The Somerville Alibrandis baseball team has clinched first place in the Ted Williams Division of the Yawkey League.
– Photo by Harry Kane

By Mike Stoller

Clinching first place in the Ted Williams Division of the Yawkey League on the same day it tied for most number of regular season wins in team history with 26 made for a very special week for the Somerville Alibrandis baseball team. Alibrandis was 26-3 after a 6-1 victory over the South End Astros.

“Within the last 10-14 days, we’ve really turned it on,” Alibrandis assistant head coach Cam Lynch said.

Indeed, they have. In mid-week, against the Al Thomas Athletics, Lamarre Rey pitched six innings of superb ball and Brian Tanguy posted his ninth save to tie for the all-time league single season record as Alibrandis defeated the Athletics, 1-0, in a terrifically played game at Braintree High School.

Later in the week, Tanguy recorded his 10th save in a 7-2 win over visiting Stoneham, becoming the league’s all-time save leader for a single campaign. Tanguy came in when the score was 5-2.

Meanwhile, against the Athletics, Rey allowed only five hits with no walks. He struck out four, while improving his season ledger to 3-2.

“That’s the best we’ve seen from him all year,” Lynch said.

Marc DesRoches drove in the game’s only run in the top of the first inning, scoring Teddy Dziuba, who had two hits on the night. Dziuba singled to start the rally in the first.

After the opening frame, Al Thomas’s Mike DeMille matched Rey pitch for pitch.

Alibrandis totaled seven hits, while Al Thomas had five. Each team made an error.

Earlier in the week, Alibrandis put on an offensive show against the host Brighton Minutemen in a 15-0 rout. Alibrandis struck for 20 hits, and got at least one hit from every starter. Steve Rogers led the way with a two-run homer to right center into the trees in the top of the first.

“The offense has been great,” Lynch praised.

On the hill, Chris Foundas took a no-hitter into the sixth, before giving up a hit. He picked up the win, striking out 11 and walking only one. Tanguy finished it in the seventh.

In the 7-2 triumph over Stoneham, Sean Sullivan chalked up the win, improving to 5-0.  Anthony DelPrete took over in middle relief, and Tanguy notched a four-out save to become the all-time league leader in saves.

Offensively, Alibrandis had 13 hits, including three from Sal Mendonca and two each from Rogers, Mike Maguire, and Logan Gillis.

In the 6-1 victory over South End, Alibrandis clinched first place and tied for the team’s record for most regular season wins. Jon Morse got his 40th career win on the mound, improving to 8-1. In five strong innings, he allowed only one run, struck out five, and walked two.

Offensively, Dziuba collected three hits and drove in two runs. Charlie LaPaglia belted a two-run homer in the fifth to break the game open.

Ryan Cosmopulos pitched a scoreless sixth inning, and Tanguy finished with a scoreless seventh for his 11th save of the season.

“We’re looking forward to the coming games and the postseason,” Lynch said, noting Alibrandis was close to clinching home field advantage for its entire playoff run. “Going into August is always fun.”

Alibrandis was scheduled to host the West Roxbury Nationals on Tuesday and visit the McKay Club Beacons on Thursday.