by Nick Cipolla
Postgame interview with Kyle Robinson after a 4-4 day at the plate for 5 Star National pic.twitter.com/HmgjyHgWl3
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 3, 2022
Sometimes in a baseball game, there is one team that just outplays the other in just about every other aspect of the game.
5 Star National was one of these teams that was just better than the other today in their 12-3 victory over the Long Island Storm during the 12u ECYB 4th of July Tournament.
5 Star National never trailed in this game and they got ahead 7-0 before the third inning ended in this one due to good baserunning, good hitting with runners on base, and playing clean defense.
In the second inning, 5 Star National was threatening with two runners on and two outs. Brayden Vanderschuyt hit a ball high and deep to right field that the right fielder couldn’t make the catch allowing two runs to score to give 5 Star National a 2-0 lead.
Two batters later, Jack Krouse hit an RBI double to left center field to make it a 3-0 game. The very next batter, Kyle Robinson, knocked in Krouse with an RBI single right in front of the centerfielder to make it 4-0
In the third inning, 5 Star National got three runs to score but it was done on the basepaths. In a first and third situation, the pitcher for the LI Storm balked allowing the first run of the inning to score to make it 5-0. Later in the inning, two consecutive passed balls allowed two different 5 Star National baserunners to score to make it a 7-0 game.
Final (5 innings): LI Storm: 3 5 Star Natonal: 12
Kyle Robinson of 5 Star National hits a mercy rule walkoff 2 run triple to end the game pic.twitter.com/q9F5Dwuhgq
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 3, 2022
LI Storm did get a couple of runs back in the fourth, thanks to an RBI infield single by Ryan Berbabeis and a second and home double steal
However, 5 Star National got three runs in the bottom half thanks to an RBI single by Nolan Horn and a Brayden Vanderschuyt two run single between third and short to make it 10-2.
LI Storm was facing the mercy rule loss in the top half and responded by scoring one more run on an RBI groundout by Rylan Buonanno that broke his metal bat to make it 10-3.
Unfortunately for the Storm, Kyle Robinson stepped up to the plate with two runners on and he did not leave them out there. He ripped a ball that rolled all the way to the left field wall, two runs scored and Robinson himself almost scored too but he tripped rounding third base and was unable to beat the relay home.
Regardless of the misstep, Robinson delivered his team with a mercy rule victory in this evening’s contest and helped his team secure a spot in tomorrow’s semi-final game.
