Our @DigmiNation Player of the Game is winning pitcher Kyle Johnson. He allowed only two hits and struck out 5 batters #TipYourCap pic.twitter.com/tPdfnquykC
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 20, 2018
In 2005, Kyle Johnson was five-years-old. That was the last time the Newfield Wolverines competed in a playoff game.
Today, the Stony Brook-commit pitched like he has been waiting 13 years to make the playoffs. The past two years were fresh in their memory all winter as they came just one win away from a postseason berth in ’16 and two wins last season. In 2018, however, they won the necessary 10 games within the first 11 games.
“It feels awesome,” he said following the game. “We are going to enjoy this today–it’s been 13 years–but tomorrow we get right back to work and get ready for West Islip on Monday; a very good team,” he added.
Johnson, one of the leading candidates for the coveted Carl Yastrzemski Award halfway through the season made quick work of crosstown rival Centereach. It’s his second victory against them this season, and his fourth of the season overall. He fired a complete game, allowing just two hits–both singles–walking none and striking out five. His fastball topped at 85 MPH, but mixed in a power 12-6 curve and a dizzying change up to keep the opposition off balance and making weak contact all game.
His counterpart, Eddie Bassett, was matching him zero-for-zero through three innings, but the high-powered Wolverine offense that has averaged 7.09 runs per game got to him in the fourth inning.
Chandler Giovinco led off with a walk and Dylan Johnson was hit by a pitch to move him to scoring position. Bobby Vath sacrificed them both over and Ryan Wappaus cashed in with an RBI single off the third baseman’s glove on a well-struck ball. Joey Rubenstruck extended the lead with an RBI infield single to shortstop. Johnson was the following batter, and he helped himself with an RBI single to right field to extend the lead to 3-0.
Bassett exited with a wrist injury and the reliever came on to retire the next two batters.
After a 1-2-3 inning, the Wolverines’ offense went back to work with another RBI single by Ryan Wappaus to score Giovinco. In the sixth inning, the Wolverines scored their fifth run on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Michael Manzolillo to score Mike Prisco.
Centereach got on the board in the sixth inning on an unearned run. They were unable to muster much offense against Johnson, who kept them at bay all game.
The Cougars drop to 4-7 on the season, but they’re postseason hopes are not out of the question yet. They will have series against North Babylon, Copiague and Huntington. They will need to win six of those nine games. It’s been eight years since they have qualified for a postseason berth.
Newfield will now set their sights on winning the League 4 title. Despite their hot start, it is far from over and they still have three games remaining against West Islip and North Babylon, who are just two games behind for first place.
