By Mike Rubin

As World Cup fever hit a high pitch this month, one Somerville soccer team was busy winning a championship.

The age 12 and under Somerville youth soccer team team won a Commissioner’s Cup title on June 20.

“The city of Somerville should be very proud of their accomplishments and for all the other teams in their division,’ said coach Ali Atti.

Members of the team include Youssef Atti, Miguel Canizalez, Padra Darilus, Wens Dorvil, Jeffery Fernandes, Aman Gabriel, Alejandro Galdamez, Adrian Lainoff, Andre Matos, Lebanos Mengistu, Danny Murphy, Nathan Nebiye, Alec Portelli, Mathew Sousa and Bobby Voutsinas.

To secure the title, Somerville had to beat Woburn and Billerica.

“Everything went against us,’ said Atti. “We got some very unfortunate breaks against us in the Woburn game. We were down 2-0, and the Woburn team had a lot of big and strong guys.”

Facing an early 2-0 deficit, Somerville stormed back and emerged with a 5-4 victory.

“We got off to a slow start and coach [Canizalez] and I had to calm the kids down and have them focus on what they do best, that is playing the ball,” said Atti. “We tied up the game at half time.”

Following the game, Atti was more than pleased with his team’s efforts.

“It was a remarkable game against the Woburn team,” said Atti. “It was a very hard fought soccer game.”

By William Tauro

Little League crowned its 2010 Major League ChampionbTuesday night. A sizeable crowd came out to watch a battle between Cambridge Portuguese Credit Union (CPCU) and The Somerville Bulldogs. On the mound for the home team Bulldogs was Mike McPherson along with his battery mate and younger brother Matthew McPherson behind the plate. Zachary Colleran would be pitching for CPCU with Devon Alves behind the plate the game looked to be another high scoring game. CPCU had just come off a huge win which they had belted in 36 runs the night before to bring them one step closer to winning the Championship.

The Bulldogs had John Kalogeropoulos, Anthony Amari, and Jordan Daulphin in the out field ready for CPCU’s hitters. The Bulldogs got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning. Mike McPherson got on base with a double to left field. Matt McPherson brought home Mike on a base hit to right field. Isaac Saron singled to right field, stole second, and then scored on a Kyle Gil hit to the outfield to make the score 2-0.

In the bottom of the 2nd Kyle Roache scored on a triple by Mike McPherson to make it 3-0. Mike then stole home on a pass ball to make the score 4-0 Bulldogs.

In the third inning with some great glove plays by CJ Resmini at second and John Lynch at third the batters for CPCU went down in order.

In the top of the forth inning the Bulldogs sent their substitutes in Dewey Butler 3b, Jack Sheehy 2b, and Sean Hunt LF. In the top of the inning CPCU got on the board. Jack Clark singled to center field then stole second. Devon Alves then hit the ball towards the right field line to bring Jack home and make the score 4-1. In the bottom of the fourth the Bulldogs responded. Anthony Amari walked, Isaac Saron singled and both scored on a Kyle Gill base hit to make the score 6-1.

Mike McPherson looking for a complete game took the hill in the top of the 6th. Jack Clark started off the inning with a single to the outfield. An error by the Bulldogs had Jack come home to make the score 6-2. Zack Colleran would then get on base with a single. With man on first and two outs, the next batter up for CPCU hit rocket ground ball to second base area. The second baseman made a great catch to stop the ball from going into the outfield. He then threw the ball to 2nd base to get the 3rd and final out giving Mike McPherson a complete game and the victory to the Somerville Bulldogs.

During the celebration the bulldogs brought down the banner that they had and had all the players sign it. The banner will be going to our troops overseas as a show of support.