Tyler Evert helped out big at the fourth in LIB’s team victory. With bases loaded he tripled which sent home three runners to score. He is your Axcess Baseball Player of the Game. pic.twitter.com/jh5ivElpsQ
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 7, 2019
by Lou Accumanno
It was a victorious outing for Long Island Baseball as they eliminated the Long Island Jr. Ducks 8-6. With rough at bats in the first-three-innings the offense finally caught fire at the top of the fourth as Tyler Evert tripled to get the team the lead and didn’t allow the Ducks to gain momentum throughout the game.
To start off the game Costanzo put in Andrew Schneir on the mound to throw for LIB. With the help of the infield all three batters grounded out to end the inning.
Problems started to emerge for Schneir at the third as he found himself in a jam. He allowed three runs to score as the Ducks took over early. “I’ll rock with Schneir on the mound until he can’t throw anymore. He can throw at any zone and put the ball anywhere he wants. That is my go-to guy,” said head coach of Long Island Baseball Rob Costanzo.
The lead didn’t last long for the Ducks as LIB started to pull the trigger in the fourth. With two away Tobert Baguiao was walked to keep the inning alive for LIB. Hunter Brennies came up to the batter’s box and singled for Baguio to advance to second. Jake Curran was walked shortly after to make bases loaded. Daniel Beak singled down the first baseline to send Baguiao home. Evert came up to bat and smacked a triple to send home all runners extending the lead 4-3. The inning wasn’t over yet as Gerad Donnelly singled to send home Evert to score and brought the lead 5-3 going into the fifth.
“Tyler had struggled throughout the season, but he jumped on it today and did his job giving us that offensive spark we needed,” Costanzo said.
Schneir was still on mound as he tried to maintain the lead, but the Ducks battled back into the game as they scored a run in the fifth. LIB responded right back as Curran doubled to send home Brennies to score putting LIB back up by two.
At the top of the seventh the offense carried over for a few players from the fifth for LIB as Schnier tripled to send home Donnelly and Baguiao putting LIB up 8-4.
It was do or die for the Ducks in the final inning of play as they scored two runs, but the lead was too much to overcome for them as the Ducks found themselves eliminated from the playoffs with LIB taking them down 8-6.
Costanzo said, “this is the best group of guys I’ve ever coached. We were like the Mets to start of the season. Not so hot, but now we are coming back and showing teams that we deserve to win it all.” LIB looks to continue being victorious in the playoffs as they advance to the next round.
Gerard Donnelly
BOYS ARE HOT