By Blake Buscemi
Matt Tomasello takes us through his outing and how he led the Black Diamonds to a win today. pic.twitter.com/e0Plor1e2W
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 10, 2022
A 13u matchup between the B1000 Seminoles Okon and the Long Island Black Diamonds took place at PAL Complex on Tuesday. This was the second game of a doubleheader, so both teams needed to get the most out of their pitching.
Matt Tomasello got the start for the Black Diamonds. Don’t let the height deceive you – his feel for pitching is as good as anyone in his age group. He promptly induced a groundout, flyout, and strikeout to go one, two, three in the top of the first inning. He faced off against righty Bryce Howes of B1000. He did not have bad stuff either, but the Black Diamonds were able to find a few holes on hits from Ryan Gaffney, Shawn Aliperti, and Tomasello as well as capitalize on a few walks to take an early 2-0 lead early in the game.
After a scoreless second inning from Tomasello, the Seminoles brought in a new pitcher, Kim, to relieve. He proved to be effective as he limited the Black Diamonds to just one hit in his three innings of work; however, one run did score after a walk and a throwing error to make it 3-0. Tomasello matched Kim up to this point, throwing back-to-back hitless innings in that period. Marek Williams came on to pitch in the fifth for the Seminoles and seriously impressed in his short stint, striking out five in two innings pitched.
After a late rally by the Seminoles to score two runs, the Black Diamonds hold on to take a 3-2 win in the second game of a doubleheader.
Final: Black Diamonds 3, B1000 Seminoles 2 pic.twitter.com/fqNor5K1JM— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 10, 2022
Matt Tomasello’s day would end after six shutout frames, but the action did not end there. Shawn Aliperti, the reliever, let up two hits and two walks, cutting the lead to 3-2. Ryan Gaffney then came in to relieve Aliperti in a tough spot, as the bases were loaded down one run. He did exactly as he was asked as he retired both Williams and Howes to end the ballgame and strand the tying and go-ahead runs on base. The Black Diamonds take the win in this one by a score of 3-2.
