By James Ryder
The first game to take place Saturday morning at Plainedge Park, which began at 9 AM, was simply insane. The 9u Long Island Thunder quickly went out in front and led 10-2 after only the top of the third inning. However, Long Island Baseball, who eventually were down 12-3, rattled off 10 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. This turned out to be in walk-off fashion, as the game was called after four innings due to the time limit. LIB also pulled off this tough feat despite having 2 outs against them. At this time, they still needed to double their runs to tie the game. LIB accomplished this and then some by coming away with the 13-12 victory.
Half of the Thunder’s runs came in the first inning alone. They batted around to the tune of 6 runs off two hits, six walks, and a passed ball. Two of those walks were drawn back-to-back by leadoff men Jackson Bianchi and Alex Iovino. Both of them returned to the dugout only a few pitches later, when they were driven in on Aidan Hughes’ 2 RBI infield single to third base. Then, it was Anthony Branscum Jr and Frankie Manfre’s turn to walk back to back. With the bases loaded, Hughes came home on a passed ball to make it 3-0 Thunder. This was followed by a 2 RBI double to center field off the bat of JP Grangnaniello. Finally, a RBI groundout hit by Anthony Peterson made it 6-0.
In the top of the second inning, the Thunder added two more runs. Hughes had another infield single and was scored on Branscum Jr’s single to CF. Another passed ball brought home Branscum Jr to put them up 8-0. LIB finally rounded the bases, also scoring two runs in the second. Matthew Mauqieri hit a ground ball to shortstop, but several throwing errors later, he went all the way home for LIB’s first run. A few batters later, Christian Ewald’s single to left field scored Robert Buck, who hit his own single and proceeded to steal second and third base.
After giving up those two runs, the Thunder got them right back in the third inning. Lucas Falcone reached base upon being hit by a pitch. Falcone stole second base and went home on Bianchi’s RBI single to RF. Bianchi ended up on third base when the throw to home bounced off the backstop and rolled towards third. He easily scored moments later when Iovino hit a groundball to SS. The score was now 10-2.
For a third straight time, the Thunder scored two runs in an inning, this time in the top of the fourth, and it would be their last runs of the contest. The eleventh run came on a passed ball and the twelfth was scored when Robert Salem stole home on a throw to the second base by the catcher. Now down 12-3, and with the time approaching 11 AM, LIB was given their final shot to win in the bottom of the fourth inning once the umpire declared this would be the game’s final frame.
LIB overcomes 12-3 deficit in bottom of fourth inning, score 10 runs to wall-off 13-12. Game was called due to time limit. Here is Coach Kyle on how his players did it: pic.twitter.com/UhvYMZTv6O
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 27, 2019
LIB did not disappoint. They needed every one of their 13 batters to enter the box. Of their 10 runs, two came on dropped pop fly’s at first base, two more came on hits (One single from Ewald and one infield single from Luke Tudda), and six came on passed balls. Four of the final five runs came on passed balls. Each prompted close calls at the plate, but none of them of course was more exciting then the final run. Ironically, it was Finn Curry, who had started at Pitcher but was pulled after giving up those six runs in the first inning, who crossed home plate for the walk-off.
The way this game played out was less than ideal for both teams, but the game didn’t end without its fair share of interesting moments. Despite the strong play throughout the first three and a half innings, the final frame for the Thunder was their demise. Final Score: LIB 13, Thunder 12.
