Final: Massapequa 13, Port Washington 3
WP: Matt MinioBobby Stang: 2 HR
Connor Kelly: 3-R HR pic.twitter.com/fBFV1omeLK— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 5, 2021
As Massapequa‘s head coach Tom Sheedy stated earlier this week, the team is utilizing the next four weeks to prepare for the playoffs. The three-time reigning Long Island Champs just got their full squad back on Monday after their football team captured the Nassau Conference II Championship over Oceanside last weekend.
Well, it doesn’t hurt to win some games along the way and in typical Massapequa fashion, they are off to a 2-0 start to the season. Today’s game was one of two high school games that took place on Long Island, and the Chiefs steamrolled Port Washington, 13-3, in a rematch of the 2019 Class AA County Finals.
The Chiefs scored two runs in the top of the first on a two-out, two-run double by Danny Sohn to drive in Vin Mallon and Bobby Stang – who each drew walks off Port’s starter, Michael Andrew.
Staked to a 2-0 lead, Massapequa’s starter, Pace-commit Matt Minio, worked around singles by Dylan Trenaman and Chris Caprariello thanks to an inning-ending double play.
The Chiefs got a base runner in the second inning on a walk by Jordan DeStefano but did not score. In the bottom of the second, Minio hit a batter but once again used a twin killing to end the frame.
In the top of the third, Bobby Stang took over.
6’4 catcher Bobby Stang unloads on one and Massapequa extends their lead to 3-0 in the third pic.twitter.com/T6ucg4nmV3
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 5, 2021
The 6’4 220 lb catcher worked the count to 3-2 and then unloaded on a solo shot to right center over the trees. It was a remarkable display for a high school junior – but guess what? He was just getting started.
In the top of the fourth inning, DeStefano led off with an infield single to second. He advanced on a single by Tyler George and a walk to Connor Kelly loaded the bases for Stang. He got into one again, but since there is no fence in left center and the outfielder was playing close to 400 feet away, he settled for a sac fly. On literally any other field, it’s long gone and a grand slam. That made it 4-0.
Minio worked around a lead off single to strike out the next three batters to bring his total to six on the day. Just as impressively, he walked no batters.
In the top of the fifth, the Chiefs’ bats went to work. John Reece drew a one-out walk and advanced on a single to left by Tyler George. Vin Mallon ripped an RBI single to make it 5-0. Connor Kelly followed with a RBI single of his own, although Mallon was throw out attempting to score. That made it 7-0 in favor of the Chiefs.
Minio went back out for the 6th inning, he allowed a two-out single off the short porch in right but Epstein pranced too far away on his turn and was thrown out trying to get back.
The flood gates opened in the sixth and that was started by – who else? – Bobby Stang. This time he turned on one and crushed it over the fence in straightaway left field. They continued to pile on with the big blow coming on an opposite three-run blast from Connor Kelly to right field. He finished 2-for-3 with 4 RBI. Stang finished 2-for-2 with 3 RBI. Tyler George finished 3-for-5 with 2 runs scored and Vin Mallon finished 2-for-5 with an RBI.
It was just an all-around dominant game from the Chiefs who improve to 2-0 and will now face Plainview on Friday. They will also face them on Monday in a great pitching match up that will feature New Haven-commit Liam Carroll and uncommitted RHP Dylan Banner of Plainview who will be a Division-I player.
