Head Coach Jim Moccio and the Bayport Blue-Point Phantoms are treading unfamiliar water this playoff season coming in as a seven seed. Despite their low-seeding, BBP has come out fighting in this tournament defeating the No. 2 seed Sayville , and now the No. 3 seed Rocky Point. Hard throwing RHP Josh Monturo went the distance for BBP with a complete game shutout recording seven strikeouts, one walk and five hits. He finished his day at the plate 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs.
“At the plate I was just trying to attack fastballs; that’s what I’ve been doing all season and it has been working out well,” said BBP pitcher Monturo. “Staying calm is key, playoffs get a little hyped up so I just try to stay calm and make hard contact.”
Rocky Point called upon their LHP Joey Grillo for this playoff matchup. Grillo went six innings, struck out six, walked four, and allowed two runs off three hits. Monturo demonstrated his control of the game, as he escaped the first three innings after allowing the lead off runner to get on base each time. Grillo finished the day at the plate 2-for-3 with a pair of base hits.
“It feels really good, very good actually, I was very calm coming in to this game; I just concentrated on throwing strikes and it really helped out.” Monturo said.
Monturo got things started for the BBP offense in the first inning. He came up with two outs and runners on first and second base. Monturo smacked a hard hit ball to LF for a single, but the fielder had trouble keeping the ball in front of him resulting in the ball rolling almost to the fence. This base hit brought in both base runners and a throw to the plate allowed Monturo to reach third base on the play.
“Last year we had them, 2-0, going into the seventh and they came back and beat us, 3-2, at our place,” Moccio said. “We weren’t sitting on our lead, we felt like we needed to score in multiple innings so those last two runs late in the game were big for us.”
Rocky Point stranded three runners in scoring position. Despite getting runners in scoring position, Monturo found ways to work out of tough situations. RP’s five hitter, Perri, knocked a huge one-out double in the fourth and Scott Puric followed with a walk, but Monturo struck out the next batter and got the following batter to pop out to the first baseman. Both teams’ lineups featured hitters that take long and tough at bats. Batters one through four for RP went a combined 3-for-12, with two of their hits coming from Grillo.
“We’re just going to practice the next two days on what we do; what we try and do. We’re the lower seed everywhere we play this year so we’re kind of enjoying that role right now; no pressure and I think the kids are responding well.” Moccio said.
BBP is set to face the winner of the loser’s bracket on the road. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, May 20. RP has a quick turnaround and will face the winner of Sayville and Islip in an elimination game tomorrow, May 18. First pitch is also scheduled for 4 p.m. and the game will be played at the higher seed.
