SSA Nationals Capture Town of Brookhaven JV Title in Honor of Fallen Teammate

This one was about more than a game.

“We dedicated this season to Josh…after each game we would sound off for him, 1..2..3..Josh,” said the Head Coach of the SSA Nationals in the moments following his team’s emotional victory in which they captured the Town of Brookhaven JV championship with a 5-0 shutout over LI Liberty Red.

Mileto was a 16-year-old student at Sachem East HS whose life was tragically taken during a football practice nearly one year to the day (August 10th, 2017). He was also a baseball player that was a member of the Nationals since he was 11-years-old. He was well respected by his teammates and his coach noted how he came to each game “ready to play”, and was “never there to argue.”

He was so adored his teammates dedicated this season to him and had a plaque made up that hangs at the Medford Athletic Complex.

Following the victory, the players huddle together for one final “1..2..3..Josh” chant of the season in what proved to be an emotional moment for those involved.

Ian Young on winning the Town of Brookhaven JV championship pic.twitter.com/lEau5PZdWB

— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 2, 2018

As for the game, the SSA Nationals were led by their starting pitcher Ian Young. The Sachem East rising junior was outstanding, pitching 6.2 shutout innings, allowing just four hits and erasing one of those with a well-executed 1-6-3 DP. He worked quick and used all of his pitches to keep the Liberty batters off balance. The first inning was really the only inning they threatened–in which they singled and drew a walk, but he induced an inning ending come backer to escape any damage.

His teammates did not waste any time in supporting him. They got out to an early 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by Brian Doucet, who scored Travis Natuzzi.

The game flew in the second, third and fourth innings as Young and Ethan Peck both cruised through the lineups.

The game took on a different feel in the fifth inning when the SSA Nationals cushioned their lead with a four-spot. It began with Jack Gallagher, who led off with a walk. He advanced on a single by Pat Arciello. A double steal put them both in scoring position. This proved to be crucial because the infield was forced to come in to prevent further damage, but that’s exactly what allowed a Pat Mulhall single to scoot past the drawn-in infield for a two-run single to CF that opened up a 3-0 lead.

After a strikeout and a walk, a two-run error really opened up a comfortable 5-0 lead for the SSA Nationals.

Young worked around a leadoff single in the sixth inning by Josh Dannenberg to escape any trouble. He reached his pitch limit with two outs in the seventh inning and he was relieved by Doucet, who closed the door with a ground out to the third baseman on a nice sliding play.

They all charged the mound in jubilation as their mission was complete this season.

They finished the season with a record of 15-4.