Nuclears triumphant in return

By Mike Zummo
Posted 6/18/24

It was a strong start for the Newburgh Nuclears.

The newly reformed Newburgh Nuclears swept their first American Legion Baseball junior doubleheader, beating the Rockland Pirates, 13-1 and 7-2 …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Nuclears triumphant in return

Posted

It was a strong start for the Newburgh Nuclears.

The newly reformed Newburgh Nuclears swept their first American Legion Baseball junior doubleheader, beating the Rockland Pirates, 13-1 and 7-2 on Wednesday at Delano-Hitch Stadium in Newburgh.

Overall, it was a successful return to the Delano-Hitch. The Nuclears also unveiled a banner in honor of longtime general manager Don Becker, who died on Sept. 14, 2020. The banner will be hung on the outfield fence.

The Nuclears fell behind, 1-0, early in the first game, but after leaving runners on base in the first two innings, scored three in the third inning to take the lead for good and then exploded for 10 runs in the fourth inning.

The game was called after five innings due to the 10-run rule.

The Nuclears scored their three third-inning runs off singles by Justin Freeman, Logan Voltaire, and Jake Cross, but the bats exploded in the fourth.

Rudy Cherry drove in two runs with a base hit and Chase drove in another with a double. Dylan DeMaro hit a two-run single, and J.J. McCoy had a two-run double. Nick Schmidt hit a sacrifice fly and Logan Voltaire chased home a run with a bases-loaded walk.

Caleb Swart started the game for the Nuclears, throwing three innings, allowing just one unearned run. He struck out five and walked only one. Joe DiNaso finished the game for the Nuclears.

The Nuclears scored five runs over the first two innings and never trailed in their win in the nightcap.

Schmidt went 3-for-3 for the Nuclears, including a run-scoring double in the first inning. He finished the game with three RBIs. Dylan Demaro tripled in a run in the first inning to get the Nuclears on the board.

Run-scoring singles by Demaro, Schmidt and Forrest Mitterbauer led to three runs in the second inning.

The Pirates responded in the bottom of the second inning with a run, but the Nuclears tackled on a run on Schmidt’s third RBI hit of the game, and another in the seventh when Schmidt stole home.

Gavin Round threw the first two innings for the Nuclears, allowing an unearned run. He recorded five of his six outs by strikeout. Mitterbauer threw three innings of relief, allowing an unearned run on a hit. He struck out three.

Voltaire and Chase Rounds each threw an inning of scoreless relief. Voltaire recorded two outs by strikeouts and Chase Rounds struck out all three batters he faced.