by Jared Valluzzi
Pitcher Will Karikas on his teams comeback victory pic.twitter.com/2ASXNetl2H
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 25, 2020
In the Boys of Summer 15U summer league here on Long Island it’s been very competitive all summer long. Coming into today’s game had to feature two of the hottest teams in all of Long Island. Freedom Baseball, a group that was 13-4 on the year coming into the match up, has been one of the top defensive teams in this league. During their 7-game win streak they’ve only allowed 1 run per game and have had three shutouts.
They take on the B1000 Seminoles who have won four of their last 5 games and their coaches say when the offense is on they are a very tough team to beat. They’ve done it on both sides of the baseball throughout this hot stretch as they collide with another powerhouse within Freedom Baseball.
Freedom Baseball was up to bat in the top of the first and they would go straight to work. They went up against the very hard throwing Will Karikas from B1000. Freedom Baseball started off the top of the first with getting two guys on base via the walk. Mike Peters then hit the ball in play which led to an error and 1 run scoring giving Freedom a 1-0 lead. They weren’t done there though as despite the next two batters striking out, Matt Hernandez hit one into the outfield and another error from the Seminoles gave Freedom Baseball a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
In the bottom of the first inning B1000 Seminoles responded right away. Joshua Behar and Will Karikas got singles to get on right away. After loading the bases a run would be walked in and a pop fly to the outfield resulted in an error, just like that the Seminoles only trailed by one run.
Seminoles trailed 3-2 headed to the top of the second inning and that’s where the Will Karikas show truly began. Struck two batters in the top of the first but he did the same in the top of the second without allowing any runs in that inning. In the bottom of the second inning Matt Hernandez and the Freedom defense took care of the Seminoles. It was three up three down in the inning.
Freedom baseball looked to get the offense going as they did end up advancing a runner to third in the inning. But Will Karikas kept throwing heat, striking out a couple more batters to end that inning leaving a guy stranded on third. In the bottom of the third it was uncharacteristic defensive mistakes for Freedom baseball. After only allowing 1 run per game in their last seven, they committed another error this inning. It would help the Seminoles cash in and have them tie the game at 3.
Now in the fourth,fifth and sixth inning it was a defensive show by both squads. The Will Karikas show was in full effect. Karikas mowed down this powerful Freedom lineup throughout the contest. Karikas had a fastball the hitters were unable to touch as he racked up the strikeouts. He also had help in the field though as well, Ryan Castrillon made an unreal play at third base in the sixth inning followed by a Karikas strikeout to keep the game tied at three. For Freedom baseball it was much the same, the infield and the outfield was almost perfect in that three inning frame keeping the score knotted at three going into the seventh.
In the seventh, Karikas did his thing going through the Freedom lineup without much trouble giving B1000 Seminoles a shot for the walk off in the bottom of the seventh. The Seminoles had a shot to end the game and they did just that. It was the top of the lineup up to bat for the Seminoles and lead off guy Joshua Behar did his thing showing off the speed to get an infield single. Things would eventually pile up for the Seminoles as they loaded the bases challenging AJ Schieble who just came into the game this inning to find the zone. Schieble was unable to do so, walking Castrillon and Behar crossed home plate to give the Seminoles a big 4-3 victory.
B1000 Seminoles-Cohen took advantage of some of Freedom Baseball’s mistakes and cashed in. Defensively it was Will Karikas putting on a show striking out 12 batters and throwing some serious heat. Karikas said “I mean my fastball was on today, I usually lean towards my curveball but my fastball was on today and they couldn’t touch it so I kept throwing it”. B1000 Seminoles-Cohen now advance their record to 8-8 in league play while Freedom baseball drops to 13-5.
