2021 Father/Son Federal
Pro Bat Yankees 13, 3n2 Rangers 4
‘Crisci Family Leads the Way’
Submitted by Charlie LaDuca
After seven tries, the Pro Bats Yankees made it to a Championship Game in the Father/Son Federal division. The Yankees would face the 3n2 Rangers who had defeated the San Jose Giants in the semi-final game by a score of 4-3.
The game was played at Tempe Diablo Stadium Sunday at 2:00. The Yankees started their best son pitcher Joey Crisci II, with the Rangers following suit. The Rangers batted first going down in order as Crisci looked strong. The Yankees scored two runs in the bottom of the first, as Ricky Mendiola and Pete LaCongo hit rbi doubles. From that point until they departed after four innings, both pitchers threw shutout ball. Crisci faced one batter over the minimum, striking out five while allowing one hit and no walks. The Rangers pitcher allowed two runs on three hits with five strikeouts, four walks, and one hit by pitch.
Dennis Gawronski took over for the Yankees as the fathers took to the mound. In three innings of work, he allowed three runs on three hits, walking one and striking out one. Joe Crisci III threw the eighth inning allowing no runs on no hits. Joey Crisci II returned to throw a one, two, three ninth-inning sealing the victory.
The Yankee bats came alive in the fifth and seventh inning, scoring two runs in the fifth with rbi singles by Pete Lacongo and Joe Crisci. Nine runs were plated in the seventh inning putting the game out of reach. Alex Dusenberry smashed an rbi triple, Dennis Gawronski drove him in with a single, Tom Lacongo, Johnny Barberio, Nick Barberio, and Sean Mahoney all drove in runs with singles.
It was a team effort as manager Steve Pantano managed the twenty-two-man roster to perfection throughout the tournament.