Final: Pat-Med 2, Moriches Bay 1
WP: Josh Knoth (CG, 10 Ks)Pat-Med Raiders improve to 10-0 pic.twitter.com/pHj0mSnAKc
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 6, 2018
The Pat-Med Raiders improved to 10-0 with their win Thursday night behind pitcher Josh Knoth’s dominant performance.
Knoth threw a complete game, allowed one run, and struck out ten in the Raiders 2-1 victory over the Moriches Bay Red Devils.
The Raiders struck early taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Leadoff hitter Robbie Melo started the game by drawing a walk. Melo stole second base and advanced to third on an errant throw by the Devils catcher. Melo then scored on a fielder’s choice hit by CJ Pisano.
Later, in the top of the fourth inning the Devils threatened to tie the game. Devils pitcher Derek Masano hit a single to left, stole second, and reached third on a fielder’s choice. Masano tried to steal home on a pass ball, but was tagged out at the plate by Knoth.
In the top of the fifth the Devils would threaten once again, except this time they would succeed. Joey Ramos lead off the inning and got on base after getting hit by a pitch. Ramos advanced to second on a fielder’s choice, and advanced to third on another fielder’s choice. Ramos scored on a RBI single hit by Angelo Ochiogrosso. Later in the inning, Connor Gormelo hit a fly ball which was dropped by the Raiders right fielder. Carmelo got to second base on the play while Ochiogrosso advanced to third. With runners on second and third Knoth got out of the jam by forcing a ground ball to his third baseman.
After four scoreless plate appearances for the Raiders, it appeared the 1-1 tie might never be broken. However, in the bottom of the sixth inning Jack Martinez plated the go ahead run. He reached base with a single to center field, then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. A few pitches later, Martinez stole third base and scored after a wild throw by the catcher in an attempt to throw out the quick Martinez.
In the top of the seventh inning Josh Knoth came back out on the hill to try to finish what he started and the Devils would not go down easily. Louis Iannacchino lead off the inning with a single. Iannacchino stole second and third to put himself 60 feet away from tying the game. Iannacchino was then thrown out at third after he was caught too far off the base on a ground ball to Knoth. Later in the inning the Devils had the bases loaded with one out. Knoth escaped the jam by striking a batter out and he ended the game by forcing a ground ball out to his shortstop.
After the victory Raiders coach Anthony Frascogna had high praise for Knoth. “He’s been pretty consistent for us” the coach said “He was great today, playing a really good team”
