By Sean Reilly
Anthony Battista isn’t sure how he’s going to dress for Halloween.
On Sunday morning, however, he looked great at Diamond Nation playing the role of lights-out pitcher.
Battista needed just 58 pitches (37 of them strikes) to throw a six-inning no-hitter as his Staten Island Rebels team completed a fantastic weekend at ‘The Nation’ with a 6-0 victory over Fielder’s Choice Baseball from Purcellville, Va. for the championship of the 10U Monster Mash, Powered By Victus.
The right-hander struck out three and issued only two walks, back-to-back in the second inning. He recorded eight outs on ground balls, and six more on pop ups on the infield.
His approach was simple, throw strikes, and have faith in his defense. It worked perfectly, as the Rebels won a game that took only 61 minutes to complete.
“My teammates were helping me in making the plays,” he said. “It makes my job easier. I just had to throw strikes and pump the zone.”
Battista was also a standout with his bat, going 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBI as the fifth man in the order.
After needing only seven pitches in a tone-setting 1-2-3 top of the first, he delivered the key hit as the Rebels scored twice in the bottom of the frame.
After the first two Rebels batters were retired, Brylan Goldberg hit a single to right field. John Hagan followed with a single to center, with Goldberg holding at second.
Battista was up next, and delivered a two-run double to left field on the first pitch.
“It also felt good to give the team a lead,” he said. “It was good to go ahead at the beginning of the game and help my teammates.”
The only trouble he faced came due to the consecutive walks to Austin Dotson and Brady Lynn with two out in the second. A fly out to left field on a 2-1 pitch — the only ball Fielder’s Choice hit beyond the infield — followed.
Anthony Battista pitched a no-hitter and went 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBI for the Rebels.
That play commenced a string of 13 straight outs to close out the game.
Battista’s job in the last inning was made easier after his team tacked on its remaining runs in the bottom of the fifth.
The Rebels, who ended the weekend 4-0 with an ultra-impressive 53-6 run differential, sent up the top of the order in the fifth.
Luke Winter led off with a walk and stole second. Matt Florio singled to center. Winter held at third after a throw to the plate, but Florio advanced to second. The next batter struck out, but Winter scored as Hagan grounded out to second.
Battista then walked before Justin Zuckerman hit a single past second base that wound up scoring both runners for a 5-0 lead. William Biel added a single which scored Zuckerman with the final run.
Battista ended the game, and his 2025 season, by getting two ground outs and a called third strike to secure the no-hitter.
“This year was so much fun, and I got better,” he said. “This was an awesome way to end it.”