On Tuesday afternoon, the baseball team topped the CHSAA’s Kellenberg, 10-4, on Jeff Adams Field, marking the eighth time they’ve hit double-digit runs in 17 games this year.

After Leo Vitarelli worked around a two-out single in the top of the 1st, the Bears truck for four runs in the bottom half to grab the early momentum. An Aiden Ruiz single, Anthony DeCesare hit-by-pitch, and Larry Hotaling III walk loaded the bases with one out before a walk to Aaron Artsen forced home the first run. Nick Parker (courtesy running for DeCesare) then darted home on a wild pitch for a 2-0 lead. A walk to Juju Martinez re-loaded the bases for Mateo Lopez, who singled to plate Hotaling III and Artsen for a 4-0 advantage.

The Firebirds lit up their side of the scoreboard in the 3rd with a sacrifice fly. A 4th inning RBI single pulled them within 2-4, but a big swing by Hotaling III built back the Bears’ margin. In the bottom of the 4th, a one-out double by Ruiz and a walk to Travis Stroud II put two men on for the junior, who smacked a three-run home run to center field to swell the Blue & White advantage to 7-2.

Kellenberg answered back with two runs in the 5th, thanks in part to an error on a ground ball, but Seth Laureano struck right back in the bottom half with a leadoff solo home run to center to push the Bear lead back to 8-4. The Bears plated two more in the 6th when Hotaling III (single) stole home and Laureano smoked a double to center field that scored Artsen (walk). Matthew Ramirez nailed down the victory, working around a leadoff walk with a line out and a 4-6-3 double play in the 7th.

Hotaling III’s 3 RBIs, 2 hits, and 3 runs paced the offense, while Vitarelli earned the win with 2 earned runs and 4 strikeouts over 5.0 innings. Ramirez earned the save with 0 runs over 2.0 innings.

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