by Vinny Messana
Amidst a constant gusting wind, Bellport’s sophomore LHP Anthony Jacabacci fired a four-hit shutout against East Islip.
The young hurler was remarkably composed against a perennial playoff team, something that veteran Head Coach Bill Batewell knew about him right away.
“That’s why we brought him up as a ninth grader,” said Batewell. “He’s got it all together,” he added.
Jacabacci breezed through the first three innings, allowing only one base runner to reach via error.
Photo Credit: Vinny Messana
His offense backed him with all the support he would need in the first inning.
Garrett Heaton led off the home half of the first with a well-struck double through the wind to right center field. After a flyout, center fielder Michael Veit (3-for-3, RBI) ripped an RBI single to right field. The ball scooted away from the right fielder and Veit turned on the jets and sprinted to third.
The following batter, Joe Greco drove him in with a sacrifice fly. It doesn’t take a deep fly ball to score Veit, who possesses 6.7 speed in the 60-yard dash.
June 5 at Dowling
Jacabacci escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning when he coaxed a 6-4-3 DP from Joe Corraio.
The Clippers added a run in the fourth inning when Jaccabacci helped himself with an RBI infield single to third base.
He breezed through the fifth inning, thanks to a nifty play by Heaton to start an inning ending unassisted double play.
Despite allowing a walk and a double in the seventh inning, he got a comebacker for the second out before striking out the final batter for his sixth strikeout of the game.
“We have a senior team and they’re all a year better than last year,” said Jacabacci.
The Clippers improve to 1-1 while the Redmen fall to 1-1. Bellport showed they have a great chance to improve on last year’s 10-win team with the talent they possess.
