North Bellmore, NY – The NBNM Rebels swept a double-header from the Massapequa Coast Cyclones at Gunther Field today, 6-1 and 12-0. The wins move the Rebels Spring NJBL record to 8-3-1 and keep them in the hunt for the 11-75 American Division title. Perhaps more importantly, today’s results send a message to the Rebels’ cross-town and Little League District 31 rivals as they look forward to their much-anticipated, first-round match-up in the Williamsport Tournament.

Both games featured excellent execution by the Rebels in all aspects; they dominated play by employing superior pitching, defense, hitting and baserunning and they took full advantage of mistakes and misplays by Coast.

Starting pitchers Brian Porricelli and Kevin McCleneghan were asked to provide four economical innings in each game and that’s exactly what they delivered. Relievers Nick Valeriano and Mike Proios were likewise dominant and economical. Offensively, Eric Solomon and McCleneghan delivered extra-base hits, Matt Conry had a four-hit day, and most everyone in the line-up had base-knocks. Sacrafices were executed perfectly and baserunning was aggressive. Defense was very solid and featured a stellar and unusual 5-6-3 double-play (with second-baseman McCleneghan playing in a shift) that was capped with a sparkling pick at full stretch by first-baseman Valeriano.

But the most impressive display of all was when, in the fourth inning of game two with the Rebels leading 6-0, Coach Bob challenged his Rebels to show a killer instinct and go after the run-rule. The Rebels offense responded with a six-run fifth inning to put the game away and send a dejected Cyclones squad home early. If the Rebels can continue to cultivate this all-important ‘inner arrogance’ as a team, they will soon become ‘the team that no one wants to play’ as per Coach Sam’s direction back in the 2009 season.

Today’s victories were truly the result of a complete team effort. During Coach Sam’s visit to Penn State to attend his son Michael’s college graduation this weekend, he saw some famous quotations from all-time great football coach Joe Paterno. The one that he loved the best is: “The name on the front of the jersey is what really matters, not the name on the back.” It is Coach Sam’s expectation that the Rebels continue to embody this quote and enjoy the success and fulfillment that great team effort surely brings.

The Rebels wrap up the 2011 NJBL Spring season against the Nassau County Tarheels next Sunday 2:00pm at Gunther Field.