Evan Tardugno pitches Malden to victory

Evan Tardugno (above) led Malden to victory

Malden, MA - Evan Tardguno pitched a complete game as he helped lead Malden to it's 21st victory of the 2010 YBL season.

Tardungo (5-1) allowed the Beacon Hill Dodgers to score just one run on six hits while striking out, a season high, eight batters.

Malden got on the board quickly as lead off batter Joey Eugenio laced a single into right center to begin the game. With two outs, Tom Englehardt delivered a clutch base hit through the right side which allowed Eugenio to score from second.

The Bulldogs would tack on two more runs in the second inning. Rookie Hunter Caron began things with a single and Anthony Perry was hit by the pitch to set up a first and second situation. After the first pitch was dealt to Ken Olisky, the Beacon Hill catcher attempted to pick off Perry at first. His throw eluded the first baseman and allowed Caron to score from second and Perry to move to third. Olisky then knocked in Perry when he hit a high chopper to the right side.

Beacon Hill would score their only run in the fifth inning. With one away, Jay Shatto reached on a walk and scored two batters later when Nick Tapper singled to right field. Shatto was able to get around the tag at the plate and make it a 3-1 ball game.

The Dodgers threatened to tie the game in the sixth when Bryan Duffy reached on a walk and was moved to third on Jerrad Ryan's double to center. Tardugno settled down and was able to induce Shatto to fly out to right to end the inning.

The Bulldogs pushed across their fourth and final run of the game in the seventh. Back to back singles with one out by Perry and Paul Covelle brought Eugenio to the dish. Eugenio hit a ground ball up the middle to the second baseman who stepped on second, to force out Covelle, and then threw wide of first. With the throw taking Tapper off the base, Perry rounded third and took home.

"It was a great team win." said Malden coach Pat Spellman. "After a tough loss last night to Somerville, we were able to rebound and beat a good team in Beacon Hill. It just goes to show the type of players that we have this season."

 With a record of 21-5, the Malden Bulldogs have the best record in the Yawkey League and currently sit atop the standings in the Ted Williams Division. Malden has seven more games left in the regular season, including a regular season ending showdown against rival West Roxbury Bluefish.

Malden will return to action on Thursday night when they host the Brighton Braves. Game time is set for 8 pm at Maplewood Park. In their previous meeting this season, Malden exploded and beat the Braves by a 23-0 final. Evan Tardugno was the winning pitcher as he struck out eight in his seven innings of work.  

Malden falls to Somerville, 6-3

Somerville, MA - David Scioli's three run homer to left put the Albrandis ahead for good as they go on to beat the Malden Bulldogs, 6-3.

Patrick Shanahan (5-2) was the starter for Malden and pitched five innings, allowing six runs (two earned) on eight hits and striking out six.

Heading into the top of the fourth down by two, the Bulldogs staged a comeback. Jonathan Pollard singled, Brad Tardugno was hit by the pitch and Brian Duplissie singled to left to begin the inning. Evan Tardugno, Brad's younger brother, walked - which forced in Pollard. Christopher Deane then grounded into a fielder's choice which allowed Brad Tardugno to score and Duplissie scampered home on the errant throw to first. That gave Malden the slim 3-2 lead.

That lead was short lived as Somerville came right back in the bottom half of the frame. After retiring the first two batters, ground out and strikeout, Shanahan allowed Bernie Driscoll to lace a single to left field. With the count at 0-2 to Matt Deeb, Shanahan's slider bounce in the dirt and Deeb offered at it. However, the ball got away from Malden catcher Joey Eugenio. That allowed the inning to continue and it also brought Scioli to the plate. Shanahan got ahead in the count 1-2 before Scioli drilled the next offering deep over the left field fence for the go ahead three run home run that gave Somerville a 5-3 lead.

The Albrandis would add another run in the fifth to extend their lead to 6-3, which was the final score.

Malden, now 20-5, will take the field tonight at home against the Beacon Hill Dodgers. Game time is set for 8 pm at Maplewood Park.

Malden edges out Brighton Black Sox, 8-7

Malden, MA - The Malden Bulldogs became the first team in the Yawkey League to win 20 games as they squeaked out a close one against the Brighton Black Sox.

The Bulldogs got on the board first when Brad Tardugno knocked in Mike Terrio on a RBI ground out in the home half of the first inning. Malden continued to score runs in the frame when Brian Duplissie doubled home Anthony Perry and Jonathan Pollard to make it 3-0, then Tom Englehardt connected on a 1-0 pitch and hit his second home run to give starting pitcher Ken Olisky a 5-0 lead.

Malden would push the lead to 6-0 in the second when Pollard doubled home Perry with two outs. The Bulldogs added two more runs in the fifth inning as Brad Tardugno doubled home Luis Lara and Duplissie lifted a sacrifice fly that plated Brad Tardugno.

