Switch-hitting cleanup hitter Angelo Veltri stepped in to the left handed batters box with one out in the seventh trailing by two runs with two runners on. This came as a shock because Veltri batted from the right side in his previous three at bats. After starting his day 0-for-3 he would tie the game on a towering fly ball ground-rule double, completely changing his day at the plate.
“I’ve been switch hitting for a couple years now in games and you just have to keep your confidence up,” said Veltri. “I feel like I play better with more pressure on me.”
The pressure was immense as the Patriots’ rally came after scoring just one run through the first six innings, due in part to strong Black Diamond pitching from Anthony Ippolito and Jordan Piht. Black Diamonds just got too comfortable and a couple of costly wild pitches ended up advancing the runners to second and third for Veltri.
“It feels great, there is no better feeling in the world.” Longwood class of 2018 Veltri said.
Veltri’s double would extend the game to an extra inning, but East Islip HS did not have lights, therefore, after Black Diamonds didn’t score in the bottom of the seventh the umpires decided that only one more inning could be played. The Patriots refused to let their momentum go to waste leading off the eighth with a walk and a sac bunt putting a runner in scoring position with one out in a, 3-3, game.
To become a Black Diamond call 631-942-2542
This would leave Colin Brodsky, the Patriots’ starting pitcher, in a position to be the hero. The Rocky Point class of 2018 RHP would come to the plate with runners on the corners after a hit by pitch. He cracked a single to shallow right advancing the runners and loading the bases with one out.
Being that Brodsky was the nine batter, he would turn the order over to the top of the lineup. Piht remained on the mound for Black Diamonds and forced a tough groundball that would roll into shallow right field and bring in two runs. This would provide the Pats with the, 5-3, lead that they needed.
Register for the July 25th Showcase at Mitchell Field!
“That late in the count I was expecting more of a breaking ball more to the outside but he gave me something inside so I just took that and pulled it.” Veltri said.
Brodsky would go six and a third strong innings allowing three runs on eight hits striking out five and walking five. His performance turned out to be exactly what the Patriots needed to win this one.
The Patriots took a, 1-0, lead in the top half of the fourth thanks to a leadoff triple from Mike Ferrara, who would score on a 4-3 putout. The Black Diamonds came right back and scored a run off a two-out RBI single from their catcher, Kevin Edmonds. They would however strand the bases loaded missing out on the biggest scoring opportunity they had all game.
Both teams have quick turnarounds, as they are set to continue regular season action tomorrow at 6 p.m. Patriots are scheduled to take on the LI Royals and Black Diamonds will face BEAST Red.
