by Nicholas Cipolla
Post game interview with Steven Kolm after going 4-4 in todays game for the LI Storm pic.twitter.com/4jorj0UvqD
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 9, 2021
Earlier in the day, it looked like the big rainstorm meteorologists were predicting was going to happen and it would’ve almost certainly canceled this game.
However, the weather held up and another type of Storm was able to wreak havoc on the East Islip High School Baseball Field this evening.
The LI Storm rode a big 5th inning where they scored six runs, which proved to be too much for the Smithtown Bulls.
The Storm drew first blood in the bottom of the 1st inning. Steven Kolm got it started with a single to center. The next batter Alexander Baker smacked a ball into the gap in left center field to give the Storm a 1-0 lead.
The Storm were able to get a second run thanks to a wild pitch and an errant throw by the catcher, allowing Baker to score on the play.
After the bottom of the first, both teams settled in and traded zeros until the top of the 4th inning.
The Bulls had a nice top half of the inning. After two singles from Tyler Tuckey and Mike Tempone, Danny Pagan stepped to the plate and hit a ground ball up the middle that got through the infield for a two run game tying single.
Two batters later, Frankie Weisenburger knocked in Pagan with a sac fly to deep left field, giving the Bulls a 3-2 lead. Brian Hope came on in relief and worked into and out of trouble in the bottom half of the inning without surrendering a run.
Momentum shifted in favor of the Storm in the bottom of the 5th, Michael Heyman stepped to the plate with two men on base and he ripped a 2 RBI triple to center field that gave the Storm a 4-3 lead. This was just the beginning of the scoring for the Storm in the bottom of the 5th.
The LI Storm Reclaim the lead with an 2 RBI Triple into center field by Michael Heyman. LI Storm now leads it 4-3 pic.twitter.com/OGzR3KmPZX
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 9, 2021
A few batters later, Josiah Beltre drew a bases loaded walk to make it a 5-3 game. The very next batter, Ryan Rivera, got hit by a pitch making it a 6-3 game. The 7th run scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Tyler Gorman.
The last run of the inning scored on an RBI single from Steven Kolm, who went a perfect 4-4 in today’s game with three singles (one for an RBI) and a triple.
In the top of the 6th and final inning, the Bulls put up a fight as they were able to load the bases with one out for Michael Avione. Avione was able to get a run in on an RBI fielder’s choice as the Storm got the runner at second out via force out.
The very next batter, Owen Shortell, hit a 2 out 2 run single into left center to make it an 8-6 game. Unfortunately for the Bulls, Ryan Rivera struck out the next batter and ended the game, giving the Storm a late season victory over a playoff team.