The game got close in the seventh when Brighton was able to push four runs across. Jon Shepard was able to get the leadoff batter, Nick Jones, to ground out to second to end the game.

Olisky improves to 6-0 on the season. The right-hander tossed five innings, allowing the Black Sox to score three runs (one earned) on three hits while striking out five. Shepard earned his sixth save of the season.

Rookie and soon to be Malden Catholic High School junior, Paul Covelle Jr. recorded his first career Yawkey League hit in the game. He drilled a two strike pitch from Sean Tupper over the left fielders head for a ground rule double.

Malden returns to action tonight as they travel to Rogers Park in Brighton, MA to take on the Brighton Minutemen. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 pm. In their previous meeting, Malden beat the Minutemen, 6-0 back on June 22nd. Evan Tardugno got the win after throwing five strong innings for the locally televised game.

Olisky shuts down East Boston, Malden wins 4-1

Olisky (above) is now 5-0 after beating East Boston

East Boston, MA - Ken Olisky won his fifth game of 2010 as the Malden Bulldogs beat the East Boston Knights, 4-1 at East Boston Stadium.

Olisky allowed a first inning run on six hits while striking out six. The Fisher College graduate threw only 72 pitches over his six innings of work. He is now 5-0 with a 1.44 ERA for the Bulldogs in 2010. Submariner Jon Shepard came in a threw a scoreless seventh for this fifth save of the season.

East Boston was able to scratch out a run in the first inning on a Matt Perrin RBI single to center. He brought home teammate Ben McBride, who reached on a fielder's choice. With the bases loaded, Olisky was able to escape futher damage by striking out Steve Maycock.

Maycock was able to keep the Bulldog bats silent in the first two innings but allowed two runs in the third. With one out, Joey Eugenio reached on an error by the third baseman and came around score a couple pitches later as Mike Terrio drove a 2-0 pitch over the left-fielders head for a RBI double. After stealing third, Terrio would cross home plate for the second Malden run on a wild pitch.

Malden would plate another run in the fourth off of Maycock (L, 1-4). Evan Tardugno led off the frame with a base hit and then advanced to second on Tyler Higgins throwing error. Evan Tardugno would score the third run when Chris Deane's ground ball was thrown away by East Boston's shortstop.

The fourth run came courtesy of rookie Hunter Caron's speed. With runners on at first and third, Caron was able to beat out a potential double play ball. That allowed Rob Mondello, who was pinch running for Deane, to score.

Malden raises their league best record to 18-3 while East Boston drops to 3-15-1. Malden will take on Ted Williams Division foe, the Medford Maddogs on Tuesday night (7/13). Game time is set for 8pm at Maplewood Field in Malden, MA.

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President's Award Winner

It was annouced yesterday by the Yawkey Baseball League that Patrick Shanahan was awarded the President's Award (YBL Player of the Week) for the week of July 5th - July 11th.

 Patrick Shanahan (above) received the YBL President's Award

The following is directly from the YBL web site:

"Patrick Shanahan, started the season as one of Malden's co-closer's to replace Jay Wisner and actually started out well, converting his two save opportunities. But, it was in the starting role, that this fiery, tall, right-hander would prove to be an elation. A 2010 member of the Yawkey All Star team, Shanahan, pitched 6 scoreless innings against Winter Hill on July 7th, striking out 12 and allowing only 1 hit. He ran his record to 5-0 with the victory. But more importantly, he leads the entire league with 55 strikeouts. In 33 1/3 innings, he's allowed only 18 hits and a measly 8 earned runs. Good for a 1.77 ERA."

Eugenio's hit propels Malden past Revere

Joey Eugenio (above) had the game winning RBI hit for Malden

Revere, MA - Joey Eugenio's RBI base hit with two outs in the eighth gave the Malden Bulldogs their 17th victory of 2010 as they beat one of their YBL rivals, the Revere Rockies 3-2.

Evan Tardugno pitched a complete game for Malden as he improved his record to 4-1. The right-hander from Methuen, MA allowed two runs on four hits while striking out six and issuing just one walk.

The Bulldogs struck first in the top half of the second inning. Kenny Luongo led off with a sharp base hit to left. A Chris Deane walk, moved Luongo over to second and set up first and second with one out. Rookie Hunter Caron stepped up to the plate. The soon to be sophomore at Eastern Connecticut delivered with a single down the right field line. That plated Luongo to make it 1-0 in favor of Malden.

Revere would strike back in the home half of the fourth. Micheal Close and Nate Laliberte reached base on a walk and a single, respectivley, to begin the frame. With one out, Chris Santosuosso brought home Close with his base hit to left. Laliberte would cross the plate when former Bulldog Adam Del Rio lifted a sacrifice fly to right to put Revere ahead 2-1.

