Manhasset LHP Theo Zacharia on his CG 11 K performance over Division pic.twitter.com/rMvfIjLWH7
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 20, 2022
Last year at this time, Manhasset was looking like the best team in Nassau Conference III. They ultimately defeated Division in the semifinals before losing in 3 games to South Side in the finals.
Even though this season hasn’t taken on the same trajectory as last, it doesn’t mean it’s too late to make a push. They pulled off a 10-0 run-rule win over previously undefeated Division, who entered with a 10-0 record.
Manhasset LHP Theo Zacharia was outstanding – he went the distance, striking out 11, walking none and allowing just two doubles to Elon-commit Joe Yovino.
Additionally, Manhasset’s offense was opportunistic and took advantage of uncharacteristic sloppy defense from Division, who committed six errors by the fourth inning.
The Indians got on the board in the top of the second on a bases loaded dribbler off the bat of Trey Zaffiro to score Devin Sheridan, who led off the inning with a single. They added another on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Zacharia.
T4: Manhasset has broken it open, 7-0, on a series of errors and this RBI hit by Brendan Trotta. Very uncharacteristic day for Division who has committed 6 errors through 3+ innings pic.twitter.com/MzhYB6Eplt
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 20, 2022
They did most of their damage in the fourth inning when they scored six runs, as Division committed five of their errors. Brendan Trotta delivered the knockout punch with an RBI single to make it 7-0 and force Division coach Tom Tuttle into a pitching change. Noah Rubin followed with a two-run double off Frank Vespa to put the game completely out of reach.
Every team is entitled to have a bad day. Division had been playing near flawless baseball led by ace Mike Knapp and a high-powered offense which also features today’s starting pitcher, James Sill and leadoff extraordinaire Matt Bolton. They will bounce back fine, but for today, it was all Manhasset, who won their second game of the season.
