August 14, 2014
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SHELBY, N.C.—Brooklawn, N.J., junior pitcher Tyler Mondile pitched to contact and spread three hits over six innings Thursday in the first game of the 2014 American Legion Baseball World Series, and New Jersey’s Nos. 4-6 hitters combined to go 8-for-13 and scored six runs, as the defending national champions cruised to a 9-1 victory over Cromwell, Conn.

                The Bulldogs improved to 50-7 on the season and will play Jacksonville, Florida (38-5), Friday at 5 p.m. in pool play. Cromwell, Conn., fell to 30-10 on the season and have Friday off at the ALWS. Its next game is Saturday at 1 p.m. against Jacksonville.

                Brooklawn second baseman Sean Breen, right fielder Fran Kinsey, and Mondile hit RBI singles in a four-run third inning and the Bulldogs took a 5-0 lead and never looked back.

                Breen went 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored two runs, first baseman Anthony Harrold—the returning national player of the year—went 2-for-5 and scored twice, and Kinsey went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. No. 7 hitting catcher Tre Todd led the team with three RBIs, including a bases-loaded hit by pitch in that third inning.

                Mondile used an 89 mph fastball about 80 percent of the time and mixed in a curve and changeup to keep Connecticut hitters off balance while striking out just two. He walked three.