The score would remain the same until the top of the sixth. With one away, Deane crushed a 0-1 offering from Kevin Christina over the left field fence to tie the game. It was Deane's first home run of the season.

After allowing two runs in the fourth, Evan Tardugno settled down and retired the next twelve Rockies in order. That effort help set the stage for Eugenio's heroics in the eighth.

Luongo began the extra frame with a lead-off walk off of reliever Marshal Miller (2-2). After a sacrifice bunt by Luis Lara, Gary Lunetta was inserted to run for Luongo. With two away and the bases now loaded, Eugenio laced the first pitch he saw past the shortstop and into left. That brought home Lunetta for the eventual game winning run.

Eugenio finished the night going 2-for-3 with a RBI. Deane went 1-for-2 with a HR and RBI and Brad Tardugno collected his league leading eighth double on his 1-for-3 performance. 

Malden, now at a YBL best 17-3, will have a busy schedule this week. The Bulldogs will take on the East Boston Knights (7/12), the Medford Maddogs (7/13) and the Al Thomas Athletics (7/15 and 7/17).

Shanahan dominates Winter Hill, Malden wins 7-1

Shanahan (above) has been dominate all year

Somerville, MA - The Malden Bulldogs caputred their 16th victory of 2010 behind the dominating pitching performance from left-hander Patrick Shanahan.

Shanahan, a native of Haverhill, MA and a standout pitcher at Fisher College, pitched six innings of one hit baseball as he improves to 5-0. Shanahan struck out twelve, walked three and hit a batter. Shanahan, at one point, retired five straight batters via the strike out and had at least two strikeouts in every inning after the first. He struck out the side twice, 2nd and 4th innings.

"After that first inning, I found a grove and just stayed there." said Shanahan after the win. "(Anthony) Perry and I were on the same page all night and then it continued when Joey (Eugenio) caught my last two innings."

Submariner Jon Shepard, a Wheaton College graduate, pitched the seventh and allowed an unearned run to cross. Shepard, who leads the team in appearances, allowed two hits while striking out one.

The Bulldog offense came to life in the third inning. Mike Terrio and Perry led off the inning with back to back base hits. With one out, Brad Tardugno added to his YBL leading RBI total as he singled home Terrio to make it 1-0; the first Malden run scored in thirteen innings. Perry crossed the plate on Billy Sinopoli's double to left and Evan Tardugno lifted a sacrifice fly to left that plated his brother Brad with the third Bulldog run of the inning.

Malden contiued to score in the fourth as they pushed across another three runs. Rookie Hunter Caron reached on a throwing error and Luis Lara followed with a single to left to begin the frame. Terrio got a base hit to left, his third of the game, which went under the glove of the left fielder. That allowed Caron to score from second and Lara to advance to third. Perry would then single home Lara, via a Trum Field bounce, to make it a 5-0 game. Terrio would score the sixth Malden run when Jonathan Pollard grounded into a double play.

Brad Tardugno would single home Perry in the sixth to make the score 7-0 in favor of the Bulldogs.

Winter Hill finally got on the board in the seventh. With Shanahan out of the game, the Cylcones were able to get a "cheapie" off of Shepard. Sam Kennedy-Smith hit a ten foot dribbler up the first base line that allowed him to reach. He would advance to second and third on two defense indiferences and score on a Christan Barros base hit up the middle. Shepard would get Lerro to fly out to right to end the game.

"This was a good team win." said Malden manager Kevin McGovern. "After a tough loss last night, we came out swinging and scored runs like we are suppose to."

Malden collected fourteen hits on the night. Terrio and Perry combined to go 7-for-10 with four runs scored at the top of the order (3-for-5, 2 R and 4-for-5, 2 R respectively). Brad Tardungo went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and Luis Lara had a solid 2-for-4 in the nine hole.  

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 16-3 while Winter Hill falls to 5-12-1. With the YBL All-Stars vs. the Military All Stars game set for tonight (Thursday, July 12), the Bulldogs will enjoy three days off before traveling to Revere High School on Sunday evening. Game time is set for 5:30pm when the Bulldogs battle a rival in the Revere Rockies.

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News and Notes:


Since Malden became a YBL franchise in 2007, the Bulldogs are 9-0 against the Cyclones and have outscored them 69-9.... Brad Tardugno now has 28 RBIs, the most in the YBL, he is also tied for the league lead in hits with AlThomas' Steve Lambert at 24.... With two more runs scored, Anthony Perry upped his YBL leading total to 24.... Perry has also been on a tear over his last five games (10-19)... Patrick Shanahan has struck out atleast seven batters in all five of his starts in 2010, he also leads the league in strikeouts (55) and is tied with Revere's Tom Levett and AlThomas' Ryan Stoller for wins (5)...

