Valles slams the door on a combined one-hitter and the Thunder win 2-0. They will move on to the semifinals. pic.twitter.com/ov0UjIl1XS
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 31, 2018
The Long Island Thunder ousted the New York Redbirds 2-0 on Monday night to advance to the National Division finals of the Long Island Collegiate Baseball League.
Kieran McLaughlin, a rising senior at Adelphi, started for the Thunder and faced the minimum through the first four innings.
A one-out walk that was eliminated thanks to a double play was the only form of a threat the Redbirds could offer until the top of the fifth and by that time, they were already trailing by the games eventual final score, 2-0.
The Thunder did their damage in the bottom of third off Redbird starter Jake Bannon, whose solid outing was somewhat overshadowed by the outstanding McLaughlin.
Kiren McLaughlin on his five no-hit innings: pic.twitter.com/iv9jGSRFss
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 31, 2018
Back-to-back RBI hits from Luke Scoggins and Nick DiLorenzo drove in the only two runs of the game.
While the Rebirds struggled to get hits, they certainly were able to string together a few opportunities, mostly thanks to walks and stolen bases.
McLaughlin issued a leadoff walk to begin the top of the fifth, and the runner stole his way to third but was stranded there.
Bannon worked around a leadoff walk and stolen based to prevent the top of the Thunder order from tacking on any insurance. That would be it for Bannon, who gave up two earned runs over five innings.
McLaughlin was done as well after five innings, conceding no hits and two walks of shutout ball. In his ten appearances this season, McLaughlin has only given up runs in two, with his ERA sitting at a miniscule 1.31, good for second in the LICBL.
Logan Vallas made his fifth relief appearance of the season, and the incoming Concordia College freshman continued his scoreless streak, pitching a combined nine scoreless innings in the five appearances.
He would work around three walks in the two innings and also gave up the Redbirds only hit, a two-out double to put the tying run in scoring position. Velles would get a groundout to send the Thunder into a semifinal matchup against the Long Island Lightning Tuesday at Adelphi, first pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
