The 14u Connecticut Moose returned to action Saturday morning in Branford, Connecticut, after an unforgettable, challenging, and energetic offseason.
Besides some typical first game jitters, the 14u Moose were rolling early. Hefty hours logged in the recently updated training facility resulted in the Moose tallying 23 runs in just 10 innings during the exciting double header on Saturday morning. Notable performers in game one were Moose veterans, Cooper Tantraporn, Ben Hall, and Matt DeFilippo, each pounding the baseball around the yard for multiple base hit outings against the 9er Baseball Bulldogs.
Cooper Tantraporn led the Meese in the morning match-up with three base knocks, as well as two RBI's and three runs. Dom Trolio had the only extra base hit of game one, recording a much needed double for the Moose, hitting home two on the play.
After a shaky first inning in the field, the 14u Moose settled in. Adam Gold got the ball to start and went two innings with two strikeouts, zero earned runs, and four hits. Big Cat Ronan Culligan got the ball next and shoved fast ball after fast ball past the Bulldogs, allowing one earned run off of five hits and two strikeouts.
The Moose took game one easily, winning 14-7.
They later moved onto the GRIT Orange for an afternoon match-up. Once the antlers flashed, and the bats got hot, it was over.
Cooper Tantraporn got the nod for game two, and put on a pitching clinic. He pitched 3.1 innings, allowing three runs off three hits, with two strikeouts. Matty DeFilippo came in relief and unleashed his good stuff. Not only was DeFilippo putting on a show on the mound, but also at the plate, knocking in four runs batted in on two hits in game two. DeFilippo finished the day with five RBI's leading the Moose in that category. Dom Trolio finished the day just shy of the DeFilippo five with four runs batted in. The Moose veterans came to play on opening day.
Ben Hall crossed the plate three times in game two for the Connecticut Moose, as well as hammering a double on the day. Bodie Swanson also had himself a terrific game two, going 2/3 with a double, crossing the plate three times.
The energy was wild on opening day for the Connecticut Moose, which only means one thing, this squad is hungry. Ben Hall gets the ball tomorrow in the semifinal at 10am at Sportsplex in Branford, Connecticut.
