Junior first baseman Nick Bottari found his rhythm coming off a foot injury and had a monster day at the plate. In a game that went 10 innings, the Southeastern University slugger stepped up in the top half knocking in two runs on an opposite field pop fly that just stayed fair off a tough pitcher in John Polichetti.
The back-and-forth battle was anchored by Bottari’s performance but majority of the Aviators lineup contributed, as they were retired in order only once, in the seventh inning. The Westhampton leadoff hitter, Eric Callahan, also had a great day at the plate finishing 3-for-5 with a walk, two stolen bases and three runs.
“I just had to simplify my swing a little bit I think I was trying to do too much,” said Bottari. “I got back to the basics and just let my teammates get on base and I was just doing my best to be productive.”
His performance at the plate fits the textbook definition of production. The power-hitting righty would finish 4-for-5 with a hit by pitch, a home run, a double and four RBI. He led off the fifth for Westhampton with a solo shot that he took the other way to right field to tie the game. The Aviators would go on to take the lead in the fifth after Cam Climo followed Bottari’s dinger with a double. Climo would come around to score on an infield single from the Aviators’ catcher, Austin Kirkpatrick.
“It feels good, this is definitely a win that we needed, we have struggled a bit recently so it feels good to get back on a winning streak,” Bottari said. “We’re a good team we just need to play well and if we do that we can win a lot of games; I’m excited for it.”
The Aviators have been victorious in almost 20 games this summer, and they sit 6 games ahead of the Long Island Road Warriors in first place with a 19-6 record. Four of the Westhampton losses have come in the last 10 games.
Tennessee RHP Richard Jackson III would come away with a win after entering the game as a reliever in the seventh. He would bounce back after the first batter he faced, Sag Harbor catcher Dominiq Sicardo, roped the first pitch outside corner fastball the other way for an RBI single. Jackson retired the next batter and only faced nine batters over the eighth, ninth and 10th innings.
Kirkpatrick would make an extremely impressive pickoff to nail a runner at third with only one out in the eighth. The runner was Chaminade 2016 graduate and Rutgers sophomore, Anthony Greco. Greco led off the inning with a double off the hard-throwing Jackson. After being bunted over to third Kirkpatrick showcased his cannon arm and kept Westhampton in the game retiring Greco after he overextended on a pitch in the dirt.
The Aviators look to keep their streak alive tomorrow as they are set to take on North Fork in Peconic. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sag Harbor is home again tomorrow as they are scheduled to take on Riverhead at 5 p.m.
