By Blake Buscemi
South Shore gets the win as Ryan Hynes closes it out for the save, inducing a Milone strikeout.
Final: South Shore 4, Westhampton 2 pic.twitter.com/wiOsJZ0Aou— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 11, 2022
The Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League is officially underway, starting with an afternoon matchup between the Westhampton Aviators and the South Shore Clippers. The Hamptons League is an elite summer league for prospects nationwide, so it was a given that we were going to see some competitive baseball.
The pitching matchup was as good as someone could have asked for. John Rizzo, who posted phenomenal numbers at Adelphi as a freshman with a 3.70 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 73 innings, took the mound against Cole Koeppel, who pitches for the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Rizzo immediately picked up where he left off his college season by striking out the side in the first. The Clippers were able to get to Koeppel early, starting with walks by Adelphi outfielder Johnny Catuosco and Maritime catcher Ryan Rockhill. Bryant University outfielder James Myler followed with a single to right to score the first run of the game, putting the Clippers ahead early.
James Myler rips a base hit to right to score a run and put the Clippers up 1-0 early pic.twitter.com/1gicgNhu5H
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 11, 2022
The Aviators struck right back in the top of the second, beginning with a single by Fairleigh Dickinson utilityman Thomas Verga and a hard-hit double down the left field line by Bucknell’s Sean Keys. Fairleigh Dickinson’s Matt Milone grounded out to first to score Keys and put Westhampton ahead 2-1.
The Clipper bats continued to hit the ball well in the bottom of the second, beginning with an infield single by Hofstra infielder Aidan Larkin. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth catcher Matthew Tempone flew out to left and Amherst College’s Ryan McIntyre grounded out to shortstop to advance Larkin to third. Johnny Catuosco followed that with a single to center field to tie the game at two apiece.
After John Rizzo breezed through the top of the third with a scoreless frame, the action continued in the bottom of the inning with Ryan Rockhill and Jack Peluso both walking, leading to a Matt Pelcher 2-run double down the left field line. Aidan Larkin doubled to center but was thrown out trying to score on a flyout to left field to end the threat.
Both pitchers settled in after this, with Rizzo going 5 innings while striking out 10 and Koeppel finishing his day with a scoreless fourth. Evan Knipe of Long Beach State in California relieved Koeppel and did exactly what they wanted from him, going three scoreless innings while striking out four. All remaining pitchers matched zeros the rest of the way and the game ended in a 4-2 score in favor of the Clippers. Overall, it was a competitive ballgame and both teams had solid showings. Rizzo was credited with the win in this one and he looks to build off his college success this summer.
