The North Fork Ospreys picked up their fifth win in their last six games over the Sag Harbor Whalers at home Friday night, by a score of 4-0. After a slow start to the season, the Ospreys are now 8-16, and the Whalers fall to 11-10 with the loss.
It was a pitcher by committee type of night for the Ospreys. Adelphi’s Josh Rovner got the start and threw the first three innings of the game for North Fork, not allowing a hit. In the top of the first inning, the first two batters Rovner faced reached base, on an error, and a walk, but Rovner settled in and retired the next nine straight.
Left hander Joe Nemchek of Southern Connecticut State got the ball for Sag Harbor. In six innings, he gave up just one run on five hits, with six strikeouts, but he received the loss.
Through three innings, both teams were held hitless. Pace University’s Joe Pizzingrillo was called to the mound for North Fork in the top of the fourth. Whalers first baseman Matt Woods (Bryant) singled to right with two outs for the first hit of the game for either team, but Pizzingrillo was able to work out of the inning.
Still looking for their first hit of the game, Ospreys second baseman Drake Peggs of Eastern Michigan launched a first pitch fastball over the right field wall to give North Fork the first run of the game. It was Peggs’ second home run of the season.
Now pitching with a lead, Pizzingrillo came back on for his second inning of work, in the fifth. Sag Harbor recorded back to back one out singles from catcher Brendan Dowd of NYIT, and Right fielder River Town of LSU Eunice. Boston College’s Lucas Stalman’s deep fly ball to center allowed both base runners to advance to second and third with two outs in the fifth, but for the second straight inning, Joe Pizzingrillo was able to work through a two baserunner jam, inducing a ground ball to short to end the inning, with North Fork’s 1-0 lead intact.
The Ospreys lead remained at 1-0 through the end of the sixth inning. Pizzingrillo finished three innings giving up five hits, no runs, and he was relieved by Pace teammate Angus McCloskey to begin the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, North Fork struck for one more run. With one out, left fielder Tyler White of Hofstra, celebrating his 21st birthday, was hit by a pitch, and he advanced to second base on Drake Peggs’ two out single. Catcher Nick Jones (Eastern Michigan) laced a line drive to left field, scoring White, putting North Fork up 2-0.
Two more runs came across in the bottom of the eighth for the Ospreys as Tyler White tripled off the center field wall, scoring Anthony Fontana (Furman) and Justin Meyer (Richmond).
With a 4-0 lead, Angus McCloskey went back to the mound for his third inning of work, in the top of the ninth inning. Sag Harbor’s last chance fell short, as McCloskey retired the side in order, finishing a perfect three innings of relief in which he did not allow a single baserunner. McCloskey finished with six strikeouts in his three innings of work. Joe Pizzingrillo was the winning pitcher for the Ospreys, and Drake Peggs was named Hampton Coffee player of the game with his two hit day, highlighted by his difference making solo home run in the fourth inning.
The @NForkOspreys picked up their 5th win in their last 6 games, shutting out the @SagHbrWhalers 4-0. @mattytredeuce spoke with Drake Peggs and Tyler White after the victory, brought to you by @hamptoncoffee pic.twitter.com/p0BAmoLSUg
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 29, 2019
The 4-0 Osprey victory marks the first shutout of the season for North Fork. They are now 8-16, half a game out of fifth place, and the Sag Harbor Whalers at 11-10 fell to fourth place with the loss. North Fork will stay at home tonight, Saturday the 29th of June, to host the Shelter Island Bucks at 7pm. The Sag Harbor Whalers hit the road once again to battle the Long Island Road Warriors at Bellport High School, with first pitch scheduled for 5pm.
