Chalk this one up in the ‘surprise’ column.
The defending Skyline Conference champion Old Westbury Panthers–who entered the tournament at 26-13–went two-and-out in the conference playoffs with both losses coming today.
They lost 4-2 to No. 6 ranked St. Joseph’s-Brooklyn. Jeremy Charles was handed the tough luck loss–firing a CG, allowing three ER, with six strikeouts against one walk.
The Panthers high-powered offense–which entered with a .336 AVG and .411 OBP–was held at bay by Rosario DiLorenzo. He entered with a 6.67 ERA, so needless to say it was an unexpected outcome.
They actually got on the board first, though, as Dean Sheridan smacked an RBI single to score Tommy Zeigen to take a 1-0 lead.
The Bears responded with a single run in the second and two runs in the third inning off Charles to take the 3-1 lead.
The Panthers went quietly until the seventh when Jesse Russo hit a sac fly to score Mike Cardino and cut the lead to 3-2.
A wild pitch in the ninth extended the Bears’ lead to 4-2 and that’s how it would end. Mitch Brigando recorded the save with 2.1 shutout innings.
The loss put Old Westbury’s backs against the walls. They faced familiar foe Farmingdale State in an elimination game.
They sent Danny Aguilo to the hill, who has been outstanding all season long. He entered with six wins and terrific peripheral numbers.
Zeigen got the Panthers off to a great start with a solo HR in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead off senior Kevin Martinez.
Today was not Aguilo’s best day, however, as he was touched up for four runs in 5.2 innings.
In the second inning, the Panthers tied it up a 1-1 with an RBI single by Brandon Snow to score Domenic Palumbo.
The Panthers answered with two runs in the third on an RBI triple by Zeigen and an RBI single by Sheridan to take the 3-1 lead.
The score stood that way until the sixth when the Rams mounted a rally.
Kenneth Johntry’s bases-loaded single tied the game at 3-3 and Nick Attardi gave them the lead with a run-scoring single of his own to score Anthony Gigante.
That was it for Aguilo, who gave way to Nick Dorcean. He did a tremendous job, but the game would go to extra innings. He finished with 3.2 shutout innings with four strikeouts.
In the top of the 10th inning, Palumbo scored pinch-runner Luiggy Marte to give the Rams the 4-3 lead.
Matthew Constantine, who entered in the ninth inning, came back out for the 10th. The Rams had a brief scare when the leadoff runner reached on an error, but Constantine was able to bear down and retire the next three batters to nail down the win and advance Farmingdale.
The Rams will play the loser of St. Joseph’s-LI vs St. Joseph’s-Brooklyn.
It was a bitter end to the season for the Panthers who finish with a 26-15 record.
