by Chris Prystupa
Here’s the winning pitcher Thomas O’Niell who went a complete game 5IP striking out 6 batters on his teams big day pic.twitter.com/rfBpSkIL9Y
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 25, 2022
In a huge game two of a three game series between No.4 Farmingdale and No.1 Plainview JFK, the Dalers came to play. Farmingdale came out firing on all cylinders; pitching and hitting well and seized many opportunities as they defeated Plainview in five innings (run-rule) with a final score of 12-1.
The Dalers immediately got it started in the bottom of the first inning as Michael Craig singled and Tagliavia walked thus setting the table for the heart of their order. Following that Licata put his team up 1-0 by beating out an RBI infield single.
After a leadoff single and walk, Thomas O’Neill had gotten into a bit of a jam to start the second inning. He responded by striking out the next three Plainview hitters in a row instantly hyping himself and his teammates up. The feeling of what could have been a close game faded as in the bottom of the second inning Farmingdale exploded for seven runs. The Hawks gave up four hit-by-pitches, multiple runs coming across on multiple fielder’s choices where no outs were made, and timely RBI singles by JoJo Burriesci and Anthony Licci making it a 8-0 ballgame.
In the top of the third Plainview was able to scratch a run across on a ground ball that was booted by the shortstop but that would be all, as the runner was tagged out after rounding third too hard. Farmingdale kept the pressure on in the bottom half of the third as Jordan Welch would smack a ground rule double only to be singled home by Steven Licata. The next two Farmingdale hitters would get on via a walk and infield single which set up Licci, who cashed in a run on a fielder’s choice furthering the deficit and making it a 10-1 lead. What looked like the potential for another big inning for the Dalers came to a close after Hawks right fielder, Hunter Scott, laid out for a great diving catch to end the inning.
The last and final set of Farmingdale runs would come from Jordan Welch, who crushed a towering home run to left, giving the Dalers enough for the mercy rule. Plainview would go out quietly in the top half of the fifth giving Farmingdale a spot to play for a county championship. Thomas O’Neill would be everything Farmingdale could ask for as he went five innings (complete game) striking out six batters and only giving up that one run on five hits. He was able to keep a dangerous Planview team off balance and earn the victory.
Farmingdale will now square off against No.2 Massapequa in the Nassau Class AA County Championship.
