by Chris Donnelly
Post game interview with Mac Fairbairn pic.twitter.com/1HpTqFIiLH
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 2, 2023
In an 11u Pool Play Matchup between Team Francisco and LI Black Diamonds in the Stars & Stripes East Coast Tournament both teams battled all the way to the end when the game ended in a 2-2 tie.
In the 1st inning, starting pitcher Mac Fairbairn struck out the first 2 batters in what looked like to be a 1-2-3 inning until the Diamonds had other plans. A 2-out single from Joey Puglissi brought up Nick Petrosino, who smoked a ball down the right field line bringing in Puglissi but a nice relay by Team Francisco gunning down Petrosino at 3rd to end the inning with the Diamonds leading 1-0 after the top of the 1st inning. The Black Diamonds sent Puglissi to the hill to help them keep the lead. Puglissi did just that keeping Team Francisco off the board.
In the 2nd inning, the Diamonds threatened again, this time with a 2-out rally after a hit by pitch and a walk put runners on 1st and 2nd. Fairbairn reared back and struck out his 4th batter of the game to end the inning and the threat keeping the score 1-0. in the bottom of the 2nd, Team Francisco got runners on 1st and 3rd but failed to bring them in keeping the score 1-0.
The Black Diamonds started to get something going after a leadoff walk followed by 2 quick outs. It seemed like the runner would be stranded again. A passed ball got the runner to 2nd base allowing Scotty Marteena to drive in the runner with an RBI single extending the Diamond’s lead to 2-0 heading to the bottom of the 3rd.
Team Francisco got on the board in the bottom of the third. After a leadoff walk, a single from Chris Mazzolla setting up 1st and 3rd brought up Luke Kaplun who drove in Dean Rivera on an RBI groundout cutting the 2-0 deficit in half making it 2-1 after 3 innings.
End of 4: Big double play from the Diamonds to end the threat. 2-1 Diamonds pic.twitter.com/YeHhL2c2IN
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 2, 2023
The 4th inning, although no one scored, had more than enough action. In the top of the inning Fairbairn worked into some trouble early after surrendering a 1-out double. Fairbairn got out of it with back-to-back strikeouts keeping the score 2-1 sending it to the bottom half of the inning. In the bottom half, Team Francisco came out swinging with back-to-back singles and a walk loading the bases with no one out. A fielder’s choice kept the game 2-1 bases loaded with one out. Puglissi reached back and got a groundball to set up a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning with the lead intact.
The Diamonds would go down in the 5th without scoring, giving Team Francisco another opportunity to tie the game. They did just that after 2 quick outs, a reach on error led to an RBI single from Luke Kaplun tying the game at 2.
FINAL: 2-2 Tie between Team Francisco and LI Black Diamonds pic.twitter.com/M9zjbOd9U1
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 2, 2023
The 6th and final inning was interesting as both teams got runners on base and threatened to take the lead but both teams dug deep and were able to get out of it and walk away with a tie.
