We couldn’t have asked for better weather or a better match up for our inaugural Home Run Derby today at NYIT.
In what looked like it would be a blowout, Team McHugh made a furious comeback from a 26-10 deficit to come up just short, by the score of 35-31.
Below are some of the highlights from the contest….
Anthony Fontana led off the bottom of the first with a huge round. He hit three home runs and compiled 14 points overall. His sweet swing produced several long blasts pasts the cone in deep right field. The Furman-commit got his team out to a quick 14-0 lead.
Both teams exchanged two points in the second inning from James Myler and Jarred Vanderhoof.
In the top of the third, the captain Tim McHugh put up four on the board. His power bat generated several massive flies out to left field. Kyle Johnson responded with four points of his own in the bottom of the third inning.
Mark Faello put on a good showing in the home half of the fourth inning with five points. He extended the lead to 25-9 and put Team McHugh’s back against the wall with three batters remaining.
In the top of the sixth, Travis Honeyman did his best effort to put his team on his back. The Boston College-commit tied Fontana for 14 points, cutting the deficit to 26-24. His quick bat produced several bombs to left field–including one home run–but just narrowly misses a home run on a number of occasions.
Logan O’Hoppe extended the lead in the bottom of the sixth to 35-24 with a great showing; putting up nine points of his own, including a long home run to straight-away left field.
It all came down to Johnny Castagnozzi. The Massaepequa sophomore put up a valiant effort, putting up seven points including several missiles to right-center field. It was not enough, however, and the score finished with a 35-31 final.
It was a thrilling contest featuring several of the best bats on Long Island. We thank everyone who was a part of the afternoon, especially NYIT for hosting the event!
