By STAN HUDY
www.cliftonparkworldseries.com
CLIFTON PARK – The Clifton Park Bulldogs host 13-year-old Babe Ruth World Series team proved to be the host with the most Tuesday night, advancing out of pool play to the semifinals with a 11-5 win over Cranston, RI.
It was a must win for both teams who entered with matching 2-1 records. Both teams would have been eliminated from the tournament with a loss based on the tie-breaking criteria of runs allowed followed by run differential.
Cranston painted itself into a corner with a 5-4 eight-inning loss to Meridian, ID. The New England champions were placed in the double-header after rain restructured Sunday’s schedule.
The Bulldogs once again had to make things interesting for the capacity crowd that once again circled the Clifton Park World Series field at the Clifton Common.
Cranston scored two runs in the first innings as Andrew Cicarelli forced in Travis Collins by taking a pitch on the hip and Matt Lonardo scored on Matt Shapiro’s RBI single.
The Bulldogs took their lead in the third inning after Mason Munger led off with a single and Robert Drum reached when he was hit by a pitch. Brendan Callistri followed with a single before Matt Alverson again saved the day with a three-run RBI double to deep left field for the 3-2 lead.
Clifton Park appeared to be cruising, tacking on two more runs in the fifth.
Mason Munger hit a one-out single to center, moved to second on a Zach Sargent single, advancing on Drumm’s fielder’s choice. Callistri delivered his own two-run double to put the Bulldogs ahead, 5-0.
Cranston stalked their way back in with a run in the fifth and put the pressure on in the sixth, pulling within a run, 6-5, on a two-out two-run double by Lonardo.
The Bulldogs pulled out all the stops in the top of the seventh inning, not leaving anything to doubt with potential tie-breaking scenarios.
Brian Walsh reached on a one-out walk, replaced by Liam Harrison with Danny Gregory following with a single. Both moved over on a passed ball and Greg Waldek executed a squeeze bunt for the 7-5 lead.
Things continued to break right for the Bulldogs, Frank Pizzo reached on a fielding error, allowing Gregory to score and Waldek came around on Mason Munger’s RBI single.
Pizzo and Munger raced around on the carousel when Drum drilled a two-RBI single to centerfield to give Clifton Park the commanding 11-5 lead and punch their ticket into the playoffs.
Clifton Park will face the winner of the Meridian, ID/Guilderland contest 5 p.m. tonight. Glen Allen, VA will take on Eagle Pass, TX at 7:30 p.m. Tri-Valley, CA awaits the winner of that contest in the 7:30 p.m. semifinal Thursday night.

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