FINAL: Hewlett 5 Bethpage 1
WP: Anthon IsayovHewlett is going to the playoffs! pic.twitter.com/0HmsPpnoJi
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 9, 2019
With the season on the line, Hewlett came out on top against Bethpage on Thursday, by a score of 5-1. The victory secures their spot in the Class A playoffs, as they will face Division in the first round on Tuesday.
After dropping the first two games of the series against the conference champions, Hewlett knew they needed to jump out to an early lead in order to have a chance. They did just that.
With a runner on third and two outs, Antonio Edigio drove a single the other way to give Hewlett the early first inning lead. Edigio would come through for the Bulldogs once again in the 3rd inning, driving in another run.
Edigio’s RBI proved to spark momentum, as Anthony Ayala followed the rally call with the bases loaded. He ripped a 2RBI double down the right field line, extending Hewlett’s early lead to 4-0. Sam Kelstein tacked onto the rally with a successful suicide squeeze. When the half inning was all said and done, Hewlett held a 5-0 lead.
Considering Antony Isayev brought his best stuff with him on the mound, Hewlett was in good hands. The junior tossed six innings on the mound allowing six hits, one earned run, two walks and six strike outs against the conference champions. He also went 2-4 at the plate with a run scored.
“We definitely needed to keep the batters in check, I definitely had to hit my spots, hit the corners as well as the outside pitches, a little off speed to keep them off balance and keep them thinking. Pretty much had the fielders make their plays, definitely had a good field behind us and we’re excited to be in the playoffs we definitely needed this game,” said Isayev.
Mike Mkrtician put Bethpage on the board in the bottom of the 6th inning with an RBI single, but that was the only threat Bethpage made all game long. In fact, only two Bethpage base runners reached third base throughout the course of the game.
Fortunately for Bethpage, the loss didn’t harm them at all. Regardless of the result, they hold the #5 seed in the county and take on Carey in the first round of the playoffs on Tuesday.
