by John Sullivan
Game 1
Postgame interview with Nick Paluzzi kf the B1000 Seminoles. He went a complete game on the mound and had 2 hits on offense pic.twitter.com/DZ5Gnih0Aj
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 25, 2023
From the first pitch of the game, it was clear that the 14u Boys of Summer double header between the Batting 1000 Seminoles and the TC Blackhawks was gonna be one of high intensity and loud dugouts. For the Blackhawks, Matthew Wolanski got off to a great start with a shutout inning where he struck out three batters. The Blackhawks’ offense got off to a great start in the bottom of the first as well, scoring two runs on a RBI single by Gabe Bonilla and a RBI sac fly from Gio Tarantino.
In the second, the Seminoles took advantage of some mistakes made by the Blackhawks on defense. After an error in right field and a wild pitch, Matthew Judge scored to make it a 2-1 ballgame. But, the TC Blackhawks offense took that run right back in the bottom half of the inning after Rocco Liguroi walked, stole second, stole third, and then came in to score on a sac fly. The Blackhawks were up 3-1 heading into the third.
The third inning is where the momentum of the game completely flipped. Russel Schwartz got the inning started for the Seminoles with a lead off single down the third base line, then walks by Nick Palizzi and Micheal Scotto loaded the bases with no outs. Although it seemed like the Blackhawks would get out of the jam after two straight strikeouts, the Seminoles were able to draw three straight RBI walks to take a 4-3 lead. On the defensive side for the Seminoles, their starting pitcher, Nick Paluzzi, seemed to finally have settled in after he posted his first shutout inning.
The fourth inning was the only scoreless one of the game, as Gio Tarantino tossed a No run inning for the Blackhawks and Nick Paluzzi responded with one of his own in the Seminoles. But, the Seminoles made up for the lack of the runs scored in the fourth when they got a chance to hit in the fifth. Despite only having 1 hit (an RBI single from Nick Paluzzi) in the inning, the Seminoles offense posted 6 runs in the top of the fifth. This was thanks to good plate discipline, as the Seminoles walked 7 times in the inning.
In the bottom half of the fifth, Nick Paluzzi once again trotted out to the mound looking to finish things as this would be the last inning due to the time limit. Despite the Blackhawks getting their first two runners on via a single and an error, Paluzzi got the job done and the Seminoles took game 1 10-3. After the game, Paluzzi mentioned that the intensity from the opposing dugout helped his energy stay up on the mound, which allowed him to go the distance for his team.
Final: Seminoles take game 1 10-3. Game was called after 5 due to time limit. Game 2 coming up soon pic.twitter.com/yY00OzimN0
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 25, 2023
Game 2
Postgame interview with Gio Tarrintino of the TC Blackhawks who went 2 for 2 with two doubles in a 4-3 victory pic.twitter.com/rxZ8RoxRis
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 26, 2023
Game 2 was even more intense than Game 1, as the dugouts were even more loud and the action on the field was more pressure-filled. But, this didn’t seem to get either starting pitchers early on. For the Seminoles, Russell Schwartz retired the Blackhawks in order in the first. Joshua Lubell responded by getting a 1-2-3 inning of his own in the bottom of the first for the Blackhawks.
In the second Russel Schwartz kept it up as he worked around a 1 out double from Gio Tarantino to put up another scoreless inning. This time the Blackhawks didn’t respond with a scoreless inning of their own though. After Ryan Jacobs, Joseph Mckilop and Ben Bonadia all walked, Tyghe Rowland came to the plate with the bases loaded and 1 out. Rowland hit a grounder to short and it seemed like it was gonna be an inning ending double play. But, Rowland used his speed to just barely beat out the throw to first, which allowed Ryan Jacobs to score from third and Joseph Mckilop to score all the way from second. A play that was inches away from keeping the game tied at zero ended up giving the Seminoles a 2-0 lead heading into the third.
Russ Schwartz stayed hot on the mound in the third, as he put up another donut in a two-strikeout inning. In the bottom of the third, the Seminoles once again scored a run due to savvy base running. After Nick Ippoliti hit a double and stole third base, he came in to score on a dropped third strike throw to first base from the catcher. The Seminoles had a 3-0 lead heading into the fourth.
In the fourth, the Blackhawks bats finally came alive. After Jake Ostertag reached on a fielder’s choice and Gabe Bonilla hit a single the other way, Gio Tarantino smoked a double into the right center field gap to score Ostertag and get Bonilla to third. The very next at bat Den Perlman hit a huge 2 RBI single up the middle to tie the game at 3. But, the Blackhawks weren’t done just yet. With two outs and Perlam on third, Matt Wolanski stepped up to the plate and crushed an RBI double over the right fielder’s head. This clutch two out double sent the Blackhawks dugout into a frenzy and gave them a 4-3 lead. On the mound, Joshua Lubell kept the momentum going for the Blackhawks with a 1-2-3 inning that consisted of two strikeouts and a big celebration from the pitcher.
Mid 4: The Blackhawks offense explodes for a four run inning with a big thanks to an RBI double from Gio Tarantino and a 2 RBI single from Dean Perlman. Matt Wolanski also had an RBI double in the inning pic.twitter.com/DgCqc6F5Lb
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 26, 2023
The fifth was quiet for the Blackhawks offense as Michael Scotto tossed a 1-2-3 inning in his first inning of relief for the Seminoles. The bottom of the 5th looked very promising for the Seminoles, as their first two batters reached on walks. With first and second and no outs, the Blackhawks brought on Jake Ostertag in relief. After striking out the first batter and walking the second, Ostertag had to face the Seminoles three batter, Cole Zuckerman, with the bases loaded and one out. Although Zukerman hit the ball on the screws, it was right at the shortstop and the at bat resulted in a massive 6-4-3 double play.
With the sixth being the last inning due to time limit, both dugouts were very loud and trying to get in the opposing pitchers head. But, this wasn’t a problem for Micheal Scotto of the Seminoles as he threw his second scoreless inning in relief. In the bottom of the sixth, a walk, strikeout, then a hit by pitch set up another nail-biting spot for Ostertag and the Blackhawks. With men on first and second and just 1 out, Ostertag picked up a huge strikeout to calm his nerves. Ostertag then busted a fastball inside on the next batter, which forced him to hit a weak groundout to second. This secured the huge game 2 win for the Blackhawks at a score of 4-3.
