Game one of the Suffolk County Class A Championship between Rocky Point and Shoreham-Wading River was a highly-anticipated matchup between two powerhouse programs that are also bordering towns. Rocky Point came out swinging and displayed dominance on the road, winning 10-1.
“Stay focused. We’re not naïve enough to think that this team will not be ready to play tomorrow,” said Rocky Point head coach Andrew Aschettino. “We know how good of a program [SWR] is, which isn’t to say anyone is intimidated, but there’s respect there so we definitely have a focused approach moving into tomorrow.”
Senior pitcher Ryan Maciaszek tossed an impressive game, holding SWR’s offense to just one run. The right-hander went 6.2 innings, allowing just one run while striking out four and walking five.
“It was a great win,” Maciaszek said. “We head back home tomorrow and hopefully we can get that win so we can get some rest before the LIC.”
The Wildcats collected seven hits in the game, but failed to produce timely hits in key situations. SWR threw sophomore righty Aiden Crowley against the tough Eagles lineup. The bottom half of Rocky Point’s lineup was relentless and really set the stage for the top half of the lineup.
The Eagles got on the board in the second inning after eight-hitter John Rosman reached on a fielder’s choice. Dillon Cassidy followed with a walk. After a couple wild pitches, RP broke the tie with Rosman making a heads-up base running play and sliding in for the Eagles first run.
This brought Joey Grillo to the plate. Just a couple days removed from his walk-off homerun against Sayville, the LHP/OF rode his offensive momentum. Grillo got his pitch and opened up a 3-0 lead with a two-out 2-run homer over the right field fence.
“It feels great, this is what we wanted and we’re going to come out tomorrow and get it done.” Grillo added.
Rocky Point’s offense, however, was just getting started. The Eagles scored a run in the next three innings to lead SWR by six runs in the fifth inning. These daggering runs came from some of RP’s heavy hitters like Rob Milopsky, Alex Bonacci, and Rosman.
Milopsky drove in Mike Gunning in the third on a base hit after Gunning led off the inning with a single. Gunning finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs, a stolen base, a run scored and a hit by pitch.
“It really feels great,” Grillo said. “It feels like nothing can stop us right now, we’re raking.”
Rosman also finished with a monster day at the plate going 2-for-3 with a couple of doubles, three runs scored, two stolen bases, a RBI and a hit by pitch. Bonacci drove a homerun to left field to lead off the fifth and give RP a 6-0 lead; he finished 2-for-4 with a run, a RBI and a hit by pitch.
Despite allowing seven hits Maciaszek displayed extreme composure, as he worked out of four different jams. The veteran pitcher showcased his ability to calm himself down and focus on the batter at the plate.
His biggest Houdini moment came in the third. With one out Jesse Keshner knocked a double down the left field line. Maciaszek walked Ethan Baumack and was then forced to face TJ Wachter and Tyler Widercrantz back-to-back. He forced Wachter to fly out to center and with the help of Milopsky at third he forced Widercrantz to line out, escaping unscathed.
“I was having a little trouble at the beginning, I was finishing up,” Maciaszek said. “But I came back and made the fix and was able to keep the ball down.”
SWR’s lone run came in the fifth after DJ Brown led off the inning with a deep double to the left-center gap. After an error at second there were two runners on with no one out. Baumack followed with a fly out to right. With one out Wachter drove in Brown with a groundball base hit.
Once again Maciaszek settled down and retired the next two batters in order. RP tacked on four more insurance runs in the seventh inning to ensure their victory and make a statement.
RP is set to return home tomorrow needing just one win to take home the county championship and advance to the Long Island Championship. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
