Animals score 46 in four wins

The South Riverdale Animals, the league’s 13-years-of age and under travel team, outscored their opponents 46-2, in their four wins in five days, in the Westchester Baseball Association (WBA), this past week.

 Not only were the Animals’ hitters roaring in the five wins, so were their pitchers, allowing a total of only 5 total hits over the entire week, including a no-hitter.  

The locals played their first two games of the week against the  Pleasantville Panthers, winning the first game 14-1, on Tuesday, July 16, and winning 4-1 two days later. 

In the first game, the Animals breakout came in the fourth inning, during which they scored nine runs. Zack Farber, Brian Alberts and Ike Fields all scored at least twice in the game. 

 Solid defense, including two diving catches from center fielder Jonathan Katzman, helped to keep the Panthers off the bases.  Animals starter Farber pitched a complete game, throwing only 59 pitches in five innings of work. 

The Animals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in game two against the Panthers, but the game proved to be a much tighter contest. Danny Moynihan, Adam Berni and Farber all scored.  The only other Animals’ run was in the sixth inning, when Steven Stavrianopoulos belted a triple and scored on a throwing error. 

Moynihan, the Animals’ starter, struck out 8 batters in the five innings he pitched. Closer Berni locked down the final two innings for the 4-1 win.   

The defense was led by a key double-play started by shortstop Jonathan Sherman. Griffin O’Keefe’s catch also contributed to the victory.

The Animals scored two impressive wins over the Woodlean Warriors, 12-0 and 16-0, in a double-header on  Saturday, July 20. 

Game one featured a strong pitching performance by starting pitcher Kenneth Rodriguez. He allowed only 2 hits in five innings while striking out five batters.  

Game two hurler Michael Tiso was able to take it another notch by throwing a no-hitter. Only two Panthers reached base, and another superb double play by the Animals infielders thwarted any potential rally. 

Berni was the hitting star of the doubleheader, crushing 2 home runs and a triple while scoring 5 runs. Jesse Cooper-Leary and Lucas Ludgate got on base often as the Animals’ offense knocked out 28 runs during the two games. 

 The Animals wind down their WBA summer season in the next two weeks.  Their remaining schedule can be found at www.eteamz.com/WBA.