Hunter Colagrande fired a 2-hit CG shutout in a 1-0 win to clinch a playoff spot for Kings Park pic.twitter.com/jMSOiy3pCY
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 24, 2023
It’s tough to get a better pitching matchup than the one we had today at East Islip. The 2021 Long Island Champs hosted Kings Park, who entered with a record of 9-3 and looking to clinch their first postseason berth since 2018.
The pitching match up was a pair of Stony Brook-commits – RHP Hunter Colagrande (Kings Park) and LHP Nick Rizzo (East Islip). Stony Brook HC Matt Senk was in attendance to get a glimpse of two of his future pitchers.
For those in attendance, you just got the sense that offense would be at a premium. Both pitchers were at their best today and one run would be enough – the question was who would blink first?
In the top of the first, Rizzo got the game started with a strikeout, before allowing a single to Brandon Hauk. He was able to erase him when he picked him off for the second out of the inning. He did allow a second hit to TJ Scannevin but he avoided any damage with a ground out to third off the bat of Anthony Agostinelli.
Hunter Colagrande did his job and fired a 1-2-3 first inning with one ground out and two fly outs to get his offense back in the dugout.
Rizzo had his most dominant inning in the second with a pair of strikeouts and a ground out to second base. Colagrande countered with a 1-2-3 inning of his own with a strikeout and two groundouts.
Finally, we had our first bit of action in the top of the third inning. After the first batter was retired, Mike Cooper ripped a single to right center to get things started. After Rizzo struck out EJ Ettinger, he coaxed a grounder to third which appeared like it would be the third out of the inning, but it was misplayed and allowed Brandon Hauk to reach safely. The next batter, TJ Scannevin, made it hurt as he ripped an RBI single to score Cooper and make it a 1-0 game.
Final: Kings Park 1, East Islip 0
WP: Hunter Colagrande (CG shutout, 2 hits , 2 Ks)Kings Park improves to 10-3.
Game time: 1 hour, 20 mins pic.twitter.com/2thPSGXwVR
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 24, 2023
With the way Colagrande was throwing, there was a legitimate reason to believe that would be the only run he would need.
Sure enough, Colagrande made the run stand up. While he only struck out two batters, he proved his mettle by working efficiently and effectively. In fact, the only two hits he allowed were both to junior catcher Brady Kneisel. Rizzo did hit a ball hard but it was directly at the second baseman for the first out of the 7th inning. Colagrande didn’t face any other jams in the game. The game began at 5:07pm and finished at approximately 6:30pm. It was an umpire and a journalist’s dream.
Kings Park celebrated after the final out, as it was their first playoff appearance since 2018 and first for Head Coach Andrew Abreu. With Colagrande on the mound, they have the ability to beat any team in the County. He improved to 4-0 on the season.
