[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI09VjS8OR8]
After a long winter to think about their loss to West Islip in the Suffolk County title game, Hills West wasted no time in delivering retribution. In their season opener at Baseball Heaven, the Colts rode the right arm of Bradley Camarda and the lefty swing of Jon Faraci.
“Absolutely not,” said Head Coach Tom Migliozzi in regards to whether this win feels anymore special. “In high school, most of the kids that beat you last year, most of them graduated. So, we just look at it as a new season and a way to create our own path,” he added.
Camarda stood toe-to-toe with James Kory–who, as a sophomore went 10-0 and led the West Islip Lions to the Long Island Championship game–and out dueled him. He went six innings, allowed one earned run, struck out five and allowed six hits for his first victory of the season.
The game was scoreless through two-and-a-half, but the Colts broke through first with two runs in the third. The first run came in on an error by catcher Richie Zec, who dropped a throw from the third baseman–which could’ve been a 5-2-3 DP. Rather, it allowed all runners to safely advance. The next batter, Tyler DeLucia, hit a sac fly to extend the lead.
The Colts added to their lead by playing small ball–single, sac bunt, RBI single. Get ’em on, get ’em over, get ’em in.
The Lions responded with two runs in the fifth on a two-run single by Zec, who scored Kory and Mattera.
It all came apart for the Lions in the bottom of the fifth, however. After a bloop single and a strikeout, St. John’s commit Jon Faraci launched a long two-run home run to open up the game 5-2. They added two more insurance runs to put the game away.
Kory lasted just 4.1 innings and suffered his first loss–one more than last season in 10 starts.
Migliore was pleased with the job that Camarda did, lauding him for his strike throwing ability.
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