The Long Island Titans made quick work of LI Baseball, winning 12-0 in a mercy rule shortened three inning game.
Coach Eric Joyner said that his team was focused on “having a good approach with two strikes, moving runners over, and having productive outs” adding that “we were able to put the ball in the gap, we ran the bases well, and stole some bases when we had the opportunity”. He went on to further say “when you do all the little things well, everything comes together”.
The Titans sent Jimmy Mahoney to the mound, and it was somewhat of a shaky start for him. He gave up a leadoff single, followed up by a walk. He then got the next batter to weakly line out. With one out, both base runners stole, putting themselves in scoring position. However, Mahoney worked his way out of trouble with a strikeout, and a groundout to third base.
The Titans went to work in the bottom half of the first inning. After a flyout, back-to-back walks put a runner in scoring position for Robbie Manetta, who singled a ball to right field to drive in the first run of the game. A double to left field by Sean Kennedy brought in another run. A sacrifice fly to center field by Mike Prisco brought in one more run, while moving Kennedy to third base. The fourth and final run of the frame came via a wild pitch, which allowed Kennedy to cross the plate.
In the top half of the second inning, Mahoney again allowed the leadoff batter to reach, this time by walk. He then induced a weak popup, followed by a hard ground ball to second base, which resulted in a double play.
The Titans expanded on their lead in the bottom half of the second inning. Frank Whitenack got hit by a pitch to lead off, and the following two batters grounded out, moving Whitenack to third base. The Titans were back to the top of their lineup, and Alexander Rende drove in Whitenack with a single to right field. He advanced to second base on an error by the right fielder. During the following at bat, Rende appeared to be picked off. However, he successfully advanced to third base, and on an errant throw, came around to score, increasing the Titans’ lead to 6-0.
In the top half of the third inning, it was three up, three down for LI Baseball. Mahoney struck out the first batter he faced. The next two batters were also retired, popping out and grounding out to the shortstop, respectively.
The Titans doubled their lead in the bottom half of the third, piling on six more runs. An error allowed the leadoff batter, Anthony Weidtman, to reach safely. He then stole second base, and reached third on a single by Manetta. A balk then brought in a run. Kennedy followed up by hitting a line drive single to center field, and he advanced to second on the throw to the plate. The following batter was hit by a pitch.
With two runners on, a pitching change was made by Long Island Baseball. Their new pitcher was unable to escape further trouble. He promptly allowed a single to the first batter he faced, loading the bases. Whitenack worked a bases loaded walk, making it a 9-0 game. Two batters later, Mahoney helped himself out by knocking in two runs with a single to left field. After another two batters, the game was over, as Derek Livingston drove in the twelfth and final run of the game for the Titans.
With the victory, the Titans improve their record to 5-0, as well as furthering their first place lead in the 16u Scout division in the Boys of Summer.
