by Vinny Messana
When you have an high-octane offense and stingy pitching staff such as the Wantagh Warriors, you don’t have to play many close ballgames.
In fact, of their previous 12 wins, only one was a one-run ballgame. When they’re facing one of the elite pitchers on Long Island in Brandon O’Brien, however, you must get the clutch hits.
It was a clash of two 12-1 teams (Photo Credit: Vinny Messana)
That’s exactly what they got in the top of the 11th inning from Jimmy Joyce, when he smacked a two-out double into the left center field alley to plate the go-ahead run and complete an impressive 5-4 comeback win for the Warriors–who improve to 13-1 on the season.
“I just had this feeling I was going to be up with the game on the line,” said Joyce, who stepped to the plate having fanned four times, but also scored a run during a four-run sixth inning for the Warriors. “I didn’t get myself down too much, it was tough but I stuck with it,” he said.
He noted that confidence has never been an issue with the team regardless of the deficit.
“As a team, we are probably the most confident team in the county,” he said. “If we play to our ability, I don’t think anyone can beat us.”
Well, Division came awfully close.
Their starter Brandon O’Brien had phenomenal control of his knuckle-drop–a pitch that he throws regularly for strikes and has late movement, which baffled the Warriors hitters for five innings. He fanned Joyce twice with it, and a lineup which featured Anthony D’Onofrio (Hofstra commit), Will O’Brien (St. Thomas Aquinas commit), Trevor Fagan, Anthony Fontana and Joyce who are all highly-sought after prospects.
His offense backed him with four runs in the first two innings off another elite arm–Will O’Brien.
In the first inning, after Vinny Inciarrano led off with a walk and Nick Tomaselli was hit by pitch, they pulled off a double-steal to both get in scoring position. After Ronmel Ocampo popped out, that set the stage for Ryan Calkins who lined a two-run single up the middle to get Division on the board.
They added two more in the second on an RBI single by Inciarrano and an error by the catcher which allowed Sean Paprocki to score and increase the lead to 4-0.
With the way Brandon O’Brien was throwing and the 55 pitches it took Will O’Brien to navigate through two innings it didn’t look good for the Warriors.
In the top of the sixth inning, they mounted a rally.
Consecutive one-out singles and a walk to Will O’Brien set the stage for Trevor Fagan who lined a two-run single to cut the deficit in half.
After a strikeout and an infield single, a grounder was booted by the second baseman to make it a one-run ballgame. Brandon O’Brien then walked in the tying run.
That’s where the game stood as the pitchers continued to fire zeros. Will O’Brien was able to settle in and complete seven innings before he gave way to No. 3 starter Bobby Hegarty.
Please donate your light-used equipment to ‘Bats 4 Buddies’ at the Battle of the Border on June 5!
Division brought in Chris Rzemieniewski in the seventh and he fired five innings, navigating through a couple hits to put up zeros.
Finally the Warriors broke through in the eleventh with Joyce’s hit and that was the difference in the ballgame.
Wantagh’s Head Coach Keith Sachs noted that the team hadn’t played in many close games because of their offense but they have the pitching and defense to win these types of games. They opted to use their No. 3 starter which will eliminate him from starting on Thursday but it was a game they felt they needed to have.
It was a tremendous ball game and it was a shame that somebody had to lose this one.They will play tomorrow and Thursday, in what promises to be a fascinating series.
