Final: Bayport-Blue Point 3, Mattituck 2
WP: Brady Clark
S: Charles Aurandt pic.twitter.com/xJsKWJIpXg— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 25, 2021
With the bases loaded, two outs and Bayport-Blue Point clinging to a 3-1 lead, HC Jim Moccio made a call to the bullpen. He brought in senior RHP Charlie Aurandt in relief of sophomore Brady Clark, who got off to a great start but began to lose the strike zone and Moccio wanted to end any chance of a Mattituck rally.
The senior came on and after initially walking the first batter to bring in a run, he struck out SS Connor Fox to strand the bases loaded and end the threat. Aurandt wound up staying in the game, firing up scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh innings – despite allowing the first two batters to reach in the seventh – to slam the door on a 3-2 victory for the Phantom to propel them ahead of Mattituck in the standings at 7-2.
Charles Aurandt comes on in relief and strands the bases loaded with a strikeout
Mid 5: BBP 3, Mattituck 2 pic.twitter.com/JJ1LrLHjUc
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 25, 2021
Despite the win, Coach Moccio was not completely thrilled with the process.
“They made a couple big pitches in some big spots, but unfortunately we put entirely too many runners on and that’s not something we like to do very often – at all,” said Moccio. “But Charlie Aurandt picked us up big time. He’s a senior, he’s had some trouble starting the first couple weeks of the season and we’re working him back in. He was going to start tomorrow but he stepped in today and that was gigantic what he did. With all the negatives of the day, that was the story of the day. I’m really happy for him – he’s been working his butt off,” he added.
Aurandt earned the save for his 2.1 shutout innings in relief of Brady Clark. The sophomore was making just his second career varsity start. He shutdown the two-time reigning Class B Champs last week with a one-hitter. This Mattituck team also only notched one hit, but they certainly made him work.
In the top of the first inning, leadoff batter Michael Mowdy blooped a single over the third baseman’s head and he stole second. The next batter hit a grounder that was muffed by the first baseman but Mowdy attempted to come around to score and was thrown out at the plate. The Phantom’s catcher, Logan Robertson, not only made the tag but also converted it into a double play as Brady Mahon was thrown out at second. Clark struck out Bryce Hansen to end the inning.
Nate Demchak threw a scoreless inning in the first inning but he ran into trouble in the second after back-to-back singles by Luke Olsen and Brendan Most. Sophomore Ryan Costa ripped an RBI single to right to score Olsen and make it a 1-0 ballgame.
Clarke fired another scoreless inning in the third with a strikeout, and even helped himself in the home half of the inning with an RBI single to left field to score Luke Schartner who walked and stole second to get into scoring position.
Things did get a bit dicey after that. Clark lost the strike zone in the fourth inning and issued four free passes to let Mattituck get on the board, but he was able to bear down and escape further damage on an infield pop out and a strikeout to end the inning/
In the home half of the fourth, BBP got one back on an RBI single by leadoff batter Trey McGowan to left field to give Clark a bit of breathing room. But the Tuckers threatened once again in the fifth. After the first two batters were retired, a walk prolonged the inning. A routine fly ball was dropped in left field to give Mattituck a break and a chance to potentially tie the game. After Clark issued his sixth walk of the game, Moccio made the move to Aurandt.
Despite the command issues, Clark was awarded his second varsity win in as many chances. He will be a big part of the program for the next three years.
“He’s definitely got guts – you saw him hop off the mound. He made some big pitches with two strikes and got some strikeouts when things really could’ve gotten out of hand. He’s a bulldog, he’s a tough kid and he competes. And that’s part of what we talk about. In order to be a starter, you have to throw multiple pitches for strikes and you have to be able to compete because sometimes you make your best pitch in the fifth inning even when you’ve not made some great pitches early and all of a sudden you’re able to get it and execute, now all of a sudden we have a chance,” said Moccio.
With the victory, BBP improves to 7-2 on the season. They will be back in action tomorrow at home against Port Jefferson.
