Greg Rup steals third on front end of double steal for RCBC Ghost 12U Nationals.
By Sean Reilly
Craig Tronolone and his Richmond County Baseball Club Ghost 12U Nationals buddies had enough of cold, snowy weather and everything else associated with winter.
The boys from Staten Island finally had a chance to compete on the field on Saturday morning at one of their favorite places, Diamond Nation in Flemington.
RCBC took advantage with a doubleheader sweep at the 12U Battle At The Turf, opening with a 9-1 victory over Snyder Bucks-Boker from Virginia and following with a 10-0 triumph against the Diamond Jacks Gold 12U, both in five innings.
Tronolone was 1-for-2 in the first game, and was 2-for-2 with a walk and one RBI in the nightcap.
“We were focused and hit the ball very well today,” Tronolone said. “We’re looking to try our hardest, win every game that we can and have fun. This was a great start.”
RCBC scored eight runs in the bottom of the first to seize control against the Bucks.
Brody Tietze returns to first ahead of pickoff throw for Diamond Jacks 12U Gold.
In the matchup against the DJacks, who were playing their first game of the season, RCBC scored twice in the second and six times in the third for another 8-0 lead.
The second inning against the DJacks began with singles from Greg Rup and Stephen Largo. Tronolone walked to load the bases, and Rocco Modolo followed with a two-run single to left.
The third inning began with a single from Charlie Fernandez, and after two wild pitches, Vin DeFranco hit an RBI ground out to shortstop. After a fly out, Mason Garland doubled off the fence in left field.
Garland moved to third on a wild pitch before Anthony Laino walked. A wild pitch scored Garland before Kane Sherlock hit a single to shortstop. A throwing error to first as Sherlock legged out the hit resulted in runners on second and third. Rup was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Largo was up next, and after Laino scored on a wild pitch, he delivered a two-run double to right-center.
Largo stole third and scored on a wild pitch for the 8-0 lead before Tronolone singled to center.
RCBC scored its other runs in the fifth. Laino led off with a single to shortstop and Sherlock hit a single on a hit that landed near the right field line which sent Laino to third.
Largo hit a sacrifice fly to center before Tronolone drove in the final run with a double off the fence in left field.
Stephen Largo scores on two-run, second-inning single by Rocco Midolo for RCBC Ghost 12U.
“It was great to be back outside,” he said.
Fernandez pitched a one-hitter for RCBC. The left-hander struck out six and walked two.
“It felt great to be back on the mound,” he said. “My off speed and fastball were working, and I was able to locate them.”
Brody Tietze hit a two-out single to center in the first inning for the DJacks, who lost a 10-9 game to the New Hampshire Prospects 12U in their second game.