Little League squad captures division title

The North Bellmore-North Merrick Little League 12-year-old Williamsport baseball team recently accomplished what no other NBNMLL squad in their division had done in 30 years — it won a district championship.

The Rebels squad defeated Massapequa Coast on July 11 to capture the championship. “The boys worked so hard for it, and I was really happy they were able to get what they paid for,” said head coach Sam Acri.

The district tournament is a two-game elimination format. The Rebels won their first game, but lost the second to Massapequa Coast, and then faced five straight elimination games, winning them all.

In the finals, the Rebels squared off against an undefeated Massapequa Coast team yet again. Because the Massapequa squad was undefeated, the Rebels had to beat them twice — and they won both games 1-0.

The clinching game ended in dramatic fashion, with the Rebels pitching a combined no-hitter by Brian Porricelli and Kevin McCleneghan. Additionally, they scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a walk-off base hit by Porricelli. It was “absolutely the most thrilling part of any baseball game I’ve ever been part of in my life,” Acri said.

The Rebels are now playing in the Long Island championships, with the hope of moving on to the state championships.

To view full game recaps of the Rebels’ games, visit http://www.teampages.com/teams/10151-Rebels-12U--Baseball-team-website.

To follow the Rebels’ games live as they happen, visit https://www.gamechanger.io/login