The red hot Alibrandis are currently 3-1, looking to repeat their championship performances of 2011 and 2010. – Photo by Benjamin Klein

By Benjamin Klein

After winning their second consecutive championship last season, the Somerville Alibrandis looked to make it a three-peat with another strong year. Through their first four games of the 2012 Yawkey Baseball League season Somerville sits second in the Ted Williams Division at 3-1.

Somerville defeated Brighton 9-3 in the season opener behind a solid pitching performance by Sean Sullivan, allowing just one run over four innings while striking out six. The Alibrandis offense was led by Ted Dziuba who went 3-3 with two doubles, three runs scored and one RBI. Chris Foundas and Brian Tanguy provided three innings of strong relief for Somerville, allowing two unearned runs and striking out five.

The Alibrandis’ second game of the season was much like the first. Somerville jumped out to an early 4-0 lead over the Brighton Minutemen and rode stellar pitching for their second win of the year, 6-3. Foundas picked up his first victory of the season, going four innings in relief, aiding Rob Finneran who pitched the opening two. That tandem, along with Tanguy closing the door in the seventh, allowed only three runs (one earned) and struck out 12.

Somerville would hit a minor speed bump in their next match-up against the undefeated AlThomas Athletics. A Mark Addesa groundout in the bottom of the first scored Mike Maguire, but that would be all the runs on the day for Somerville. Sean Sullivan had a rough outing on the mound, allowing seven runs (five earned) in three-plus innings of work as Somerville fell to AlThomas 8-1. Athletics pitcher Bill Clang went six strong innings, allowing just the lone run on four hits while striking out three.

In the Alibrandis’ latest matchup they looked to take advantage of a struggling McKay Club Beacons team who were 1-3 on the season. Somerville would get the scoring started in the second inning when Bobby Barrett scored on a double play hit into by Andrew Babb. The Alibrandis would pick up another run in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by David Scioli that scored Maguire.

From there the game turned into a pitching duel as Foundas was rolling for Somerville and Thomas Fitzpatrick was impressive for McKay Club. Finneran would replace Foundas in the fifth inning when he allowed a run despite getting two quick outs. Finneran wouldn’t have any issues as he didn’t allow a hit in 2.1 innings and struck out three to pick up the save in 2-1 win. Foundas earned his second win of 2012, striking out six and walking three over 4.2 innings.

Somerville, now 3-1, will travel to take on the division-leading Malden Bulldogs on Tuesday. They will then return home for a four-game home stand to close out May and start June.