April 20   Major Phillies 10 Cardinals 2

 The Major League Phillies kicked off their Melrose National Little League season against the Cardinals with Michael Luciano taking the hill.  In the top of the first the Cardinals couldn’t capitalize on a single by Zach Beaudet and walks to Ryan Feeney and Jared Crowell as Luciano struck out the side.  The Cardinals pitcher Dylan Bagley was cruising until the second when the Phillies got on the board with walks to Derek Packard, Michael Dreske, Sean Donovan and Sean Connolly.  The Cardinals threatened in the third as the speedster Bagley reached on an error but was gunned down at second on a steal attempt by Connolly.  The Phillies scored two more in the third as Luciano hit a mammoth solo homer and Cory Bright singled and Dreske knocked him in. The Cardinals got on the board in the fourth after a single by Bagley and an error off a rip by Isaac Pacor.  The Cardinals defense was backed by Brendan Clancy, Jake Lynch, Harry Klumm and Andrew Perrier.  The Phillies exploded for seven runs in the fifth off singles by Connolly, Luciano, Jack Aylward and a double by Alex Herrera.  The Phillies defensive play was inspired by John Caspariello, Kevin Burns, Alex Dervartanian and Cory Bright who made a diving catch in right and then doubled up the runner at first.  The Cardinals Nick Cordeau came on to pitch and kept the Phillies batter guessing.  The Cardinals added one run in the sixth but the Phillies Caspariello came in to pitch and preserved the victory. The Phillies opened the season with a 10-2 win.