Colby Schmidt on Manhasset’s 5-2 victory over Garden City pic.twitter.com/vI4KSI8YqK
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 29, 2018
Manhasset defeated Garden City, 5-2 on Thursday, ending their two-game losing streak.
In a chilly afternoon game, starter Colby Schmidt threw an impressive six innings to earn his first win of the season. The senior righty who missed all last season with a back injury came into full form today, commanding all of his pitches and keeping hitters off balance.
Right fielder Winston Park plated the first run of the game in the second inning, lining a double down the line and setting the table with runners at second and third. With two runners on, centerfielder Jay Schlaefer lifted a potential homeru to deep centerfield, only to have it robbed by Garden City centerfielder Michael Handal. The fly ball was good enough to send one more home, putting Manhasset up 2-0.
The Indians stayed hungry in the third. Hits from Phillip Chang and Robert DeCastro set up a two-run RBI double for Joseph Gabrielle, giving Manhasset a 4-0 lead. Following that at-bat, Garden City made a pitching change. Ryan George stepped up in fine fashion, finishing the next four innings by throwing strikes and pitching to contact. His only run allowed was given up late in the seventh inning.
In the bottom of the third, Garden City climbed back. Back-to-back two out hits set up a Garrett Going RBI single, cutting the lead to 4-1. In the next at-bat, Michael Handal ripped a line drive in between the shortstop and third baseman, only to have it directly hit the infield umpire. The play was dead, all the runners moved up, but it ultimately stopped a potential run from scoring. The next play was a harmless ground ball to first, ending the threat of anymore runs.
From then on, Schmidt was in cruise control. He set down five in a row between the fourth and fifth and found a way to get out of a two out, two runner jam in the sixth to finish his day. Head Coach Mark Giardino was proud of Schmidt’s work.
“He seems like a veteran even though he missed all of last year with a back injury. He does everything with confidence, he never seems to get rattled under pressure. He slows himself down and catches himself and was absolutely outstanding on the mound today,” said Giardino.
Schmidt did not just compete on the mound, he had himself a day at the plate too. Two hits on the afternoon and an extra RBI insurance run in the top of the seventh put Manhasset in the driver’s seat.
After a hit batsman loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, reliever Cole Zaffiro induced a crucial double play, allowing only one run to score and keeping the Indians up 5-2. The final out came via ground ball, ultimately putting Manhasset at 1-2 on the season.
