PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Matthew Burega struck out nine and scattered three hits Saturday in leading the Post 68-1 squad to a 3-0 win over Post 68-2 in American Legion Baseball action on Buddy Pellerin Field.

 

This is the first year the successful youth program has fielded two teams in the American Legion Senior Division, and Saturday was the only regular season meeting on the schedule between the two city rivals.

 

Burega was in control throughout, sitting down the first 10 hitters he faced.

 

He kept the Post 68-2 lineup off balance all afternoon by mixing up his pitches.

 

“When you can spin [curve balls] for strikes, it opens up so many things,” Burega said. “You get guys to roll over. It makes you so much more confident on the mound.

 

“It’s like pitching on ‘plus’ counts every [at-bat] if you can spin your curveball for a strike.”

 

The recent Pittsfield High graduate allowed just two runners in scoring position, both after his offense spotted him a lead.

 

It took a while to get that lead against Post 68-2 starter Colby Robb, who allowed just two runners in the first three innings.

 

In the fourth, though, Jack Abel led off with a double to left field. Then, with two out, Jason Codey ripped a single up the middle to score Abel with the game’s first run.

 

Post 68-1 tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth to take a three-run lead.

 

Simon Mele’s leadoff single got things started, but an error allowing Ethan O’Donnell to reach opened the door for Post 68-1.

 

After Robb sat down the next two hitters, Abel again delivered, doubling to left to drive in two runs.

 

Wahconah grad Robb ended up on the short end of the pitcher’s duel, striking out six, walking one and allowing one earned run.

 

Post 68-2 did challenge in the bottom of the seventh, when Gavin Maffuccio reached on a leadoff error and moved up on a ground ball to the right side for the first out.

 

But Burega got a swinging third strike and a groundball to Abel at short to end it.

 

“I was really hoping that we got that one,” Burega said of the final out. “I didn’t know if it was gonna be too deep in the hole to make the play, but he did it and kept the shutout.”

 

Post 68-1 (5-0) hosts Sheffield Post 340 on Sunday morning at Deming Park.

 

Post 68-2 (1-5) hosts Greenfield Post 81 on Sunday afternoon at Clapp Park.