by Ethan Marshall
The Farmingdale Greendogs were able to beat the Massapequa Cyclones, 5-2, thanks in large part to a three-run third inning and three scoreless innings of relief by Braden Cloghessy. He finished the game having only allowed one hit and walking two batters. He struck out four batters en route to the save.
According to Greendogs Head Coach Jeff Tyler, Cloghessy has a bulldog mentality on the mound. “[Braden’s] worked hard all season long, puts the time in at home and at practice and he loves to compete,” Coach Tyler said. “He always steps up when the team needs him the most.”
Cloghessy showed off his mental toughness almost immediately after entering the game. When an error, two stolen bases and a walk put runners on the corners and nobody out in the fourth inning, Cloghessy responded by striking out the next three batters to escape the jam.
He again worked his way in and out of trouble in the fifth inning. After allowing a walk and single, Cloghessy got the next batter to ground into a force out at third before the next batter lined into an inning-ending double play. He then pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning to end the game.
All of the game’s offense came in the first five frames. The Greendogs scored the first run of the game in the first inning without the benefit of a hit. Cloghessy and Jake D’Amico began the game with back-to-back walks, with the former advancing two bases on a passed ball and wild pitch during the latter’s at-bat. After the next batter popped out, Dom Kloepping drove in Cloghessy with a RBI fielder’s choice, getting to first base before the Cyclones could turn an inning-ending double play. The Cyclones got the run back in the bottom of the first thanks to a two-out RBI single by Brady Hunt, bringing home Jackson Henchy.
Just as in the first inning, the first two Greendogs to bat in the second, Luke Fiumfreddo and Logan Tyler, reached base on walks. Fiumfreddo would end up coming around to score on a one-out RBI single by Cole Ferraiolo, giving the Greendogs a 2-1 lead. However, Cyclones pitcher Chase Kaplan was able to limit the damage by getting the next two batters to pop out and ground out, keeping it a one-run game. The Cyclones were again quick to respond in the bottom of the inning. After James Steck was hit by pitch to start the inning, he stole second before advancing to third on a ground out. Chase Kaplan brought him home with a RBI single, tying the game at 2-2.
Greendogs head coach Jeff Tyler on his team’s victory. pic.twitter.com/qilQpZ4wmf
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 1, 2019
The Greendogs took the lead again in the third inning, this time for good. After a lead-off single by Eric Bosque and a walk by Jake Shevlin set the table for the top of the order, Braden Cloghessy moved the runners up to second and third on a ground out. Jake D’Amico brought both runners home on a two-run single, putting the Greendogs up 4-2. The Greendogs would tack on one more run later in the inning on Luke Fiumfreddo’s two-out bases loaded walk, making it 5-2.
