by Chris Donnelly
In a Hamptons League Matchup between the Shelter Island Bucks and the Westhampton Aviators there was more than enough offense as the Bucks won 19-8 with a total of 27 runs scored.
Luke Mistone started the game for the Aviators striking out 2 in the first and a caught stealing from catcher Waldier Perez to keep the Bucks off the board. Jacob Nolan took the ball for the Bucks and started off strong with a strikeout but, then struggled to find the zone proceeding to walk the next 2 batters. A double steal leading to a throwing error would start and end the scoring for the Aviators in the 1st inning giving them a 1-0 lead heading to the 2nd inning. The 2nd inning would be quiet for both teams, they both failed to push any runs across sending the game to the 3rd inning.
In the top of the 3rd inning, Luke Mistone was cruising and looked comfortable getting the first batter to ground out until Noah Sanabia came up and smoked a ball over the right center fence tying the game up at 1-1 heading to the bottom half of the 3rd inning. Nolan would keep the Aviators from scoring, keeping the score 1-1 going into the top of the 4th inning.
The top of the 4th inning started off great for the Bucks when Cooper Donlin hit a leadoff triple setting up Izaiah Walker to drive him in with a sac fly and give the Bucks the lead 2-1. The lead didn’t last long as Sean Keys led off the inning with a double giving Mistone a chance to help himself out with a runner on. Mistone would do just that by ripping a single into left field tying the game back at 2-2. The scoring wouldn’t stop there as the Aviators would get runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out for Greg Becil who just missed a home run but would settle for a sac fly taking the lead 3-2. Ethan Guerra would bring in another with a single making the score 4-2 Aviators after 4 innings.
Mistone would be relieved by Tyler Smith in the 5th and Smith had trouble finding the zone walking 5 and only getting 2 outs. The Bucks capitalized on this scoring 4 grabbing the lead right back as it was now 6-4 Bucks. Once again, the lead didn’t last long as the Aviators would get a runner on for Sean Keys. Keys did not disappoint as he tied the game with a no-doubter over the right center field fence tying the game again this time at 6-6.
With this home run today Sean Keys officially became the Aviators all-time franchise leader in home runs with 14. pic.twitter.com/mY9HFtiuvx
— Westhampton Aviators (@WHAviators) July 14, 2023
The Bucks threatened to score in the top of the 6th with runners on 2nd and 3rd with Donlin coming up. Donlin roped a ball but a leaping catch from 1st basemen Jack Halloran would save 2 runs keeping the score 6-6. The Aviators would take the lead after a walk, a stolen base, and an error would set up Matt Torres to bring in the leading run a fielder’s choice and making the score 7-6 after 6 innings.
Top 7: Shelter Island reclaims the lead 9-7 with a single from Luke Nomura (Fairfield U) pic.twitter.com/mODDg8Ftlx
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 13, 2023
The Bucks would reclaim the lead scoring 3 after an RBI single from Rob Geisler and a 2 RBI single from Luke Nomura making the score 9-7 Bucks heading to the bottom of the 7th. The Aviators would scratch across 1 on a single from Perez bringing in Keys who scored on a throwing error. After 7 innings the Bucks led 9-8.
Top 8: Shelter Island pours on to their lead now leading 15-8 after a huge 2 out rally. Here’s an RBI double from Luke Nomura (Fairfield U) pic.twitter.com/C7ixPDjwEX
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 13, 2023
The top of the 8th the Bucks would add to their lead scoring 6 runs after RBI hits from Zach Ganca, Wilson Dunn, and Normura extending their lead to 7 and making the score 15-8. The Aviators would come up empty in the bottom half of the 8th inning as the game was slipping away from them.
The 9th was similar to the 8th as the Bucks continued to rake scoring 4 including another 2 RBIs from Nomura giving him 5 total on the day. Before the top half could end the game was called due to the ball being hard to see as it was late at night.
