FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2013, THE CLARKE RAMS ARE COUNTY CHAMPIONS!!!!
FINAL: Clarke 7 Division 0 pic.twitter.com/pWdOtzXJB7
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 3, 2019
For the first time since 2013, the Clarke Rams are Class A County Champions. On Monday afternoon, Clarke blanked Division, 7-0, in the do-or-die game three.
From the start of this game, it was never really close.
Judging by the atmosphere on both sides of the stands and the pitching match up, it seemed this was going to be a close game. However, it never was. Colin Diez was handed the ball for Division and Chris Lydon got the start for Clarke.
In the bottom of the 1st, Matt DeStefano gave Clarke an early 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly to left field. Chris Lydon helped himself out, driving in a run in the bottom of the 2nd, providing the Rams with a 2-0 lead.
The main reason Division lost the way they did, was due to their sloppy play defensively. Under Head Coach Tom Tuttle, this was uncharacteristic of Division.
In the bottom of the 3rd, a ground ball to 2nd base that should’ve ended the inning was thrown over the 1st baseman’s head, scoring a run and extending Clarke’s lead to 3-0. This proved to be the turning point in the game.
The next batter, Nick Campagnuolo, took advantage of the E4 and delivered a bases clearing double. When the inning was over, Clarke was in front 6-0 and there was little threat of a Division comeback.
Campagnuolo was fantastic on his birthday, as he collected three hits and three RBI. Not to mention, he also won a county championship. Not a bad birthday present by any means.
With his team holding a commanding six-run lead, Chris Lydon did a fantastic job of shutting the Division offense down. Lydon finished the game allowing just two hits, no earned runs, five walks and struck out four.
“We’ve been dreaming about this since we were in 7th grade, finally came true, best feeling in the world,” said Lydon. “First inning we came out and scored, wanted to keep rolling and we did,” he added.
When it was all said and done, Clarke was dog piling on the pitcher’s mound, as they came out victorious by a score of 7-0 in game three of the County Championship.
With the win, Clarke isn’t done yet. They face Sayville on Saturday at SUNY Old Westbury for the Class A Long Island Championship. Expect Brendan Turton to get the start for the LIC.
