Night Games in the MIddletown Little League became a reality in early May. Romegialli Field at Hubbard Park became the first Little League field in town to have lights installed. Scoreboards were added as part of Brandon Souto's Eagle Scout project and a concession stand was also built that serves both Romegialli and Baroni Fields.

On May 8, Mayor Domenique Thornton and LL President Mike D'Ambrose were joined by current and past LL officials, honored guests and several LL teams, and the lights were dedicated in an on-field ceremony. A random drawing was held between the teams that were to participate in the game that followed the ceremony. Rachel Soll of Calico and Ann Marie Guckin of Sebby's Pizza were chosen to turn on the lights.

In photo at right, Mayor Thornton throws ceremonial "first pitch". Don't worry, Your Honor, it was called a strike. But the lights were a true hit!

The first "night game" actually took place the night before, in a test run of the lighting system.

Burger King takes City Title

For what is believed to be the first time since Little League started in Middletown in 1948, two teams took the field each with unbeaten records at 18-0 to play for the city championship. Both teams brought a large crowd, both teams wore black uniforms. The only way to figure out which team was which was to find out who the fans wearing the crowns from Burger King were cheering for. Burger King of the O'Rourke-Kidney League backed up the solid pitching of Jim Drobnis by defeating the Portland NAPA team of the Moose League 2-0 at Hubbard Park in Middletown.

Maybe Drobnis could hear the fan who yelled to him and the team to "have it your way" for the game. Drobnis struck out 12 batters and only walked one for the two hit shutout. He struck out every batter in NAPA's lineup at least once.

Burger King took its first run in the bottom of the fourth with Drobnis launching a one-out double that bounced over the right fielder's head. Drobnis then stole third base when catcher Dustin Demonte hit Daniel Condon in the back on the throw down to the bag. Ryan Brainard than doubled to bring in Drobnis.

Greg Pellici pitched four innings for NAPA, and almost matching Drobnis for strikeouts with nine of his own. Pellici gave up only two walks, both to D.J. Hunter. In the fifth, Jon Faass came in to relieve Pellici, who moved out to center field. Burger King's Oliver Herrera came up to bat and led off with a line drive that tipped off the glove of Pellici. A wild pitch moved Herrera over to third, but Toshio Hamilton hit a soft liner that first baseman Cody Wilson had trouble handling. Herrera scored as Wilson picked up the ball and stepped on the bag for the out. NAPA fought back. Drobnis struck out the first two batters he faced but Matt Milardo came up with a two out single to put only the second runner on base for NAPA all game. Milardo moved up to second with a steal, and then a wild pitch brought him around to third. After a issuing his only walk of the game to Pellici, Drobnis struck out Faass to end the game.