That’s 20 consecutive wins for West Islip! Sophomore Bobby DiCapua has 8 of those. He’s our @DigmiNation Player of the Game after recording a CG win allowing just 2 R in the Lions 7-2 victory over Eastport-South Manor pic.twitter.com/vrEFbZaiFi
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 27, 2018
West Islip continued their other-worldly play as they used a four-run third inning to cruise past Eastport-South Manor, 7-2, for their 20th consecutive win. Sophomore ace, Bobby DiCapua, fired a complete game, allowing two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts to win his eighth consecutive decision of year to put the Lions on the precipice of their third Class AA title since 2014.
DiCapua did just enough to earn the third spot of the rotation entering the season, according to Head Coach Shawn Rush. Now he is one of the biggest reasons they are on the verge of history.
“He was on the varsity football team this year; he kicked a game-winning field goal and he started at tight end and he played defensive end,” said Rush. “We knew he had the make up–his brother was our starting catcher last year, he was with us for the last week of the season and all through out the playoffs so we saw him as a freshman and knew he could compete this year. We have a lot of guys that can throw so going into the scrimmages, he did just enough to win that third spot in a limited time because of the weather,” he added.
There’s been very few games that West Islip has actually trailed this season. They entered with a 19-game winning streak and promptly scored in the first inning on an error that scored Jimmy Loeffler. Eastport-South Manor LHP Mike Tancredi came out throwing hard, sitting 83-84 MPH with his fastball and struck out three batters in the first inning.
DiCapua was up to the task, he fired two scoreless innings to start the game before running into a little trouble in the third.
The Sharks got things started with a bunt single by nine-hitter Connor Trace. He moved to third on a single by the following batter, Mike McCormick. After a fielder’s choice, No. 3 hitter Kevin Shine smoked a liner that just barely got past a leaping Anthony Cinquemani at first to score both runners and put ESM up 2-1.
That lead was very short lived, as the Lions answered back emphatically in the home half of the third.
Anthony Ippolito, who is having a remarkable season, drew a leadoff walk. As is usually the case, it came back to haunt the pitcher as Mike LaDonna ripped a single to left field. For a brief moment, it appeared the Sharks would get a break as Ippolito slipped making his turn around third but Ryan Foran mishandled the throw which allowed LaDonna to get into scoring position. The following batter, Anthony Cinquemani ripped a low-line drive to center that eluded the glove a sliding Anthony Simone and allowed both runners to score and Cinquemani got all the way to third. DiCapua contributed himself with a squeeze play executed to perfection that allowed him to reach safely and Cinquemani scored the third run of the inning. A wild pitch allowed him to score later in the inning and that was it for Tancredi. Adam Burk came on in relief and put out the fire, but not after the damage was done and West Islip had built a comfortable lead.
From that point on, DiCapua was unflappable using all his pitches and not allowing any hard-hit balls. He noted that he is feeling very confident on the mound because “I have a good defense behind me and I trust them and I gotta throw strikes”.
West Islip wound up cushioning their lead with a run in the fifth on a dropped third strike that allowed pinch-runner Jimmy Celano to score and in the sixth on an RBI single by Mike LaDonna.
With the victory, West Islip is on the verge of an unprecedented run. They have put themselves in position to reach a Long Island Championship for the third time in five years. This years’ run has been especially remarkable because they have done it with so many younger players.
Standing in the way of them and another LIC is Ryan Foran, Long Island’s win leader with nine against 0 losses. He is the favorite to win the Paul Gibson Award, given to the top pitcher in Suffolk County annually. He pitched on Thursday, which means he would be working on short rest but with the adrenaline coursing through his veins, that should not be an issue. On paper, he is the type of pitcher that could control the Lions’ multi-faceted attack that features speed and power, but we will find out tomorrow.
