Massapequa Cyclones storm through 11U Summer Finale

By Bob Behre | August 30, 2021

Anthony Badagliacci pitched a gem and the Massapequa Cyclones bats unleashed a torrent of hits on the way to a 10-2 victory over the Staten Island Orioles in the 11U Summer Finale championship game.

Badagliacci pitched a three-hitter, struck out eight and walked two and the Cyclones rode a six-run second inning and 10 total hits to an eight-run mercy rule victory in five innings last night at Diamond Nation.

It was the Cyclones’ first-ever visit to Diamond Nation and boy did the town team from Long Island enjoy their visit. Massapequa posted a 4-0 record in the tournament and outscored its opponents 37-21.

They had to overcome a red hot Staten Island Orioles club that reached the championship game at 3-0 and had outscored their opponents by a staggering 35-2.

But Badagliacci aggressively attacked the strike zone to keep the Orioles off the basepaths and from stringing hits together.

“Anthony throws strikes,” said Massapequa coach Roland Clark. “He was filling up the zone and challenging them and getting outs.”

Badagliacci was named the 11U tournament’s Most Valuable Player and received a bat from tournament sponsor Victus Bats.

Badagliacci was on the receiving end of some very strong support from the Massapequa lineup and also contributed an RBI during the six-run second when the Cyclones sent 10 batters to the plate.

The Cyclones actually got on the board in the top of the first inning when Danny Fregara led off with a single to center field, stole second, reached third on a fielder’s choice and scored on Alex Pagano’s two-out double to the gap in left-center field.

The Cyclones’ lead ballooned to 7-0 in the second inning when the bottom of the Massapequa lineup ignited the big inning.

Michael Scarry and James Longhitano, the Nos. 7 and 8 hitters, opened the inning with hard singles. Scarry scored on a wild pitch and, after Tyler Mazurkiewicz walked, Badagliacci, the No. 10 hitter, drove in Longhitano with an infield single to shortstop. Fregaro walked and Chris Bekiers followed with a two-run double to boost the lead to 5-0. Liam St. George’s bouncer to third base brought home another run and Pagano capped the rally with an RBI single to center field.

“We knew coming in that the Orioles were a very good team and they hadn’t given up many runs,” said Clark. “So we knew we had to be aggressive at the plate. It helped that we were able to jump on them early.”

The Cyclones tacked on a run in the third without the benefit of a hit to take an 8-0 lead. It was Scarry who started things again, this time with a leadoff walk.  He stole second, reached third on a wild pitch and scored on Mazurkiewicz’s fielder’s choice bouncer to shortstop.

Badagliacci cruised threw the first two innings, striking out four without allowing a hit, but the Orioles were able to scratch a run across in the bottom of the third. Michael Rizzo ripped a double to right-center field leading off the inning. Two wild pitches would get Rizzo home but Badagliacci was able to get out of further trouble thanks to a pair of strikeouts.

Anthony Badagliacci pitched a three-hitter in the 11U Summer Finale and was named MVP.

Massapequa kept the heat on in the fourth inning courtesy of a couple of noisy at bats by the top of its batting order. Leadoff hitter Fregara (2-for-3, walk, 3 runs) opened the inning by slashing a double into the right center field gap. Bekiers followed with a booming triple to straightaway center field to score Fregara. Michael Clark capped the two-run rally with a two-out single to left that scored Bekiers and lifted the Cyclones lead to 10-1.

Staten Island was able to score a run in the bottom of the fifth but could not stave off the eight-run mercy rule. Nicholas Cianciaruso led off and singled to center. He stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Rizzo, in the middle of it again, hit a bouncer to the left side that scored Cianciaruso to trim the deficit to 10-2.

But Badagliacci got a strikeout and a groundout around a walk to close out the 10-2 victory.

Massapequa, which was coming off a tournament championship a week earlier at Baseball Heaven in Long Island, improved to 15-3-1 on the summer. The Cyclones did not commit an error in the championship game, another key ingredient to its highly successful summer.

“We ran into a lot of really good hitters in pool play and the playoffs, so our defense really had to step up and did,” said Clark. “They locked it down.” The Cyclones’ well-rounded game also included eight stolen bases in the championship game.

Summer Finale recaps

9U

HAMMERS

Hammers defeated RCBC Marucci, 12-9, in the 9U Summer Finale championship game. Antonio Ciccone of Hammers was named the 9U tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Hammers (4-0) outscored their opponents 54-13. RCBC Marucci (2-1-1) held a 45-22 runs advantage on its opponents.

13U

NORTHEAST PRIDE

Northeast Pride defeated WR Bombers, 9-5, in the 13U Summer Finale championship game. Ben Kulikowski of Northeast Pride was named the 13U tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Northeast Pride (5-0) outscored its opponents 46-14. WR Bombers (3-1) held a 21-11 runs advantage on their opponents.

15U

ACES

Aces defeated Steel Sharks Baseball, 7-3, in the 15U Summer Finale championship game. Josh Ribaudo and Jackson DiLorenzo of Aces were named co-MVPs of the 15U tournament. Aces (5-0) outscored its opponents 41-6. Steel Sharks Baseball (4-1) held a 37-10 runs advantage on its opponents.

17-18U WOOD BAT

HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES

Hudson Valley Renegades defeated NY Dynasty, 5-2, in the 17-18U Wood Bat Summer Finale. Eric Servellow of Hudson Valley was named the 17-18U Wood Bat Most Valuable Player. The Renegades (5-0) outscored their opponents 37-7. NY Dynasty (4-1) held a 29-10 runs advantage on its opponents.

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