Alessi’s boys still perfect
By: Kyle Moylan
The Allentown 10-year-olds have come up with a great way of avoiding overworking pitchers and the problems associated with the 85-pitch limit.
Allentown scores enough that it rarely ever has to finish a game.
Through five games in the District 12 Little League Tournament so far, Allentown has only played a complete six innings once. And even that game was a 24-11 win over HTRBA. Allentown went over the 10-run rule in the top of the sixth, so HTRBA still had to bat in the bottom of the frame.
"We haven’t faced Washington or Nottingham yet, but I’m real proud of the way the guys have been playing," Allentown Manager Steve Alessi noted. "Everyone is playing well. When the subs come in, they are hitting the ball and making all the plays. Everyone is coming together as a team. We are playing well."
Allentown made it clear what kind of team it was right from the start, winning its first pool game against Millstone, 10-0.
Hal Shaw was the starting and winning pitcher. Steven Alpaugh faced one batter to close out the shutout.
"We had eight out of 10 players get hits and nine out of the 10 players scored," noted Alessi, who is really getting a total team effort. Jake Morse connected for a three-run triple.
According to Alessi, Allentown had one bad inning in the field in a 24-11 win over HTRBA, which hurt Allentown when the teams were seeded after pool play. Even so, Allentown has the kind of offense that can overcome almost anything.
Stephen Alpaugh and William Sjaastad each pitched three innings.
"All of the boys hit in that game and all of the boys scored a run," Alpaugh noted.
Steven Adams did the pitching as Allentown defeated Cranbury, 11-1.
"He was lights out," Alessi said. "He had seven strikeouts and only gave up two hits. He also went three-for-three."
Hal Shaw homered for Allentown in a 19-1 win over North Trenton, which allowed the squad to finish pool play 4-0. Jake Alessi pitched the first two innings. Tom McCarthy and Matt DeRisi pitched an inning each. Alessi got them work just in case they were needed down the line as District 12 shifted from pool play to the double-elimination port of its tournament.
Allentown opened the final round with an 11-1 win over Cranbury. Shaw tossed a complete game in the win. McCarthy was 3-for-3.
"I didn’t want to underestimate Cranbury (after defeating them previously 11-1)," Alessi said. "I didn’t go into that game overconfident and neither did our boys. Our boys came to play and they did a great job. They didn’t take anything for granted."
The victory kept Allentown alive in the winners’ bracket for a game last night. Win or lose, Allentown will play again at host Nottingham this week.
Hal Shaw is Alessi’s coach. The members of the team are Steven Adams, Jake Alessi, Stephen Alpaugh, Robert Campbell, Matt DeRisi, Thomas McCarthy, Jacob Morse, Joseph Patrylow, Hal Shaw, William Sjaastad and Louis Togna.
"These guys have proven to be really tough," Alessi said. "They have done a great job."
MILLSTONE
Millstone finished pool play with a record of 1-3.
Millstone defeated North Trenton, 19-2, for its win. Millstone was defeated by Allentown (10-0), Cranbury (19-10) and HTRBA (12-1).

