Massapequa, NY – The North Bellmore North Merrick Rebels left their mark on their temporary home as District 31 champions tonight when they run-ruled the Sayville Little League All-Stars, 10 – 0 in 4 innings at Burns Park in Massapequa. It is the only game NBNM will host in the 2011 Williamsport Section 6 tournament.

The Rebels are now 3 – 0 having defeated each of their District champion counterparts to date via run-rule.

The Rebels came out tonight and set the tone in many aspects of their play.

In the top of the first, starter Brian Porricelli set the tone for the Rebels pitching. He was typically dominant and in hitters heads. Throughout, he did not yield a run and went the distance in this four inning game.

In the bottom of the first, Jack Delaney’s lead-off single and Nick Valeriano’s two-RBI double set the tone for a mostly relentless Rebels offense that would set the table and then drive them in. The Rebels put four on the board in the first and that was more than they’d need.

In the top of the second, the All-Stars five-hitter ripped a hot shot toward the third base line that looked surely to be an extra-base hit. That was when third baseman Matt Conry set the tone for the Rebels defense by making a spectacular snare on his backhand as the ball was going by him, and making a throw across the diamond from the seat of his pants for the 5-3 put-out.

NBNM continued to assert their pitching, offense and defense until the abbreviated end of the contest: Porricelli pitched out of a bases-loaded jam with a big strikeout, Matt Nilsen drove a double deep in the left-centerfield gap, and Andy Davila made a great hustling play and throw to nail a Sayville baserunner at second trying to stretch a single. There were many contributors on offense with the Rebels providing mostly tough at-bats and spraying hits to all fields, and most all defensive play was solid.

The Rebels continue their quest for a Section title shot when they face the Plainview Hawks tomorrow, July 28 5:45pm at Salisbury Field in Westbury.