Twice is Nice: Bedford Blue Wins Another Championship

Bedford Blue celebrates at Bedford High School A Field Front row: James Brosgol, Andrew Venuti, Devan Kaushik, Will Taft, TJ Mead, Nick Solitro, Andrew Sullivan Back row: Virendar Kaushik, Dan Brosgol, Jake Morrison, Matty Forman, Charlie Naylor, Matt Mulligan, Dylan DiGangi, Will Campbell, Owen Hickey, David DiGangi, Mark Sullivan – Image (c) Susan DiGangi, 2019 all rights reserved – Click to view full size

Compiled by the Minuteman Summer Baseball League

Devan Kaushik slides safely into home, just ahead of the tag – Image (c) Jeff JHO Hoyland, 2019 all rights reserved – Click to view at full size

The Bedford Blue Bucs Babe Ruth baseball team captured another title this year – the Minuteman Summer Baseball League (MSBL) A Division title. Following up on their Spring championship win, the team cruised to another title, finishing the regular summer season with a 9-2 record, and then winning two games in the playoffs to secure the crown. The championship was a team effort, as each player significantly contributed over the course of the season. Some highlights from the regular season:

In a comeback 7-6 victory against Somerville, Matthew Forman had a key single to drive in 2 to bring Bedford even 4-4. Andrew Venuti singled to center in the 5^th to start a rally, and James Brosgol scored him on an RBI single to put Bedford up for good.
In an 11-9 victory over Lexington, Devan Kaushik has 2 hits, a stolen base, and scored a run and Nick Solitro had 2 hits and 3 RBI
A 6-3 win over Arlington featured a strong outing on the mound by TJ Mead (4 innings, only 1 hit allowed), two hits and a run scored by Matt Mulligan, while Will Taft added two hits and 2 RBI
In beating Somerville 13-4, Brosgol (3 hits, 4 RBI), Owen Hickey (3 hits, 3 RBI), Will Campbell (2 hits, 2 RBI), and Andrew Sullivan (2 hits, RBI) powered the offense, and Hickey threw 4 2/3 innings of shutout baseball
A 3-0 shutout of Lexington was highlighted by Dylan DiGangi dominating on the mound (6 innings, only 2 hits allowed, 8 strikeouts) and he and Kaushik contributed RBI singles
In a 5-1 win over Arlington, Jake Morrison blasted a home run and drove in 2, while pitching 5 strong innings, allowing only 2 hits, and striking out 7.

Nick Solitro gets full extension on a base hit

Dylan DiGangi rips an RBI triple to center field

Matty Forman about to fire another strike

Andrew Sullivan legs out a base hit and receives congratulations and advice from coach Mark Sullivan

In the first playoff game against Somerville, Bedford spotted their opponents 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning but roared back with 3 of their own in the bottom of the frame. Bedford then exploded for 7 more runs in the 2nd inning – all coming with 2 outs. Solitro (double), DiGangi (triple), and Hickey (single) each had RBI hits. Overall, Sullivan went 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs, Mulligan added 2 hits, and Forman drove in two in the 12-3 win.

Pitching was the story of the championship game. Solitro dominated Lexington in the 5-3 victory. In command from the outset, Solitro pitched a complete game, allowing only 3 hits and 2 earned runs, while striking out 11. Eight of the first 12 outs were recorded via the punchout. At the dish, he contributed an RBI triple, while DiGangi went 2-2 with 3 RBIs, including a clutch 2-out, 2 RBI double to break a 2-2 tie. Congratulations to this group of hard-working and dedicated boys.