Jerry Suppa was the winning pitcher for Smithtown East – throwing 4.1 innings of shutout ball and also driving in a run with an RBI double. He’s our Player of the Game Powered by @GCsports pic.twitter.com/vitxNSz2Ch
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 28, 2023
Last season was one to remember for Smithtown East, who reached the Suffolk County Class AA Finals in Head Coach Rob Christensen‘s first season where they lost to Commack.
They graduated several impact players, but the experience that the returning players gained was invaluable. That was on display this afternoon as they defeated League rival Centereach, 6-0, behind a dominant performance by senior Jerry Suppa.
These two teams squared off in the postseason last season, with Smithtown East coming out on top.
The result of this game was settled fairly quickly. After each starting pitcher put up a zero in the first inning, the Bulls got on the board thanks to a one-out double by Michael Chiarello. Jerry Suppa helped himself with an RBI double to right field to make it a 1-0 game. The following hitter, Mike Avione ripped an RBI single to drive in Suppa and make it 2-0. That was essentially all that was needed.
Suppa, who was on the mound for the first time in a month after dealing with a slight injury, was sharp. He fired zero after zero, and kept Centereach off the board through 4.1 innings. He was lifted in favor of Ryan Diffley.
At that point, Smithtown East had broken the game open.
T5: Tyler Pennisi rips a breaking ball and Logan Norman nearly makes an amazing catch but it’s a 2-R double.
Smithtown East 5, Centereach 0 pic.twitter.com/fNlPzUIVhW
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 28, 2023
In the top of the fifth, they had gotten a leadoff walk by Andrew Carbonaro and a bunt single by Evan Shickler and Cole Conte sacrificed them both into scoring position. After Luke Ciminiello grounded out to first, Tyler Pennisi sat on a breaking ball and lifted it out to deep right center. Logan Norman made an outstanding attempt and nearly caught the ball but it came out of his glove and allowed both runners to score. The following bater, Owen Shortell ripped an RBI double of his own to make it 5-0. After a walk was issued to Chiarello, Suppa hit a bloop single to short left to make it 6-0.
Diffley was able to pitch effectively and efficiently, as he allowed just a double to Rocco Panaro in the fifth inning.
Smithtown East evened their record at 1-1, as they had lost to Newfield on Opening Day. Centereach falls to 0-2 on the season, they lost to Bellport on Opening Day.
