by Alex Carmenaty
The 15U East Meadow Mustangs did not expect a wild ending, especially having a 2-0 lead in the top 7th. The Mustangs started strong and looked comfortable throughout the game.
In the bottom of the first, with a runner on 2nd, Will Brennan for the Mustangs hit an RBI single, giving the Mustangs the 1-0 lead. From there, they would play solid defense and their pitcher Tyler Sugrim was putting up zeros from there.
At times it looked like Sugrim was in trouble, but with his solid pitching and strong defense behind him, he would manage to get out of jams in three consecutive innings. Due to the toughness of Sugrim, the Elite stranded six base runners throughout those innings, including runners on second and third base.
The Mustangs have a good defense behind him–but the Elite had a solid shortstop as well. Chris Naronis made two spectacular plays at short. One, when he went leaping in the air to make the catch and the other stretching out in time to get the throw over to first.
Once Sugrim was pulled as he allowed a runner on, the relief pitching took over afterwards. They were able to get out of the top 5, forcing the Elite to strand their seventh runner. In the top 6th, they did the same, with a runner on, the Elite stranded their eighth runner.
In the bottom of the 6th, it was Will Brennan again, hitting another RBI Single with two runners on, giving the Mustangs the insurance run and the 2-0 lead.
Then the magic began, in the top 7th, down two, with two on, Chris Naronis tied the game up with a 2 run single, bringing back life to the Elite. Then it was John Carver hitting a RBI single himself, giving the Elite the lead. The Elite came out of nowhere in the 7th and knocked the socks off of the Mustangs.
Chris Nanoris was awarded the player of the game due to his defensive and offensive skills he showed today. “I feel great as that was a great hit which lead to the team believing we can pull off this comeback”. Nanoris said when asked about the he felt about the way he played.
This was a comeback for the Elite showing once again, that it ain’t over till it’s over.
