As he stepped into his first year as head coach of the Madison 19-U American Legion team, Jason Vitale wanted this year’s squad to make a run in Zone 2 while having fun playing summer baseball. For some of the team’s athletes, this could be their final year playing the sport, but last week, they showed that they weren’t ready to stop as Madison won four of its five games to swing momentum in its favor entering the home stretch of the season.

“We’re giving the seniors their last year to play ball,” Coach Vitale said. “For some of them, it is their last time playing ball. I just wanted them to go out there, have some fun, and win some games.”

Madison has a record of 9-6 in Zone 2 action this summer. In recent play, Post 79 earned two wins versus New Haven to go with victories against Milford and North Haven to take four of five on the week.

Madison began its week by claiming a 13-0, 5-inning win over New Haven on July 6. David Antonetti started on the mound for Post 79, pitching all 5 innings and allowing just 1 hit to go with 12 strikeouts. Ben Lyons had 2 doubles with 3 runs scored and an RBI, while Nick Antonetti produced 2 hits with 2 runs and 2 RBI for Madison. Kaleb Cohen went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in the win.

Madison took on New Haven for a rematch the following day and came away with another 5-inning victory, prevailing by the final score of 12-0. Owen Scarice earned the win on the hill for Madison by pitching 3 innings in which he allowed 1 hit and struck out 3. Nick Antonetti had 3 RBI in the victory. Eli Davies had 3 hits with a run scored and an RBI, and Chris Wanat also had 3 hits to go with 2 runs scored and an RBI.

Post 79 was back on the diamond for a matchup with Milford the following day. Madison notched a 9-6 victory behind a complete-game effort from Lyons, who pitched all 7 innings in the contest. Jack Kayal had 2 hits and 2 runs scored, while Nick Earl had 2 hits with a run and 2 RBI.

Madison finished its week by playing a doubleheader against North Haven on July 9. Post 79 came away with a split of the set by taking a 7-4 loss in the first game and then earning a 9-3 win in the nightcap.

Lyons had 2 hits with a run scored for Madison in the opening game of the doubleheader. In the second contest, Wanat took the ball and tossed 6.1 innings to lead Post 79 to the victory, allowing no earned runs with 8 strikeouts on the day. Will Bazenas had 2 hits, 2 runs, and 2 RBI in the win. Cohen had a hit with 2 walks and 2 runs scored for Coach Vitale’s club.

Vitale said that he’s been impressed with his team’s overall performance during the 2022 season. He felt that last week’s victories helped get Madison on track. With Post 79 playing five games in a four-day stretch, Vitale was proud of his team’s ability to battle through and pick up a few wins in the process.

“During the long, hot summer, having a game every day really takes a toll on everyone,” said Vitale. “I’m just glad and proud of my guys for showing up every day and grinding out wins.”

For the past couple of years, Madison’s 19-U Legion team has been known for its quality pitching, and this year is no different. However, Coach Vitale added that Madison has been faring better in the batter’s box than in previous seasons. Vitale credits former coach Jeff Buck for helping craft the team’s offensive identity. When Madison has succeeded this year, Vitale said that Post 79’s trademark pitching has been supported by an opportunistic offense.

“We pitch very well. We’re usually known as a pitching team. But this year, we’ve hit the ball pretty well,” Coach Vitale said. “I made it a point in the beginning of the season to just put the ball in play and make things happen on the field, force the defense to make a play. It has been paying off for us.”

Madison’s pitching staff features numerous throwers who have succeeded at the collegiate and high school levels. Wanat, one of the team’s leading pitchers, is a member of the team at Boston College and came back to Madison to play baseball this summer. Post 79’s staff also includes David Antonetti, Ryan Knight, and Scarice, who all pitched for the Hand baseball team this spring.

Coach Vitale credits his pitchers for leading the team this season. Vitale said that when Madison’s starter gets hot, the energy resonates throughout the entire squad.

“Pitching has been our dominance for four, five years now. We’ve always been a team that pitches,” said Vitale. “This year’s staff is very important to the team. When they pitch well, the team feeds off their energy. We got out there and try to get them some kind of run support.”

At the plate, Madison is being led by Lyons, the team’s left fielder; Cohen, who plays right field; and Davies, who suits up as both a center fielder and a catcher. Lyons hits in the leadoff spot and gets on base any way he can. Cohen has been a force in the middle of the lineup, currently hitting .579. Davies is the team’s No. 3 hitter, and Coach Vitale called him the anchor of the lineup with his batting skills and speed on the basepaths.

Coach Vitale believes that Madison’s experience will be key as his team winds down the regular season and tries to make a run for the playoffs. With a veteran group, Vitale said that his players understand what needs to be done. They don’t dwell on the losses and know how to stay composed on the field. As Post 79 tries to punch its postseason ticket, Vitale believes that experience, strong pitching, and timely offense will all be critical factors in that mission.

“We have an older group. We play and when we win, we move onto the next one. And when we lose, we brush it off,” Vitale said. “We’re right in the thick of things right now. We can definitely make a run in the coming weeks.”