by Nick Cipolla
Postgame interview with Benny Quiñones after an incredible 2-way performance in todays game pic.twitter.com/F6eRyLNRXI
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 30, 2022
Benny Quiñones was a one man army in today’s championship game against the South Shore Chiefs.
An outstanding performance both on the mound and at the plate, this performance by Quiñones was a great example of putting the team on his back in a big game, something that very few athletes are capable of doing.
Quiñones did give up a run early to the Chiefs when Matthew Sharon hit an RBI Single to center field that gave the Chiefs an early 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the first, Quiñones took matters into his own hands and he hit an RBI infield single to the shortstop to tie the game at 1.
After this, both Benny Quiñones and the Chiefs starter, James Alonso, settled in for a little bit and traded zeros over the next couple of innings. Alonso, got some help from his defense in the third inning as chiefs catcher Joe Brooks threw a runner out trying to steal second to end the frame.
Joe Brooks shifted some momentum towards the Chiefs as he would get a base hit to lead off the 4th inning. He then stole second, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice, and later scored on an RBI single from his pitcher, James Alonso to make it 2-1 Chiefs.
Benny Quiñones got out of the inning allowing one run, and he immediately shifted the momentum back in favor of the Bandits with a leadoff single in the bottom of the 4th, he stole second, and later scored on a 2 out check swing grounder to third by Jake Duffy. The third baseman’s throw sailed over the head of the first baseman, allowing a hustling Quiñones to score and tie the game back up at 2.
Later in the inning, Jaiden Leonor stepped to the plate with bases loaded, two outs, and a chance to give his team the lead. He came through with the go ahead 2 run single back up the middle to give the Bandits a lead that they would never relinquish.
In the next inning, Christian Negron gave his pitcher some help as he would throw out a runner trying to steal second base and more importantly getting his team back in the dugout and giving the Bandits another chance to tack on some insurance runs.
In the bottom of the 5th, Benny Quiñones continued his dominant 2-way play as he came up with the bases loaded and laced a 2 run triple into left field to give his team a 6-2 lead in the bottom of the 5th.
Quiñones wouldn’t be on third base for long as Yadi Quezada hit a line drive into left field for a base hit that scored Quiñones to make it 7-2 Bandits.
Quiñones went back out for the 6th inning and he once again held the Chiefs off the board. His final pitching line was 6.0 Innings pitched, 2 runs allowed, 6 total hits, and 4 strikeouts.
The Chiefs had the bases loaded at one point in the top of the 7th and they managed to get one run across when Joseph Genova hit a 2 out infield single to make it a 7-3 lead. However that would be all the Chiefs would get in the 7th as Justus Reid struck out the next batter, giving the EEP Bandits the 13u Memorial Day Clash Championship.
