Congratulations to the Farmingdale Greendogs for winning the championship at Cooperstown Baseball World by defeating the Shaker Heights Raiders of Ohio 13-3.
This was the first time that the Greendogs took the gold medal back to Farmingdale in the 10 year history of FBLI teams attending the annual Cooperstown tournament. To earn their way into the finals, the Greendogs defeated their toughest opponent, the Massachusetts South Shore Baseball Club Seadogs, 3-1 with a strong pitching performance by Kyle Mastrelli, playing steadfast defense and coming up with clutch two out hits.
The Greendogs played well all week long establishing a strong 7-1 record by hitting the cover off the ball, including three home runs in the championship game, aggressively running the bases to score 78 runs, and limiting their opponents to only 24 runs scored on their road to the championship.
Highlighting the offensive assault included Christian Rivas and Max Cohen combining for 17 hits, Steven Dentato and Matt Kleinhans providing multiple key hits to drive in runs, speedy TJ Greco with double-digit stolen bases, and Nick Bifolco contributing multiple hits and stolen bases, returning just in time from injury.
The Greendogs managed to hit the long ball too with 12 home runs led by Charlie Tomassetti’s four bombs, Liam McCutcheon and Nicky Seyfert with two each, Anthony Burriesci, Justin DiLeonardo, Kyle Mastrelli each with one and a tone-setting opening game grand-slam blast by Dean Pagano.
Manager Fran DiLeonardo and Coaches Bob Dentato and Bob Kleinhans could not be more proud of the way the players represented our town, played with the “pedal to the metal,” and had an experience they will never forget.
