Phil Krpata was named Most Outstanding Player of the Skyline Conference Tournament pic.twitter.com/kYcnEpqQIr
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 14, 2023
by Gabe Zoda
Mother’s Day is always filled with celebration. That was the case for St. Joseph’s University after winning the Skyline Conference Championship on Sunday. Their win over SUNY Maritime marked the Golden Eagles’ second straight title and 4th in 7 seasons (2016, 2018, 2022, 2023).
The action in the game would start up in the top of the 2nd inning for St Joseph’s, scoring four in the frame. John Lynch led things off with a double to left center field. James Maggio would drive him in and replace his spot at second with a double of his own, scoring the game’s first run.
The Golden Eagles would keep the scoring going in the inning with a slap shot by Hermes Abreu, driving in Maggio to make it 2-0 early. After Abreu’s single, Phil Krpata, Paul Gugliuzzo, and Jake Giannico would hit back to back to back singles. Gugliuzzo and Giannico’s were both RBI’s giving St Joseph’s a 4-0 lead.
Maritime took no time to respond as they would plate two in the bottom of the 2nd. Jaden Shea got on base for the Privateers with a single. This set the stage for Micheal Frazzetta, who would launch a ball deep to left field and out of the ballpark for a 2-run HR.
After no runs in the 3rd inning for either team, St Joseph’s tacked on another run in the 4th inning. Phil Krpata kicked it off with a walk. A walk for some could be harmless, but not for Phil Kirpata. He is known for his baserunning abilities and his speed and showed it off in the 4th inning. He stole second and third base with one out, allowing him to be one fly ball away from scoring. That was all Paul Gugliuzzo needed as we would send one into the outfield, allowing Krpata to score and increase the lead to 5-2 in favor of St. Joe’s.
Once again though, this Maritime squad would not give up. They responded in the bottom of the 4th with two more runs. This time, both of these runs came off the bat from Rob Copozzi, who launched a 2-run shot of his own. This one going to right center field. After the launch, the Privateers cut the lead down to 5-4 after four innings. It was at this point that St Joseph’s would change the complexion of this game.
Ryan Decoursey led off the inning with a single. John Lynch quickly followed him up by getting hit by a pitch. James Maggio stepped up to the plate after them and ripped a one out, 2-RBI, double scoring both Decoursey and Lynch.
They weren’t done yet in the inning, as Nick Vicino drove in Maggio with a single of his own to make it 8-4. St Joseph’s did not want to play two games for the championship and their bats showed it. Following the Vicino RBI, The Golden eagles would work 3 straight walks by Krpata, Gugliuzzo and Giannico. The walk to Jake Giannico scored the Golden Eagles ninth run of the game. After four and a half innings, St. Joseph’s University led Maritime by a score of 9-4.
FINAL:
St. Joseph’s: 10
Maritime: 4
Micheal Manzillo pitched 5 innings of scoreless relief and retired 12 of the 15 batters he faced.
James Maggio had 3 RBIs today. Went 2-5 in the game pic.twitter.com/4E7hEaQVoK
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 14, 2023
The bottom of the 5th was when the Golden Eagles went to the bullpen and brought out Micheal Manzolillo, who personified the definition of shutdown. Manzolillo completely muted the Maritime offense, inducing both weak contact and strikeouts to slice through the Privateer lineup. Manzolillo pitched 5 scoreless innings in relief and retired 12 of the 15 batters he faced.
St Joseph’s scored one more run in the top of the 8th inning when John Lynch scorched a single through the left center field gap, driving in Ryan Decoursey (who reached on a single). This made the score 10-4, and Manzolillo would close the door in the bottom of the 9th to win the Skyline Conference Championship.
Phil Krpata was named the Skyline Conference Most Outstanding Player during the postseason. He showcased how he is the perfect leadoff batter with his speed and his ability to get on base.