Dodgers beat Bulldogs in extras, 1-0

Malden, MA - Beacon Hill's Steve DeFusco hit a solo home run in the top of the tenth as the Dodgers defeated the Malden Bulldogs tonight, 1-0.

Malden got a strong performance from its pitching staff as they only allowed the one run in ten innings of work. Starter Jason Paul tossed two innings, striking out two and giving up one hit. He was removed due to the fact that he is starting in the YBL vs Military All Star Game on Thursday night. Ken Olisky came in and got to job done for five innings, escaping a couple of jams in the process.

With one out and the bases loaded in the fifth, Olisky got the next two batters to fly out to second and ground out to short to keep the game scoreless. Brian Duplissie helped Olisky escape in the seventh as he was able to run down a hard hit ball in the left-center gap with a runner on second to end the inning.

Jon Shepard (0-1) would throw 2.1 innings before surrendering a home run to center, which bounced off the top of the fence and went over. Shepard struck out two Dodgers in his three innings.

Malden had its chances to score off of Beacon Hill's starter Kyle Breidenstine (3-4). After a leadoff triple by Chris Deane, Breidenstine retired the next three Malden batters to strand the runner at third.

In the bottom of the tenth, Malden loaded the bases with two outs. Deane walked and then Billy Sinoploi was hit by the pitch. That was the end for Breidenstine as DeFusco came in to close. He would hit Rob Mondello to load the bases but he was able to strike out Anthony Perry on three pitches to end the game.

Malden (15-3-0) will travel to Trum Field in Somerville, MA and take on the Winter Hill Cyclones tomorrow night, Wednesday, July 7. In their previous meeting, Malden beat Winter Hill, 8-0 behind a dominating pitching performance from Olisky.

Shanahan sliences Somerville, Malden wins 5-1

Pat Shanahan (above) silenced the Somerville Albrandis 

Malden, MA - The Malden Bulldogs, behind a strong pitching performance from Patrick Shanahan, continue to dominate as they beat Ted Williams Division rival Somerville Albrandis tonight by a final of 5-1.

The left-hander from Haverhill, MA limited the Albrandis to just two hits over his six innings of work. Somerville managed just one unearned run of off the dominate Shanahan, who improved to 4-0 with the victory. Shanahan struck out nine and walked four. Recent Wheaton College graduate, Jon Shepard came in to seal the victory in the seventh.

"It was a good victory for us." said Shanahan after the win. "I felt confident on the mound all night and located my pitches where I wanted them. I can't take all the credit, Joey (Eugenio) called a terrific game."

Malden opened the game with three runs in the first inning off of Somerville's Sean Gildea. Anthony Perry led off the frame with a two strike double to center. He was followed by a base hit to right by Evan Tardugno. After a strikeout, Brad Tardugno launched a 0-1 offering over the right-center field fence for his third home run of 2010.

Somerville would score its only in the third inning. Adjatay Nyadjroh came around to score after a Bulldog error. Nyadjroh finished the night 2-for-3 with a stolen base.

Malden would add runs in the fifth and sixth to account for the five runs, all off of Gildea who suffered his first defeat of 2010. 

In the fifth, Malden catcher Joey Eugenio walked and was moved over to second on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by second basemen Luis Lara. Eugenio came around to score on Perry's base hit that hit off of the third base bag.

Tom Englehardt scored the fifth Malden run after he reached base on a walk. Rookie and Eastern Connecticut product Hunter Caron laced a 2-1 pitch into left-center which brought Englehardt home.

With the victory, Malden improves to 15-2-0 on the season while Somerville falls to 12-4-1. Malden will return to the cozy confines of Maplewood Park next Tuesday night, July 6, as they host the Beacon Hill Dodgers. Game time is set for 8pm.

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News and Notes:

Brad Tardugno's three run home run in the first is his third of 2010, that is the All Time Malden Bulldog record for Home Runs in a season.... He also became the first Bulldog to homer in back-to-back games... Rookie Hunter Caron collected two more hits and improves to an impressive 7-for-9 with five RBIs since June 22nd... With nine strikeouts tonight, Shanahan now has the most strikeouts in the YBL with 43... Shanahan has struck out 43 batters in 25.2 innings pitched, that's a 1.68 SO/IP ratio - the best in the YBL... Other Bulldogs that are leading the YBL are: Anthony Perry (Runs Scored - 22), Brad Tardugno (HR - 3, RBI - 26), Jonathan Pollard (BB - 21, OBP - .647), Jason Paul (ERA - 0.33)...