by Vinny Messana
With one-out in the bottom of the sixth inning, and the score tied at 1-1, Vinny Orlando smacked a triple to deep right center field to score Rob Costanzo and put the Dowling Golden Lions ahead 2-1. The following batter, Tyler Piccolo, ripped a single to left field to score Orlando and increase the lead to 3-1.
Andrew Sesto came on for the save, and was lifted after allowing two walks and a double. Billy Goncalves came in relief and promptly eluded further damage by inducing a fly ball and an infield pop up to secure the 5-2 victory.
(Photo Credit: Vinny Messana)
Starting pitcher Dennis Buckstein was tremendous, throwing six innings, allowing only two hits, while striking out seven. He used a quick tempto, great two-seam fastball and mixed in a curveball and change up to keep the Dolphins of LeMoyne off balance.
“Dennis was much better than his last outing,” said fifth year Head Coach Tom Caputo. “We’re counting on Dennis to be one of our guys on the weekends. He had command of his fastball and his secondary pitches. I’m not a pitcher, but if you can throw two pitches for strikes, you’ll have a decent day,” he added.
Through the first five innings, neither team could amount much of anything on offense. The Golden Lions had a very difficult time waiting back on Ryan O’Kane’s offspeed pitches. The former flamethrower had suffered an injury to his rotator cuff and was forced to re-invent himself as a breaking ball specialist. His array of sliders and curveballs had Dowling’s bats in fits for five innings.
They did score in the fifth inning when John Tenaglia executed on a squeeze play and the pitcher threw it away, resulting in Robert Morse to score the game’s first run, who led off with a double.
The victory was the first of the year for the Golden Lions, but they did drop the second game of the DH 2-0 to fall to 1-4 on the young season.
They will be back in action this Saturday with a DH against New Haven.
