NRLL/Chaloux Appreciation Game Set For June 17

A release from our friends at the North Reading Little League:

North Reading Little League has announced that the sixth annual NRLL/Tim Chaloux 12-Year-Old Appreciation Game will take place on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 17, at Benevento Memorial Park.

NRLL introduced the event in 2013 as a way to thank its 12-year-old players as they complete their small diamond careers and prepare to move on to the big diamond. It is also a day to honor the memory of Tim Chaloux, a former NRLL standout who was a senior at the Pingree School when he tragically died
six years ago.

The day has become one of the most highly anticipated and memorable on the NRLL calendar, with all of the league’s 12-year-olds invited to participate. Activities start at 10:15 a.m. with registration and the opportunity for players and their families to have a game of catch on the Benevento fields. That will be followed by team warm-ups, player introductions, dedications, and a six-inning game starting at noon.

At the game’s conclusion, NRLL and Stan Chaloux (Tim’s father) will present the Tim Chaloux Spirit Award to the player who best exhibits the hustle, passion, and effort that defined Tim on the field.

“This day has come to mean so much to everyone involved with North Reading Little League,” said NRLL president Eddie Madden. “It’s a great atmosphere, especially for the kids, who get together one final time to play on the small diamond with their friends. Just as important, it celebrates Tim’s memory at
the place he loved the most, the ball field.

“For those very reasons, of all the traditions we have in NRLL, the Chaloux Game may be the most important.”

Parents can sign up their sons/daughters by sending an email to info@nrll.org. They should include their child’s name, Majors team, and number of family members attending.

The NRLL regular season is beginning to wind down. Here is a look at some recent action:

BIG DIAMOND – In the MBDL Senior Division, the North Reading Yankees (9-2) have moved atop the standings on the strength of a seven-game win streak. Most recently, the Yankees blanked the Wakefield Mets, 2-0, behind a complete-game shutout from Chris Gwozdz.

Gwozdz faced one batter over the minimum and allowed just one hit – a single with one out in the first inning. He then retired the next 18 batters, including nine strikeouts, and received solid defense from first baseman
Jonathan Patch, who scooped multiple throws out of the dirt. The game remained scoreless into the sixth inning before Alex Vercolen and Gwozdz led off with sharp singles and, two outs later, Ryan Caviasca, laced
a double down the right field line to bring home both runners. Demitri Boulas and Michael Vittozzi teamed up for a fine pitching performance of their own in the Yankees’ 3-1 win over the Stoneham Braves. Boulas struck out eight batters over five innings of work, and Vittozzi handled the sixth and seventh innings, fanning four.

Blake Miller chipped in with excellent defense, cutting off a ball in center in the second inning to prevent extra bases and making a challenging catch in left field to stop a third-inning threat. The Yankees did all their scoring in the fourth inning. Vittozzi and Jimmy Currier banged out back-to-back singles, and Vittozzi scored when Vercolen put the ball in play. Gwozdz then knocked in two runs with a solid drive to center field.

MINORS –The Classified Realty Thunder outscored the Lugnuts, 19-10, behind Christian Lava, Tyler Boviard, Bruce McLaren, and Noah Salvatierra, who each had three hits. Lava singled, doubled, and tripled, totaling five RBI and four runs scored, while Boviard was 3-for-3 with a double and 5 RBI. The Lugnuts were led by Joey Lanzi, who went 2-for-2 and scored twice. Desmond Brown had a base hit and two runs scored.

In a back and forth game, the Red Wings took a 14-9 win over the Scrappers. The Red Wings' Jake Tiberio pitched three strong innings and Cole Bakr finished the game by striking out the side. Big hits by Tiberio, Branden Levine, and Nate Dyer helped lead the way for the victors.

The River Bandits jumped to an early lead over the Thunder and then pulled away for a 9-3 victory. It was 2-0 in the first inning after Max Mathews drove in a run on a ground out and Ben Shore hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Matthew Mancinelli.

Mancinelli finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base, and also pitched his way out of a first-inning jam, while Max Mathews was 2-for-3 with three RBI. Charlie Cooper added a hit as well. The pitching trio of Jakob Hulett, Mancinelli, and Cooper recorded 16 strikeouts.

A six-run second inning powered the IronBirds to an 8-1 win over the Scrappers. Brady Eng established momentum on the mound to start the game, striking out the side in the first. In the team’s big second inning, Corbin Day and Ben Cook each walloped stand-up doubles and Levi Gray slugged yet another
big RBI single.

The IronBirds’ defense was flying high throughout the game, highlighted by second baseman Casey Allston’s swift scoop-and-throws to first-sacker Brendan Trentsch for two critical outs, and shortstop Day’s laser beam to first baseman Derek Scott in a full stretch, barely beating the runner to retire the side in the third.

FARM – The Mariners’ bats were swinging in a big effort against the Reds. Vincent and Damian Pagliuca had a game to remember with each blasting a home run. Pierce Burnham added a triple and Ryan DiCarlo slammed a pair of doubles on the day. On the mound, the Charlie Sarno, Vincent Pagliuca, and Bryce Fitts threw well, holding the Reds scoreless across two innings.

Sarno earned the day’s “Gold Glove” with two nifty outs to first in the third inning to quiet a Reds threat. Jack Dhimitri saved the fourth inning with a quintessential heads-up play to home plate to retire the side. Burnham also caught a high fly ball sent to right field.

In the Jays' game against the Mariners, solid pitching from Michael Corvino and Brendan Nelson held the Mariners at bay. The duo recorded three strikeouts and combined with Lucas Cabral, Sebastian Garvin, and Linus Pearsall to turn in great defense in the infield. Nelson contributed a pair of doubles at the plate and Daniel Trentsch and Thomas Gullotti each pounded out three hits.

The Jays took then took on the Mets. The team's pitching was again stellar with Cabral and Anthony Giordano throwing scoreless frames. Giordano and Gullotti led the offense, each going 4-for-4. Brendan Nelson added three hits and Angelo Marifiote smashed a two-run double down the left field line to cap a sixth-inning rally. Corvino and Gullotti flashed the leather in the infield, which included Gullotti recording two unassisted putouts in the fifth inning.