Walk-off single by Tyler Acker and Sachem East wins 6-5 in 10 innings ! pic.twitter.com/Jd3BEX8H2x
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 1, 2019
In a game featuring several high-profile players, it was sophomore Ty Acker who was the difference.
The back-and-forth affair that featured five lead changes went 10 innings ended on a bloop single by Acker to score catcher Ryan Micheli and send the team into a frenzy.
The story line entering the game was the matchup between sophomore stud Rafe Schlesinger and Molloy-commit A.J. Verga, who was named to our Preseason All-Long Island list.
Schlesinger was understandably nervous in the first couple innings pitching in front of a big crowd with three Division-I coaches holding radar guns behind the plate. Floyd capitalized right away on an RBI single by Chris Feigel to right field to score Vance Carlo.
They added another run in the second inning on an RBI single by Carlo.
Our @BsbLifestyle101 Player of the Game is Tyler Acker, he discusses his walk-off hit pic.twitter.com/D6568KGgwv
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 1, 2019
The game was far from over, as Sachem East scored three in the second off Verga, albeit two unearned runs on a dropped popup in short right field to give the Arrows a 3-2 lead.
Schlesinger did look much more comfortable as the game went on, flashing his Chris Sale-esque delivery and high-powered fastball to get plenty swings-and-misses. He also showed a plus change up with terrific vertical drop. The Colonials did get to him in the top of the third, though, on a pair of RBI singles by Tommy Verga and Johnny Robinson.
The lead did not last long. After Verga retired the first two batters in the third, an error, a single and two walks brought the tying run in.
In the top of the fifth, the Colonials once again took the lead, this time on an RBI single by James Schwab to score Tommy Verga.
A.J’s day on the mound was done, and the Colonials brought in Anthony Currao. A walk to Micheli, who then stole second and advanced on a ground out by Andrew Oakland, and a borderline balk scored the tying run. The umpire ruled that the pitcher did not come set, but it certainly was close.
Now, with relievers in the offenses suddenly screeched to a halt.
No runs were scored in the sixth through ninth innings, even though both teams threatened. In the bottom of the eighth, the Arrows had runners on 1st & 2nd with one out, and a high fly ball to deep center looked like it could result in an extra-base hit, but it was caught and the runner attempting to tag up to second was thrown out to end the inning.
Coach Kevin Schnupp brought in Fordham-commit Don Wille to pitch. The 2020 MLB prospect is typically known for his prodigious power and Major League arm behind the plate, not on the mound. Impressively, Wille was able to fire the eighth, ninth and 10th innings, using his power arm to strike out three batters without walking a batter.
The decision proved to be a great one, as Wille allowed his offense the chance to win the game, which is exactly what they were able to do, getting their first ‘W’ of the season on the walk-off by Acker.
Wille speaking after the game said that “the win was exciting and we feel like we can go far and do good things” this season.
These two teams will be back in action on Wednesday at Floyd, before closing out the series on Thursday at Sachem with Dorosh on the mound in front of what should be a large contingent of MLB scouts.
