🚨 Sophomore Jordan Welch hits an opposite field walk-off HR to complete the comeback win for Farmingdale and deliver Massapequa their first loss of the season 🚨 pic.twitter.com/FK8STX7jor
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 2, 2022
Twice in the last two weeks the Farmingdale Dalers needed a big hit in the bottom of the 7th and twice they got one from sophomore stud Jordan Welch. While the first was a bouncing single through the hole to beat Port Washington, this was came in a considerably larger moment against rival Massapequa.
The sophomore came to the plate with one out in the 7th inning in a 4-4 game, and he went the opposite way, driving one just over the right field fence for a solo walk-off HR to send his team into a frenzy and delivering Massapequa their first loss of the season – they had been 10-0.
The comeback was rather remarkable considering how the first five innings went against Massapequa’s ace – Hofstra-commit Matt Hannon.
The Chiefs got on the board first in the top of the second on a two-run HR to right field by Tim Dorman, who followed a HBP of Tyler Young. Farmingdale LHP Zack Zarrilli was able to settle down after that and fire a scoreless third inning, but the Chiefs added their third run in the third inning on an infield single by Joe Swinarski to score Tim Dorman, who was also hit by a pitch and stole two bases.
Hannon had not allowed a hit through three innings, but Michael Craig led off the fourth with a double to right field. He advanced to third on a single by Jordan Welch and scored on a 4-6-3 DP to get the Dalers on the board.
In the fifth, Mike Vilardi led off on an infield single and advanced on a wild pitch. Erik Paulsen Jr drew a walk and both runners advanced on a passed ball. A great play by Zarrilli prevented a run from scoring on that play but a passed ball extended the lead to 4-1.
Tim Dorman singled to right, but pinch runner Carter DeSousa was thrown out after making too far a turn around third base, which was the third out of the inning and wound up being a crucial play.
Hannon appeared to be getting stronger after he fired an easy 1-2-3 inning in the fifth inning including his sixth strikeout of the day.
Zarrilli went back out for the sixth with 97 pitches and worked around a single and stolen base by Nick Cooney to end the sixth inning with the score 4-1 in favor of Massapequa.
Hannon walked Michael Craig to start the sixth inning and was replaced by Damian DiGiuseppe. Jordan Welch hit what looked like a routine 6-4-3 DP but it was muffed and allowed both runners to reach safely. The next batter, Joel Cartagena, ripped a single to center to load the bases with 0 out. Nick Napolitano came through with a clutch two-run single to left center to cut the deficit to 4-3. Another error at shortstop loaded the bases, but a flyout to right and a ground out made it two outs. JoJo Burriesci laced a single to loaded the bases again and the Chiefs went to reliever Ryan Annunziato came in. He went to a 2-2 count and struck out Joe Tagliavia to end the threat.
Mid 7: Joe Tagliavia strands a runner at second. The Dalers will look to walk it off in the 7th pic.twitter.com/MYbElRW2lQ
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 2, 2022
Tagliavia came on in relief and allowed a single to Mike Vilardi before bearing down and retiring Erik Paulsen, Carter DeSousa and Paul DuLanto to end the inning and give him team a chance to walk it off.
Walk it off they did, after Michael Craig grounded out to first, Welch came to the plate and went ahead in the count 3-1. I took my phone out in anticipation of some fireworks and that feeling proved to be prophetic as Welch launched the walk-off HR to right field. The Dalers improved to 9-1 (11-1 overall) while the Chiefs fell to 9-1 (10-1 overall).
The real question is whether anyone can knock Massapequa off their throne of Nassau County AA titles, which dates back to 2017 – the first year of Axcess Baseball.
