by Chris Donnelly
FINAL: Mayhem 10 Titans 7 @EcybTournaments pic.twitter.com/U7eYVNwY57
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 9, 2023
In a 9u matchup between the Merrick Mayhem and LI Titans in an East Coast League game the Mayhem were doing everything right leading to a 10-7 win over the Titans in a high-scoring game.
To start the game and get things going the Mayhem trotted Lucas DiDemenico to give them a great chance to win. The Titans got to DiDemenico early loading the bases with a couple of singles and a walk. Gabriel Lettieri started the scoring with a ground out to the first baseman giving the Titans a 1-0 lead. They didn’t stop there, 2 passed balls brought in 2 more runs giving the Titans a 3-0 lead after the top of the 1st.
The Mayhem answered back quickly with a leadoff single from Jax Goldstien who was driven in by a double from Vince Drogan who ripped it in the left-center gap cutting the deficit to 3-2. Drogan was dangerous on the basepaths stealing 3rd and scoring on a heads up read. After the 1st inning it was 3-2 Titans.
DiDemenico came back out for the 2nd looking to keep the game 3-2. It wasn’t looking good after a walk and hit by pitch set the Titans up for a chance to add to their lead. DiDemenico reared back and got 2 back-to-back outs on a strikeout and a fly out. After a single and the bases loaded DiDemenico had to pull it together quickly. He did just that striking out the next batter stranding the bases loaded and keeping the score 3-2. Even after this the Mayhem were still losing and had some work to do on the offensive side of the ball.
Looking to take this momentum with them to the plate the Mayhem were excited. It looked like they were when they loaded the bases with 1 out. Jayden Behensky wouldn’t give in easy getting a strike out for the 2nd out and a flyout to end the inning and stop the Mayhems’ momentum while creating some of their own to take to the plate. The Titans took this momentum and put it to use. A leadoff double from Ryan Bird followed by a walk to James Caroleo gave Letteri a chance to add to his RBI total. Letteri didn’t waste any time smoking a ball over the third baseman’s head down the left field line driving in Bird and Caroleo while adding to their lead. 5-2 Titans heading into the bottom of the 3rd.
The Mayhem needed to get something going as they got 2 runners on but failed to cash them in and had lost all the momentum they had gained. The Mayhem kept the Titans off the board in the top of the 4th but now it was time for them to do damage. This time they didn’t need a runner in scoring position as Duguay leadoff with a single bringing DiDemenico up with one runner on. DiDemenico drove a ball down the right field line and never stopped running. The 2-R home run gave the Mayhem a ton of life for them to comeback as the score was now 5-4. They would end up tying the game with an RBI single from Drogan. It was all tied up at 5 after 4 innings.
Post game interview with Lucas DiDemnico and Coach Duguay pic.twitter.com/onf2ipsm5e
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 9, 2023
The Titans looked to take the lead right back loading the bases but in a 9 pitch at bat reliver Drew Dehmer would win the battle striking out the batter and keeping the game tied. With that momentum the Mayhem came up and never looked back, scoring 5 in the bottom of the 5th off some walks, productive outs, and some timely hitting.
With the score 10-5 the Titans needed to get the bats going. With 2 outs the Titans started a rally with Dylan Mcfazden coming up and he drove a ball in the gap scoring 2 but getting thrown out at 3rd on a nice relay to end the game 10-7.
