Bulldogs Squat on Rockies

And in the process, beat Revere, 12-3 behind a bevy of walks and a hefty nine-run first inning at Maplewood Park in Malden.

After missing the playoffs by three points in 2007 (even though they won 9 out of their last 10 games), the Bulldogs are off to a quick 2-0 start in 2008, outscoring Revere and the Brighton Black Sox a combined 15-2.

"I think we have the best offense in the league," veteran outfielder Chris Deane said after his Bulldogs beat the Rockies, last season's number-two seed in the Yawkey League playoffs.

Malden worked eight walks in the victory, with second baseman Troy Ingemi leading the way with three while driving in two runs for the Bulldogs. Ingemi led Malden last season with a .473 on base percentage in 28 games.

Mike Barthel, a member of the McKay Club Beacons in 2007, pitched the final three innings of the game to pick up his first win of the season. Barthel allowed two hits, walked two and struck out two.

How important was this game to Malden? "It's huge," Deane said. "That's the kind of team that will be in our way in the end of the season."

Deane, who spent more than a dozen years with the McKay Club, has added leadership, some offensive pop and a good glove to an already deep Malden team this season.

Youth Movement, Anybody?

The Beacons started off 2008 with an under-aged Nick O'Keefe throwing slow curves, "nasty" knuckle balls, according to catcher Andy "Deuce" McAllister and a well-spotted fastball. The Anna Maria College freshman, who was 2-2 with a 4.33 ERA in six games this season for the AmCats, fanned 10 in his Yawkey League debut.

O'Keefe walked only one and scattered six hits over six innings before giving way to the cookie monster, Tom Prykucki. Prykucki allowed an unearned run and struck out one to end the game and give the Beacons their first win with their new, younger, more energetic nucleus of players in place.

The offense was led by Dan "I didn't get enough playing time at UMass Boston, so I'm gonna take it out on the Yawkey League" Ciocca. The third baseman had two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored to pace the offense.