Coach Mike Skoller following the Game 1 victory for B1000 Seminoles @liboysofsummer pic.twitter.com/dworrxgXQl
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 10, 2022
by Aaron Rothschild
Yesterday afternoon featured a great matchup of 16U teams as the LI Storm faced off against the B1000 Seminoles-Skoller. It was a game that included great defense and pitching as well as some very timely hitting late. By the end of the game the Seminoles came out with a 7-6 victory and this is how we got there.
Both teams received outstanding starting pitching, for the Storm Left handed starter Xander Palmer was terrific. And for the Seminoles Sean Stoney was nearly untouchable.
The first run of the game did not come until the top of the third when Troy Defrancesco knocked in a run on a single after a flurry of base hits. Palmer however would get out of a bases loaded jam limiting the damage at just one run. On the other side Stoney was nearly perfect as he was just off facing the minimum number of batters through 5. The game would stay 1-0 until the top of the sixth inning.
In the sixth the Seminoles would score their second run on a double into the gap by Steven Ierides, this would then be followed by a sac fly by Mike Jazylo to make it 3-0 heading into the bottom of the 6th. This is where the game would turn. Stoney would start the inning surrendering a couple of walks, he would get two outs but after a third walk loaded the bases he would be removed before ever allowing a hit. The Seminoles would turn to Jazylo who struggled with control at first, bringing in a run with a hit by pitch. A walk would score another run making it 3-2. Then the top of the order would come up and they were ready to hit. A three-run triple off the bat of G. Karol would give the Storm their first lead of the game at 5-3. A single would knock in one more and the Storm would take the field in the seventh trying to hold onto a 3-run lead.
Wild top of the 7th sees the Seminoles retake the lead! They lead 7-6 heading into the bottom of the 7th. pic.twitter.com/XXlHqn4NxL
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 10, 2022
The Seminoles had other plans however, after a couple singles Matt Mier would knock in a run making it 6-4. This would be the end of the line for Palmer who pitched brilliantly. The Storm would turn to Karol but the Seminole bats seemed to be woken up, after a single and a walk DeFrancesco would come to the plate in another bases loaded situation. He would come through once again with a double through the gap clearing the bases and giving the Seminoles a 7-6 lead. In the bottom of the frame Jazylo would come back out for the Seminoles and slam the door, firing a 1-2-3 inning.
It was a great show of resilience by both teams and the game was more than exciting to watch, but overall it was the Seminoles who would leave feeling good after the comeback victory.
