Final: Hauppauge 2, Rocky Point 0
WP: Kevin Sambuco (2-hit shutout) pic.twitter.com/CuxDipp61g Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 3, 2018
With the forecast calling for heavy rain beginning at 1pm, there was a 3-hour window to get in the game. Hauppauge starter Kevin Sambuco did it in less than half.
The senior RHP carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but settled for a two-hit shutout in Hauppauge’s 2-0 victory over new League 6 rival Rocky Point, needing only 69 pitches to record 21 outs to improve the Eagles’ to 3-1 on the young season.
He was starting opposite Bridgeport-commit Joey Grillo, who was named to our Preseason All-Long Island list last month.
Grillo and Sambuco traded zeros for the first five innings; doing so in different ways. Hauppauge made Grillo work; they had singles in the first three innings and then loaded the bases with one out in the fourth inning but Grillo was able to induce a fielder’s choice to Rob Milopsky at third and a come backer to end the threat. Sambuco did not allow a base runner through four innings.
Hauppauge went down 1-2-3 in the fifth, while Rocky Point got their first base runner on a dribbler in front of home plate by Alex Bonacci on a close play at first. The threat was dismissed quickly after a strike-em-out, throw-em-out and a come backer.
The scoreless tie was broke in the top of the sixth, with Nick Sellitto starting things off with a single to center field. He moved up on a single to left field by cleanup hitter, Ryan Mackey. A failed sacrifice bunt attempt was the first out of the inning. Senior Jeremy Contreras lined a single to right-center field to score Sellitto and give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Grillo retired the next two batters to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh, a single by Adam Gorgone and a bunt single by Brett Boller put runners in scoring position for Sellitto, who extended the lead with an RBI single to left.
Sambuco went back out for the seventh and allowed a one-out single, but induced a 4-6-3 twin killing to end the game and improve his record to 2-0 on the season.
Head Coach Josh Gutes stated that Sambuco throws a natural cut fastball that throws off the timing of hitters, which was a key this afternoon.
Shortly after the game, the rain began to fall. It made the 10am start and the efficient pitching of Sambuco all the more important with the dismal weather we’ve had this spring already.
