Grit Baseball went into this matchup with Elite up one point in the Town of Brookhaven Summer Varsity Gold division standings. The two strong teams went head-to-head calling upon two hard-throwing lefties to make the start. Elite’s LHP, Jaryd Amy of Westhampton Beach, would earn the win in a game that only went six innings due to time limit. Elite would win by a score of, 10-2, after going up, 5-0, in the third.
The class of 2018 LHP would prove to be a strikeout machine, striking out 11 batters in his four and two thirds innings of work. He would allow only one earned run walking six and allowing three hits. Amy considers himself a strikeout pitcher, but he is aware of the pitch count issues that come with primarily being a strikeout guy.
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“It’s definitely a blessing and a curse because I throw way too many pitches,” said Amy. “But I like it, I embrace it.”
The five-run third would knock out Grit’s starter, Ryan Callahan, who is also a strong LHP. Elite found ways to manufacture runs by putting the ball in play and dropping a couple key fly balls just on the fair side of the right field foul line. Callahan, just like Amy, did however struggle with control at times and walks would evidently be his demise.
This was Grit Baseball’s first game after returning from a weekend tournament, therefore leaving them with little-to-no relief pitching. All five runs in the third would be charged to Callahan. After walking the first batter of the inning he would get a fielders choice from Elite’s nine hitter, Aaron Krzyewski, turning the lineup over with one out.
Elite leadoff hitter RJ Kehoe would hit a towering fly ball to right for a double setting the table for 2017 Southampton graduate, Devon O’Brien. He would step up to the plate and drive a fly ball two RBI triple to the far right corner of the field on a ball that was just fair.
“I just stayed calm cool and collected like usual and just tried to make contact like every other at bat.” O’Brien said.
A couple more walks and single would do it for Callahan opening the flood gates for Elite. O’Brien would also knock a two-out double in the fourth finishing his day at the plate 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBI and two runs. Another big contributor for Elite was their cleanup hitter, Thatcher Cord. After striking out in his first at bat he would bounce back to finish 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.
Amy would run into trouble in the fifth after allowing a leadoff single to SWR class of 2018 Matt Moran. He would dig deep to strikeout the next two batters he faced, but then he begun to struggle with his control.
“[The lead] Definitely gave me more confidence to throw strikes, even though I didn’t at the end,” Amy said. “It definitely was easier to settle in and throw strikes with that lead.”
Moving forward the uncommitted LHP looks to gain command on his low to mid 80’s fastball that has some impressive cutting movement. His curve was primarily used as a finisher pitch, but he found ways to mix it in to keep hitters off balance.
Both teams are set to pick up play on Thursday. Grit is scheduled to face the Smithtown Bulls and Elite the LI Gulls. Both games are scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m.
