Seamans Neck Park, Seaford L.I., April 20th:
The Midville Dodgers kept their 3-year opening day win streak alive with a 5-1 victory over the Long Island Panthers. The Dodgers took advantage of some control problems from the opposing pitcher and jumped to an early 2-0 lead. Midville starter Matt Ginty pitched 3 solid innings allowing only 1 run.
Rookie RHP Brian Burik, a Middle Village native, made a strong Dodger debut tossing the last 4 innings of the game shutting down the Panthers allowing just 2 hits while striking out 3.
Timely hitting by Dave Dinkelacker and John DiGregorio was all that Midville needed to stay on top and never look back.
DODGERS SWEEP PANTHERS IN 10 on Pursino hit, Spotteck Earns Victory.
Middle Village, April 22:
In their home opener at Juniper Valley Park on Sunday the Midville Dodgers again faced the Panthers. It was the second game of the home and home series but this time it took the Midville boys a few extra innings, but they were able to get the job done defeating the LI Panthers 4-3 in 10 innings to earn themselves the series sweep. Midville pitching was stellar, not allowing any earned runs. Starter Kevin Smith pitched a 3 strong innings before handing the ball over to Phil Spotteck. During his 7 innings of work, Spotteck was brilliant, striking out 5 and allowing just one walk against the strong hitting Panther squad.
The game winning hit came in the bottom of the 10th with two outs, and the game winding down to the last inning due to darkness. Shortstop Arby Gega walked, stole second then reached third on a wild pitch. Matt Pursino worked the count to 3-2 against the Panther's closer. He hit the next pitch in between the pitcher and third baseman. The Panther's pitcher attempted to field the ball on his backhand but it bounced off the glove towards the third base line. Pursino beat the throw the first, scoring Gega to win it for the MV Dodgers.
