The Somerville Alibrandis hold first place standing in the Yawkey league 9 games into the season. ~Photo by Harry Kane

By Harry Kane

The Somerville Alibrandis Baseball Club maintains their first place position in the Yawkey league after 9 games. This year they’ve dominated the league, with only one loss so far on May 31.

In game 7, the Alibrandis lost to the Revere Rockies 5-2, the first time they’ve taken a licking all season. It was hot that day, said Assistant Manager Cameron Lynch. “Defensively, we were a little shaky.”

The starting pitcher, Lamarre Rey, tossed 4 innings. “He didn’t have his best stuff that night for us,” Lynch said. Rey struck out 2 batters, gave up 3 hits and allowed 1 unearned run. “Defensively we didn’t play that well,” Lynch admitted. “We were in a lull. The dugout was very quiet, it was a like a team that I’ve never seen so far.”

Later in the game, Jon Morse pitched 1 inning and gave up 3 hits, allowed 2 runs and was responsible for the loss. On the bats, Bobby Barrett went 2 for 3 and drove in 1 run. Marc DesRoches went 1 for 3, with 1 double.

In game 8, the Alibrandis conquered the Al Thomas Athletics, winning 6-5 in the 10th inning. “Seems like we battle back and forth every year with them,” Lynch said. “They get some good ballplayers that really care about the game, and they come to battle every night. It’s always fun when we play those guys.”

Pitcher Brian Tanguy entered the game in the 10th inning and picked up the win. Bobby Barrett went 5 for 6 with 3 RBI’s. We had a “walk-off win in extra innings,” said Barrett. “That was just Alibrandis baseball, we grinded it out to the end.”

Ted Dziuba knocked-in 4 hits, earning 1 RBI and a double. Mark DesRoches got 1 RBI and a double, too. Mike Maguire stole 2 bases, and Mark Addesa stole 1 base. “We were down three nothing going into the bottom of the 3rd inning, and we scored three runs to tie it up and bring us back into it,” Lynch said. Game 8 produced the best offense of the season, with a total of 14 hits.

The Alibrandis trumped the Stoneham Sabers in game 9, winning 5-1. Anthony Del Prete pitched his first game of the season, holding-out for 5 innings, giving up five hits, striking out 2, and getting the win. Lamarre Rey pitched a scoreless 6th, and Brian Tanguy pitched a scoreless 7th. On the field, Logan Gillis made his Alibrandis debut at second base. At bat, Gillis went 3 for 4, with a double. “He played great defense for us,” Lynch said. Mark DesRoches knocked-in 2 RBI’s. Sal Mendonca got 1 RBI and 1 stolen base.

“That win put us in first place in the league,” Lynch said. The assistant manager admitted that the ball club sometimes falls into a slump around this time of year. “Right now, this time of the year, we always go into a lull and we lose two or three games,” he said. “June is our lull month where we play average baseball.” The players are used to a few extra loses in June. “Once July 1st comes, we click on the switch, and that’s it, we’re off and running.”

Bobby Barrett has been a key contributor to the offense, said Lynch. Barrett’s batting average is a modest 500 AVG. Barrett, 25, is a graduate of Suffolk University and is in his second year on the team. He’s batting third in the lineup, and playing left field and occasionally second base.

“I don’t mind playing left field,” Barrett said. “Our Center Fielder Mike Maguire makes it pretty easy on me.”

Earlier in the season, Barrett says the bats were a bit rusty. “Pitchers really stepped up and put us in position to win before the guys got their swings back,” Barrett said.

With a mix of veteran leadership and younger players new to the team, the Alibrandis Baseball club continues to grind out the wins in the 2013 season.

And on June 7, the Alibrandis Baseball Club held their annual fundraising golf tournament at Shaker Hills Golf Club to raise money for the team’s expenses. Alumni Yawkey Hall of Famer and former pitcher Derek Bates puts on the tournament every year. The tournament was sold out with 144 golfers.

Upcoming games are scheduled for Friday, June 14 against the South End Astros at Trum Field at 8 p.m., and Monday, June 17, against the West Roxbury Nationals, also at Trum at 8 p.m.