by Gabe Zoda
FINAL: Farmingdale Greendogs 7,
Plainview Hawks 2.
WP:Nick Toto (CG, 2Ks, 2BBs, 2ER)
He also went 2-2, BB, 2B, 3RBIs at the plate. @EcybTournaments pic.twitter.com/waRYfeKL4Y— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 5, 2021
Labor day weekend is usually that last chance to grab every last bit out of summer that you can. The Labor Day Bash is just another example of exactly that. This matchup between the Farmingdale Greendogs and the Plainview Hawks had everything you’d expect from Labor day, the smiles, celebrations and some fireworks.
Once the dust settled in this game the Greendogs would come out victorious with a 7-2 win. Nick Toto had himself a day on the mound as we would end up with a CG while only letting up 2 runs and walking only 2 batters. He threw consistent strikes and trusted his defense to make the majority of the outs.
The Greendogs started things off right away as they would score 2 in the bottom of the first inning. Michael Bilello got on first due to an E-6 to kick things off and then Joe Ferrante walked right behind him to give them 2 runners on with only one out.
That would bring up the starting pitcher Nick Toto, who helped himself in the 1st and launched a 2 out double. That would allow both of those runners to come in to score and gave the Greendogs an early 2-0 lead in this ballgame.
The Greendogs start off hot with 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning. This 2 out 2B Nick Toto brought in both of those runs. Greendogs up 2-0. pic.twitter.com/x1NzI7nci0
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 5, 2021
The Plainview Hawks didn’t like the look of that so they responded right away. In the top of the 2nd, the Hawks would put on 2 runs of their own to tie up the score.
Corey Greenberg would start off this offense with a quality at bat, which led to him earning himself a walk to land him on first. Tim McDonough followed up that walk with a single that put runners on the corners.
The Hawks would break through and get onto the scoreboard after TJ Lenski hit a well placed grounder that allowed Corey Greenberg to score easily from 3rd base. In the next at bat, the Hawks would score their second run as they took advantage of a passed ball. This time it would be Tim McDonough scoring. Those 2 runs would tie the game and it would stay tied up for a pretty decent amount of time.
After the 2nd, both starting pitchers seemed to settle down and started shutting down the opposing offenses. Jordan Furman did a really good job for the 3 innings he pitched. After that 1st inning he retired the next 6 batters in a row. He finished with 3 IP, 3Ks, and only 1BB.
The scoreless streak would end in the 5th inning where the fireworks would be pulled out for the home team. In this inning, they would put up 5 runs and put the game to rest after making the score 7-2 in the 5th inning.
They started the inning with 3 walks from Collin Mcnamara, Jake Albigmano, and Cole Ebanks. McNamara actually came in to break the tie during Jake’s AB after stealing a couple bags and then taking advantage of a pass ball.
After the walks from Albigmano and Ebanks, Michael Bilello would step back up to the plate for his 3rd at bat of the game. He was 0-2 before heading into this at bat and knew he needed a hit to round out this game. He would get a big one as he would Launch a 2B down the 3rd base line. That 2B would score those 2 runners and give the Greendogs a 5-2 lead. Bilello would get himself onto 3rd base and waited for his opportunity to score.
He wouldn’t have to wait long for that opportunity because 2 batters later, Mark Reo would shoot one out to right field far enough to get him in with a sac fly. This run brought the score to 6-2 but they weren’t quite done yet. The Greendogs wanted to ensure the win with one more run before they were done.
They would succeed in that mission with the next batter. Who else but Nick Toto, he drove in the first run and in his final AB of the day, he would drive in one more run and give the Greendogs a 7-2 lead. Toto, along with his CG on the mound, had a successful day at the plate going 2-2, 3RBIs, 2B, BB.
The Farmingdale Greendogs look to use this offensive explosion late in the game to continue for the rest of the season.
