OFFICIAL SITE OF THE
IRISH WOLFHOUNDS
THE WORLD'S FIRST ALL-IRISH BASEBALL CLUB
Irish Wolfhounds Baseball Club
Game Recap: Irish Wolfhounds Triumph in Inaugural Game
POMONA, NY (June 17, 2023) – The Irish Wolfhounds Baseball Club, presented by Tourism Ireland, made its triumphant debut on June 17, 2023 at Clover Stadium in Rockland County, NY. The Wolfhounds defeated the NYPD's NY Finest Baseball Club, by a score of 9-1.
The win was the first step towards helping Ireland get to the World Baseball Classic. Each player on the Wolfhounds roster is "WBC-eligible," meaning players all have, or qualify to obtain, Irish citizenship.
The festivities began a few minutes before game time, as the Aisling Irish Community Center children's choir sang the national anthems of both Ireland and America. Next, Ireland's Vice Consul, Dermot Fitzpatrick, threw the ceremonial first pitch. Finally, the Irish squad listened to an inspiring pep talk from Consul General, Helena Nolan.
And then, it was time to play ball!
Game Recap: Irish Wolfhounds 9, NY Finest 1
The Irish jumped out to an early lead in the second inning, thanks to a double by CF Conor Santoianni and an RBI single by RF Brendan Eaton.
The NYPD evened the score in the bottom of the fourth inning but the Wolfhounds jumped back in the lead in the top of the fifth inning, when SS Patrick Dillon reached base on a walk and advanced around the bases on back-to-back singles by DH Brian McAuliffe and Doyle Kane.
On the mound, Brendan Kenneally kept the Irish in the lead, holding the NYPD hitless over 2.1 innings of relief.
The visiting Irish squad entered the seventh inning with a razor thin 2-1 lead. Ireland quickly strung together a few hits and blew the game wide open with a rally thanks to hits by LF Doyle Kane, CF Conor Mackle, and an RBI triple by Conor Santoianni. Second baseman Sean McAdams added to the lead with an RBI single, giving the Irish a 9-1 lead.
Manager Donegal Fergus turned the game over to southpaw Mike McGee for the seventh and eighth inning. Then it was up to former major leaguer Ryan O'Rourke to close it out. It was O'Rourke's first outing in over a year and a major step in his recovery from a strained rotator cuff.