Lindenhurst scores 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th and they defeat Commack 7-6 on a walk-off sac fly by Steve Hernandez pic.twitter.com/gloo0C8L9s
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 9, 2023
It’s not often that you are left speechless following a high school game, but this was one of those.
The two-time reigning Suffolk Class AA Champion Commack Cougars have led League I wire-to-wire this season – even flirting with a perfect season until recently – but entered play today looking to clinch the League Title against a hungry and senior-laden Lindenhurst Bulldog team led by Stony Brook-commit Chris Carson. Leading 6-3 in the bottom of the 7th and 7-8-9 in the order coming up, things looked very safe for the Cougars as they looked to get three final outs.
That last out never came. The last half inning looked like this:
- HBP
- HBP
- E1
- BB
- E5
- INT. BB
- P6
- Walk-off sac-fly
Needless to say, it was a shocking turn of events from a team that has routinely been on the positive ends of close games during the last several seasons.
Early on, it appeared this game would not be long for either starting pitcher. Commack faced Chris Carson, one of the front runners for the coveted Carl Yastrzemski Award, and they made work harder than any team has this season. Aidan Murphy flew out deep to left field, but VCU-commit Chris McHugh took a 1-2 fastball and deposited it over the center field fence for his 3rd HR of the season. McHugh is another player in the mix for the award, and certainly in the mix for League MVP as he entered play batting over .560. They added another run after Joey DiMotta singled and stole second, Connor Schramm was hit by a pitch and Matt Mayer singed home a run to make it 2-0.
Lindenhurst wasted zero time getting on the board against Commack’s junior RHP Evan Kay as leadoff batter Thomas Charlwood crushed a solo shot of his own to make it 2-01 in the the blink of an eye. After an E6, Donny Whalen tied the game up with an RBI single through the left side. Kay was able to settle down and strike out Max Frank, Steve Hernandez and get a force out off the bat of Mike DiGiuseppe.
In the top of the second, Adam Gonzalez singled and stole second base and moved to third on Aidan Murphy’s single. Chris McHugh drove a sac fly to left field to score Gonzalez and make it a 3-2 ballgame. At this point, Carson was around 50 pitches and it didn’t seem he would have a long outing.
The game’s pace picked up after that as the pitchers were able to settle in and there was no scoring in the third, fourth or fifth innings.
Mid 6: Commack adds an insurance run on a sac fly by Joey DiMotta. They lead 4-2 pic.twitter.com/sxLgIfOVsk
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 9, 2023
In the top of the sixth, Commack added another run on a sac fly to center by Joey DiMotta. At this point, even the most avid Lindenhurst fan had to feel a comeback would be difficult against Evan Kay and the bullpen of the Cougars. Carson’s final line was 5+ innings, 3 ER, 3 Ks, 5 H, 1 BB.
Things got a bit dicey in the sixth, though. Chris Carson led off the inning with a walk. and Don Whalen hit his second single of the game. Max Frank walked to load the bases, and a wild pitch scored Carson and made it a 4-3 game. Steve Hernandez made a bid for a game-tying hit but Joey DiMotta made a great diving grab coming towards the infield which prevented the runner from tagging up. Schramm then escaped any damage with a strikeout of Mike DiGiuseppe to end the inning and keep the lead in tact.
End of 6: Lindenhurst gets one across on a wild pitch but Connor Schramm comes up big with a strikeout to strands runners at 2nd & 3rd pic.twitter.com/xE0aoVv13j
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 9, 2023
In the top of the seventh, Whalen went back to the mound for Lindenhurst. Evan Kay led off with a single and catcher Matthew Mayer followed with a laser beam two-run HR to extend the lead to 6-3 and give a little more breathing room. The Commack bench was fired up, as the combination of Schramm’s strikeout and the two-run shot made the lead feel even more safe.
The bottom of the seventh is one that they would like to forget. Lindenhurst’s rally was not only stunning, but also unlikely in that they had zero hits and the rally started with the bottom third of the order against Commack’s hard-throwing pitcher, Connor Schramm. The first two batters of the inning were hit by pitches which made coach Salmon make a call to the bullpen, bringing in Aidan Murphy, another of their top arms. The rest, as they say, is history. By the time Steve Hernandez’ fly ball went into the glove of Ryan Krzemienski, the Lindenhurst bench was ready to erupt. The throw was a strong one, but Charlwood’s speed was not going to be denied as he got in just in time.
Commack has a chance to bounce back and make it just a footnote in the season with a win tomorrow at home as they will look to clinch the division. Or Lindenhurst can push it to the brink and come back to their home field and swipe it on the regular season’s final day.
