I will leave all the high—lights up to Coach Conry, but for now I just wanted to update our record.
As we all know the boys ended pool play with a 4 & 0 record while outscoring there opponents 34-2.
The playoffs and Championship games are tonight at BB Heaven, see you there.
Great job so far, but we are not done.

North Bellmore, NY – The North Bellmore North Merrick LL Rebels remain undefeated in NJBL Fall League play after shutting out the Huntington Giants in both ends of a double-header at Gunther Field yesterday, 5-0 and 7-0. The games had some special purposes and NBNM rose to the occasion.

First and foremost, with Coach Sam in the hospital prepping for a surgical procedure, the team had a responsibility to perform well for their sidelined leader and make him proud. Second, in facing a Huntington team that was the NY Section 6 runner-up in the 2011 Williamsport tournament, the Rebels, with a target squarely on their collective back, needed to send a message that the two defeats they provided Huntington in the summer tourney were no fluke. They succeeded on both counts.

Game one featured dominant pitching by Rebels starter Brian Porricelli. He carried a bid for a no-no into the fifth inning when he finally allowed an opposite field single, the Giants only hit in the game. Defense behind him was rock-solid including a web-gem, backhand stab of a line drive by Matt Nilsen at third. The big blow by the Rebels offensively was a three-run homerun to centerfield by Mike Prois in the second inning that provided all the scoring they would need.

In game two, NBNM provided a similar recipe of quality pitching and defense, and timely hitting. After scratching out a run in the first, the Rebels’ Billy McAdam came through with a clutch, two-out single in the third for insurance. Starting pitcher Nick Valeriano was effective and, even when Huntington managed to create a couple of scoring chances, the defense behind him made fine plays to keep the Giants off the board. The Rebels offense tacked on and Mike Proios closed it to complete the sweep.

The Rebels’ next action will come in the 2011 Columbus Day Wood Bat Tournament at Baseball Heaven in Yaphank beginning Friday October 7. NJBL continues Sunday October 16, 1:00pm at Gunther Field against the Roslyn Bearcats.

GET WELL SOON COACH SAM!

Massapequa, NY — The NBNM Rebels kicked off the Fall season Sunday by sweeping a double-header from the LI Braves at Burns Park, 8-5 and 5-0. It was an effective if underwhelming effort by North Bellmore North Merrick in dispatching the clearly inferior team from Massapequa.

The Rebels pitching was good with Nick Valeriano and Kevin McCleneghan combining in game one and Brian Porricelli and Mike Proios sharing game two. The NBNM defense was adequate and the offense — with the benefit of several charitable contributions from a very poor Braves defense — did enough to win. Of note was an inside-the-park homerun driven through the gap in left-center by Porricelli.

The Rebels will face the Huntington Giants this Sunday September 25 1:30pm at Gunther Field.

Thanks to all who arranged, participated in, and otherwise made possible yesterday’s outing for batting practice at Bethpage Ballpark, home of the Long Island Ducks.

A few pictures are in the Photos section. Feel free to add any more you may have!

—

http://www.teampages.com/photo_albums/32152-BP-at-LI-Ducks-photo-album/album_photos

—

Check out the photo coverage by Ralph Valentino!…
https://picasaweb.google.com/105207858158529871387/NBNMDucks091111?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOD-vPitjcinHA&feat=directlink

Rehoboth Beach, DE — The NBNM Rebels returned yesterday from the 2011 Sports at the Beach Labor Day Bash with a disappointing 3rd place finish. Despite a second-best 3-1 record, North Bellmore North Merrick went flat and were knocked out by the Delaware Liberty in their semi-final play-off.

It was easy-going in the early rounds of this tournament Saturday where the competition was decidedly weak. With serviceable pitching and defense, and an offense that looked like it started to find it’s groove again, the Rebels beat two teams from New Castle’s Delaware Hurricanes organization, 9-4 (it was closer than it sounds) and 14-2 (a run-ruled spanking).

Despite their 2-0 record, play-off seeding rules found NBNM the #3 seed and needing to play a 9:00am quarter final against the younger Hurricanes team. The Rebels bats stayed hot, including a 1st-inning grand slam by Brian Porricelli and, later, career HR #1 for Mike Proios. By the fourth inning, the Rebels had secured a 12-0 victory by run-rule.

But, in keeping with the beach theme, the tide turned for the Rebels in their semi-final game against the Liberty. It was the Liberty bats that set the tone in this one with the team from Dover jumping out to a 5-0 lead by the middle of the first inning. The Rebels never did recover as their offense sailed off to points unknown, and a 7-1 defeat ended their weekend.

Despite the lack of overall success on the field, the Rebels’ players and families all enjoyed the many amenities in the area with great times at the beach, boardwalk amusements and arcades, water park, go karts, shopping, and abundance of good eats.

And so concludes another Summer season.

Fall ball in NJBL league play starts with a double-header Sunday 9/18 10:00am at Carmans Road Field against the Massapequa International Braves.