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Scoring early and often, South Shore advances
By FiveBoroSports.com August 24, 2009
South Shore National isn’t going home quite yet.
The Staten Island club, fresh off its first loss this summer, scored early and often in a 8-3 victory over Urbandale, Iowa Monday night, advancing to the elimination round in what was essentially an elimination game.
The two teams shared matching 1-1 records in Pool A entering the contest, but shortstop Anthony Scotti drove in catcher James Morisano with a run-scoring double in the first as South Shore never trailed.
First baseman Angelo Navetta and third baseman Vincent Quinn each homered, Scotti drove in two runs, and Morisano and centerfielder Nick Pucciarelli each scored twice and collected two hits.
Right-hander Michael Rapaglia tossed four innings of shutout ball, allowing three hits, walking one and striking out seven. Morisano worked the final two frames, allowing three runs in the sixth.
South Shore will meet either Park View (Calif.) or McAllister Park American (Tx.) in the U.S. Semifinals Wednesday at 8 p.m., depending on which undefeated squad prevails tomorrow in their Pool B finale.
South Shore got single runs in the first, on Scotti’s RBI double, and third, when Morisano scored on an error. It remained 2-0 until the fifth. Scotti plated Pucciarelli with a single up the middle and left fielder Nicholas Vitale drove in Paul Pizzo, pinch-running for Morisano, with another base hit.
Navetta started South Shore’s four-run sixth with a solo homer to center, his second round-tripper of the World Series, and Quinn followed with a three-run bomb, his second in as many games.