by John Sullivan
Postgame interview with John Drew of team beast. He went 2-3 on the day with two doubles, as well a big run scored on a wild pitch. pic.twitter.com/sTHGKhipF7
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 27, 2023
The 15u matchup for East Coast Youth Baseball’s Memorial Day Clash”between B1000 Seminoles-Cohen and Beast 2026 American was one that pitted two hard-throwing right handers against each other. Conor Dekenipp got the ball for Team Beast and Donovan Brazicki took the mound for the B1000 Seminoles.
Despite having a hard fastball and a wicked 12-6 curveball, The Seminoles were able to scratch off a run against Dekenipp in the top of the first. The run was scored after Pat Cappetti and Ryan Jazylo both worked walks and Thomas Duffy came through with a line-drive RBI single up the middle to score Cappetti. Kyle Bosch’s walk then loaded the bases for the Seminoles, but Dekenipp was able to notch a huge strikeout on the next batter with a knee-buckling curveball to end the first.
The lead was short lived though, as Team Beast would respond with a run of their own in the bottom of the first after Chris Palmero walked and John Drew ripped a double into the gap to score him. But, in the top of the second, B1000 took their lead right back. A lead off double by Brian Reluzco, followed by a wild pitch and a Zach Lam walk would set up a first and third situation for the Seminoles. With one out, Zach Lam attempted to steal second, which led the Team Beast catcher to throw the ball down to second, but Brian Reluzco’s heady baserunning allowed him to score from third to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
Once again Team Beast would answer right back, with a run in the bottom of the second, as Sean Sleicher scored on an rbi groundout from Jacob Bouvin after reaching on an error. After this, both starting pitchers seemed to really get comfortable as Dekenipp had a 1,2,3 third and fourth inning, while Brazicki had a scoreless third and a fourth where he struckout out the side in order. Dekenipp’s day ended after the fourth and Luke Bartolo came in for Team Beast to start the fifth inning. Bartolo proved to be a strike thrower early when he put up a scoreless fifth.
Unlike Team Beast, Batting .1000 decided to keep their starter in for the fifth inning, but this move did not work out. Brazicki did get two outs without allowing a run, but Chris Palmero stepped up to the plate with two on and two out and smashed a double to dead center to give Team Beast a 4-2 lead.
Luke Bartolo shuts the door for Team Beast with three scoreless innings out of the pen. They beat batting .1000 5-2. pic.twitter.com/QaAc5RnSsu
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 27, 2023
After Luke Bartolo’s scoreless sixty, Team Beast would add an insurance run thanks to John Drew. In the bottom of the sixth, Drew jumped on a first-pitch fastball and ripped his second double of the day, stole third, and then scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-2. In his postgame interview, Drew said his approach at the plate was to “just look for the first fastball” and he executed his approach very well.
Drew also mentioned that he hoped his team would go undefeated for the rest of the tournament in his interview. We will see if Team Beast can achieve Drew’s hopes as they take on another Seminoles team, as well as the South Shore Chiefs tomorrow to wrap up pool play.
