – 1.

The Rebels’ performance was particularly impressive given that they played and won a game earlier in the day at 9:00 am in the South Shore Tournament.

Game one featured a classic pitcher’s duel with Nick Valeriano on the hill for the Rebels.

SYAG came out of the gate quickly plating a run in the top of the first. With two out and men on first and third, the Braves attempted to steal second and Matt Coster, on a designed play to throw through, nailed the baserunner to end the inning.

The dominant pitching then traded zeros through the middle of the fourth.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Rebels finally broke through with an RBI single by Valeriano and a sacrafice fly by Alec Acri to give the Rebels the 2 – 1 lead.

Pitching and defense then resumed control. Matt Conry had a very busy day at the hot corner with five assists and a couple of sparkling plays. Meanwhile Valeriano chugged along to the complete-game victory.

In game two, Rebels starter Kevin McCleneghan and the Braves Siroka provided even more dominant pitching with each allowing just three hits in the game.

Defense was again excellent and Rebels outfielders Billy McAdam, Mike Proios, Eric Solomon, Matt Nilsen and Kevin Weber had a big hand in it.

The Rebels trailed 1 – 0 through four. In the top of the fifth, after singling to start the inning, Jack Delaney was driven in on a fielder’s choice by McCleneghan to get the Rebels on the board. McAdam, having reached on a walk, scored on a fielder’s choice by Valeriano to take the lead, 2 – 1.

After a lead-off walk in the bottom of the fifth, Brian Porricelli relieved McCeleneghan — who left they game to a rightful ovation — and put out the fire.

In the top of the sixth, the Rebels added some insurance. With Porricelli on third having previously laced a single up the middle, Matt Coster put down a clean sac bunt allowing Poricelli to score. Proios reached on a walk and made his way to third. With two out, Conry singled in Proios to exetend the lead to 4 – 1. Conry took second and then third on wild pitches. In an impressive bit of impromptu choreography with third base coach Sam Acri, Conry then proceeded to execute a successful delayed steal of home to close out the scoring at 5 – 1.

In the bottom of the sixth, Porricelli, having established himself in the shut-down closer’s role, had SYAG batters thinking of all the places they’d rather be than in the batter’s box facing Porky, and he sat the Braves down in order.

NJBL play continues Tuesday 6:00 pm when the Rebels visit the first-place Three Village Yankees at Strathmore Field in Brookhaven.