Pirates 8U and 12U PCYBL teams peaking as season winds down and playoffs looming

July 20, 2023 at 12:06 a.m.
The Port Chester 8U Pirates team. Back row, from left: Isaiah DiBella, Jayden Bautista, Ava Ianello, Sebastian Martinez, John Umbro. Front row, from left: Logan McLaughlin, Zachary Brenzel, Max Harris, Anthony Rende (back), Chase Steers, Vincent Nunziato.
The Port Chester 8U Pirates team. Back row, from left: Isaiah DiBella, Jayden Bautista, Ava Ianello, Sebastian Martinez, John Umbro. Front row, from left: Logan McLaughlin, Zachary Brenzel, Max Harris, Anthony Rende (back), Chase Steers, Vincent Nunziato. (Courtesy photo of Robert Brenzel)

By MICHAEL IACHETTA | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment
Freelance Reporter

There's nothing like going into the upcoming Greater Hudson Valley Baseball League (GHVBL) U-team playoffs on a roll—and the Port Chester Youth Baseball League 8U and 12U age group teams are rolling.

Both teams are winding down the regular season on a winning note.

Beat Thunder Red

The 8U Pirates beat Old Greenwich Thunder Red 8-4 last Tuesday (7/11) in Cos Cob, Conn., with John Umbro, Jayden Bautista and Logan McLaughlin combining their talents to throw a strong game. Umbro struck out five batters in two innings. Bautista struck out seven hitters in three innings. And McLaughlin closed with a strikeout in his one inning pitched.

The young Pirates backed up their strong pitching with solid hitting ranging from Ava Ianello getting her first hit of the season to four batters going two for three: Zachary Brenzel, Isaiah DiBella, Sebastian Martinez and Bautista.

Brenzel scored three runs and had two RBIs, Bautista had three RBIs, DiBella scored twice and had three steals, Martinez had three RBIs and scored a run and Anthony Rende had a base hit.

      

Defensive gems

Rende, the southpaw catcher, gunned down a runner trying to steal second and Umbro had seven put outs in the field as the defensive standouts.

"It was an overall team effort with everyone clearly starting to put it together as we are primed for a playoff run down the stretch," said Rob Brenzel, one of the coaches.

Now the games dwindle down to the precious few leading up to the playoffs with the Pirates going up against the TYA Tigers away Thursday (7/20) at Labriola Field in Eastchester at 5 p.m. followed by a home-and-away series against Old Greenwich Thunder Blue Saturday (7/22) and Sunday (7/23) against Old Greenwich Thunder Red, both at 10 a.m.

Pitching quintet

Coach Brian McConnell echoed the same sentiments after the 12U Pirates swept a deuce against OGRCC last Tuesday (7/11) at Lyon Park and away Saturday (7/15) against the New Castle Lightning by the respective scores of 11-5 and 13-4.

The Pirates team showed impressive pitching depth with five pitchers combining to complete the wins in both games that featured strong hurling from Tyler Hastings, Joe Szygiel, John Halliday, Brandon McConnell and Carter Chan.

All of these players also swung their bats well in both games as did Sophia Faraci, Aiden Rosa, Ty Frimere, Joey Bologna, Jay DiLeo, Evan Eski and Jonathan Smith.

The 12U Pirates’ upcoming games include Ardsley away Thursday (7/20) while their home games at Lyon Park include a doubleheader against Eastchester Saturday (7/22) at 9 and 11 a.m. and a Sunday (7/23) 6 p.m. game against Hastings. They would like nothing better than to go into the playoffs on a winning streak but, win or lose, they have been playing like winners and have already come a long way no matter what happens.

      



Comments:

You must login to comment.