Felix Millan Juniors best G.V., 6-3

By Peter Gale

The Felix Millan Juniors Division Tournament team won by a 6-3 score over their Greenwich Village counterparts on Wednesday evening, July 2, at East River Park. The loss dropped the Village Juniors out of the tournament, while Millan, from the Lower East Side, will continue.

The Greenwich Village 13-and-14-year-old all-stars took an early 3-1 lead in the first two innings by taking advantage of seven walks given up by Felix Millan pitcher David Velasquez. The Village team would have scored one or two more runs except for a brilliant catch by Felix Millan’s left-fielder David Torres, on a fly ball by Village third baseman Cary Oliva. Oliva’s drive to very deep left field came with the bases loaded and one out, scoring the Village center-fielder, Siever O’Connor-Aoko, from third base.

The Millan team took the lead by scoring three runs in the third inning on two walks and singles by third baseman Nestor Bussie and right-fielder Michael Monti. This was enough for the victory because Velasquez settled down and pitched very well for the last five innings, shutting down the Village offense.

Velasquez allowed only three hits in the game, and only one hit after the second inning, a solid line drive to left in the seventh inning by Village outfielder Jesse Smith-Weiss. Although Velasquez was wild to start the game, he gave up no walks after the second inning. He looked particularly good in the fifth inning, striking out the side.

Alex Burwasser starred for the Village team, stroking two hits. Burwasser almost had a third hit with a sharp line drive that Michael Moore, the Millan shortstop, short-hopped while moving to his right, and then made a throw to first base while on one knee. Burwasser also did well pitching in relief of starting pitcher Jared Lafer, allowing only two unearned runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Burwasser struck out seven, walked three and gave up two hits over four innings.

The Village defense had two double plays. In the first inning, with a runner on third base, a ground ball was hit to Burwasser, then playing shortstop. He threw the runner out at home, with catcher Paul Lariviere making the tag. The batter never stopped running. A throw to second base to catch the batter went into center field, and O’Connor-Aioko’s strong throw to Oliva nailed the batter at third base.

In the second inning, with runners on first and second base, a grounder was hit to G.V. first baseman Jamal Melagic. Melagic stepped on first and threw quickly to third base, where Oliva tagged out the runner.