Reading & Somerville Sweep into ICL Semi-Finals

Both the Reading Bulldogs and the Somerville Royals won their games on Friday night, to sweep their respective first round series 2-0, and move on to the best of five ICL semi-finals which will begin on Monday night.

The #6 seeded Bulldogs got a sixth inning double and three RBI’s from veteran Steve Busby to sweep the #3 Watertown Reds 4-2 at Lexington High. Reading erased a 2-0 fifth inning Watertown lead. Colby Morris picked up the series clinching win with three innings of hitless relief. Nate Beck took the loss for the Reds before giving way to Lamarre Rey in the sixth inning.

The #5 seed Somerville Royals followed up on their 5-2 eleven inning win on Thursday to close out the #4 Wakefield Merchants 10-1 at Morelli Field. Somerville got homers from Brian Campbell (2-2, 2 RBI’s, 4 runs scored) and John Collette (2-3, 4 RBI’s, 2 runs scored), and three hits from Rob Caggiano to lead their 13 hit attack. Jonathan Richard went the distance for the Royals and scattered four hits while striking out five.

The opening game of both semi-final series will be played on Monday night. The Bulldogs will travel to Pine Banks, on the Malden-Melrose line, to face the #1 seeded Andre Chiefs while the Royals move on to visit the #2 seeded Blue Sox at Lexington High.

Both of Monday’s games will begin at 8:00 PM.