Gino Biondi led Ellwood City to a 5-4 win over Shaler in the nightcap of the 71st Ellwood City Little League Tournament on Tuesday night.
The victory will advance Ellwood City to next play Laurel on Thursday night at 8:00 p.m.
On Tuesday, Biondi slashed an RBI-double in the bottom of the fifth inning to break a 4-4 tie to give Ellwood City the winning margin. In the contest, Biondi doubled, singled twice and picked up the win on the mound.
After Shaler went in order in the top of the first inning, Ellwood City erupted for four runs in the bottom of the inning.
Joey Nardone led off with a single. Biondi followed with a single sending Nardone to third base. Biondi stole second base to place two runners in scoring position. Cam Mills followed with a two-run single scoring Nardone and Biondi to give Ellwood City a 2-0 lead. Aiden Kelosky and Luca Carsele walked to load the bases. Ellwood City scored a run on a error to make it 3-0 and Nico Begley’s single upped the lead to 4-0.
After a scoreless second inning, Shaler tied the score with four runs in the top of the third inning. With one out, Brady DeFiore walked and moved to second base on a wild pitch. John Grindlach followed with an RBI-single to cut te deficit to 4-1. Colby Colamarino walked and Landon Pavlik was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Evan Fitzpatrick drew a walk to force in Colamarino to slice the deficit to 4-2. Nolan Milford followed with a single scoring Colamarino to narrow the score further to 4-3. Mason Barbieri drew a walk forcing in Pavlik to knot the score at 4-4. Biondi relieved and struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
Neither team scored in the fourth inning. After Shaler failed to score in the top of the fifth inning, Ellwood City scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the inning.
Levi Rape led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a walk for Ellwood City. After a strikeout, Nardone walked sending Rape to second base. Biondi followed with a line-shot double that bounced over the right-center field fence scoring Rape to give Ellwood City a 5-4 lead. Shaler turned a double-play to end the inning with Ellwood City clinging to a one-run margin.
Nardone relieved in the top of the sixth inning for Ellwood City. Nardone retired the first batter on a bouncer back to the mound. Shortstop Biondi tossed out the next batter for the second out. After two walks placed the tying run at second base, second baseman Gino Barberio corralled a groundball and tossed the batter out at first base to end the threat and the game.
Biondi led Ellwood City with a double, two singles and an RBI. Mills added a single with two RBI and Begley singled with an RBI. Nardone and singled and drew a walk and Anderson Weisz added a single. Milford led Shaler with a single, walk and RBI. Grindland added a single with an RBI. Evan Fitzgerald drew three walks in three at-bats.
Biondi picked up the win with 2-2/3 innings of relief. He fanned six batters and did not allow a hit. Nardone nailed down the save without allowing a hit.
View full game recaps, schedules, and photos from the 71st Little League Tournament at www.ellwoodcitybaseball.com/
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