North End Dodgers Drop Two in a Row

After an opening day win, the NEAA Freshman Dodgers lost two games in a row now posting a 1-2 record.

The team’s first defeat came at the hands of the West Roxbury Nationals 11-2.

There were a few bright spots for the Dodgers as Eli Swab went 3 for 3, Aaron Cronin had 2 hits in 3 at bats and an RBI and Mike Rausseo and Navide Aminpour collected a hit each.

During the second loss, a 5-4 well played game, the Dodgers fell a run short against the Mission Hill Pirates.

Joe Saliba hurled three innings allowing just one unearned run, 5 strikeouts with no walks and giving up no hits.

Trailing 1-0 the Dodgers loaded the bases on a Mike Rausseo walk and singles by Pearse Martin and Robert Pagliuca. A ground base double-play ended the inning with no runs for the North End team.

Saliba walked the first three Pirates in the 4th inning but a couple of mental errors with Richard Perez on the mound found the Dodgers behind 3-0.

The Dodgers tied the score at 3-3 in the 5th. Aaron Cronin and Guarino Vilar walked and pulled off a double steal. Jake French took ball four loading the bases with no outs. A bunt single by Jack Ditomassi scored Cronin with the Dodgers first run of the game. Pearse Martin with one out grounded out scoring Vilar. French scored on an error and the game was a 3-3 tie.

The Dodgers took a 4-3 lead on an error by the Pirates first baseman. Eli Swab was robbed of a hit with Ditomassi scoring.

Cronin came in to pitch in the bottom of the 5th inning making a great play on a pop-up near the third base line for the first out.

The Pirates went ahead to stay in the home half of the 5th.

In the 6th the Dodgers made an attempt to at least tie the game or possibly go ahead. Vilar walked with one out and Nick Mustacchio pinch run for Vilar. French walked, Ditomassi hit a comebacker to the pitcher who threw it to first with the ball getting away. Mustacchio was cut down at the plate trying to score on the error. The final Dodger batter struck out ending the game.