Marty Quade connects on pitch that produced a run for the HV Bulldogs.

By Sean Reilly

Liam Correa contributed to a combined no-hitter for the Hudson Valley Bulldogs on Tuesday afternoon at Diamond Nation, but he didn’t realize it until after the game was over.

The reason: Even though he pitched the first three innings, his team did so many good things that the no-hitter was just one part of a strong overall team effort that carried the HV Bulldogs to an 11-0, four-inning win over MVP East End from Long Island at the Super 16 World Series. 

Correa struck out two and walked four, while Carlo Porco had two strikeouts during a 1-2-3 fourth to close out the win and the no-hitter. 

“I didn’t realize it was a no-hitter until after the game,” Correa said.

“I was just trying to hit the zone, let them hit the ball and put it in play for my teammates,” he added. “I trust them behind me. I was going with my fastball and changeup. My slider was getting a few rollovers as well, but it was mainly my fastball and changeup.” 

The Bulldogs lost a tough 4-3 decision to BBA from Virginia in its tournament opener on Monday, and were eager to bounce back against East End. A three-run first inning set that in motion, and the offense kept coming in the following innings.

Tye Elias led off the game by reaching on an error. After a pop up to the catcher, Richie Roohan ripped a ball past first base and toward the right field corner for an RBI standup triple. Correa was up next, and he split the gap in right-center field for another standup triple and 2-0 lead. Logan Wissner followed with a single to center that scored Correa. 

“I was sitting inside fastball on that at-bat,” Correa said. “I was just trying to put the ball in play so we could score runs.”

Four more runs came in the second inning. Ryan Landisi led off with a triple to center, and after an out, Chris Lupo walked and stole second. Marty McQuade then reached on an error that scored a run.

Tye Elias advances to third after long fly out by Richie Roohan for the HV Bulldogs. 

Brian Mann was up next with runners on second and third, and he reached on an error that brought in both runners, although he was credited with one RBI. Elias walked, and Lucas Perillo hit a run-scoring single to center for a 7-0 lead. 

Ayden Vitale drew a two-out walk in the third inning. He stole second, moved to third on a passed ball and scored when Porco was safe on a throwing error. 

The final three runs came in the fourth inning. It started with walks to Chris Trumpler and Lupo before McQuade hit a two-run triple to right. McQuade scored when Elias hit a sacrifice fly to left field. 

No one had more than one hit for the Bulldogs, but all 12 batters in the lineup reached base, and nine of them scored at least once. 

“We dominated at the plate and played good defense,” Correa said. “That’s what wins us games. We were confident that we could bounce back. We weren’t going to think in the past, just play in the present, and just dominate.”