Final: Massapequa Cyclones 6, Farmingdale Greendogs 2
Walk-off inside the park grand slam in the bottom of the sixth by Bryce Howes@EcybTournaments pic.twitter.com/xhWnkFn09u
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 17, 2020
When you are compiling a list of the most exhilarating moments in a baseball game, there’s two things that are interchangeable at number one and two – a perfect game and a walk-off grand slam. We saw one of those today as Bryce Howes took an outside corner fastball and crushed it down the right field line to allow all three runners to score as well as himself to deliver the 12U Massapequa Cyclones with a 6-2 victory over rival Farmingdale Greendogs in the Brian Moore Memorial Tournament.
Howes was doused with water upon crossing home plate by his teammates who were in a state of jubilance. He stated that he was looking for a fastball to hit that way, and he certainly succeeded. The inning started off with Matt Longhitano hitting a triple to left field to get things going. The coach of Farmingdale made the decision to intentionally walk the next two batters to make a force at any base with no outs. The Farmingdale pitching staff had done a nice job of executing pitches all afternoon but Howes made them pay for that decision with the most thrilling of finishes to a ballgame.
The Cyclones had gotten out to an early 1-0 lead on an RBI single to right field by Longhitano to score Brady Love, who started the game off with a single to left.
The lead didn’t last long, however, as the Greendogs answered right back with a leadoff single by Dennis Finkel who stole second and scored on an RBI single by Jordan Petzold. Cyclones RHP Jack Scannapieco settled down and retired the next two batters to end the inning.
The score actually stayed the same until the top of the fifth.
A one-out walk to William Scott was followed with a dropped fly ball in right field to put two runners in scoring position.. A ground ball to third base was thrown erratically to allow the go-ahead run score for the Greendogs.
As we’ve seen time-and-time again from Massapequa teams, giving up is just not in their DNA. They were able to tie the game up in the bottom of the fifth when they drew four walks with the last one coming to Brady Love to tie the game up.
They actually threatened to take the lead when the next batter, Jason Geier smoked a sinking liner to center, but the center fielder made a great sliding grab to record the out and keep all the runners at bay. Stephen Petraglia struck out the next batter to end the inning.
It was a thrilling game, it seems these two town teams always bring their ‘A’ game when they are matched up against each other.
We will continue to have coverage of the Brian Moore Memorial Tournament through out the weekend
