by Andrew Barbieri
FINAL/6: Knights Empire 8, Dodgers Nation 6.
Knights Empire complete the sweep with a come from behind victory propelled by a big 5th inning. @liboysofsummer pic.twitter.com/6eaAFh0a2W— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 18, 2023
On a hot and humid day at Garden City Community Park, Knights Empire took a pair of games over Dodgers Nation, winning 6-2 in game 1, and 8-6 in game 2.
While the offense for Knights Empire was strong in both games, both teams started off the day without a base runner until the 4th inning in game 1 due great starts from Ryan Valente of Dodgers Nation, and Gavin Rogers of Knights Empire.
Knights Empire in the 4th inning flipped a switch got their going to break the ice. Will Lentini broke the perfect game with a 1-out single, Ryan Sivillo and Joe Belbol walked to give Ryan Mabrouk an opportunity with the bases. Mabrouk cashed in all 3 runners on a drive to right center that resulted in a bases clearing double to take a 3-0 lead. Ben Morandi also managed to provide an extra base hit to score Mabrouk. A batter later, Riley Quinn scored Mabrouk on an RBI single to make it 5-0 Knights Empire. Gavin Kozich broke up Roger’s perfect game with a leadoff single in the 4th as Dodgers Nation would look to trim the deficit. After Valente walked, Ethan Jeon singled to give Dodgers Nation their own chance with the bases loaded and nobody out. Jayden Sleeper walked to get Dodgers Nation on the board, an off target throw to first on a double play ball caused another run to score, making it 5-2, but Rogers found his way out to preserve the lead.
For good measure, Knights Empire added 1 more run from a Vinny Abrusci infield hit to extend their lead to 4 and Rogers shrugged off the shaky 4th to pitch 2 more scoreless innings and give Knights Empire a 6-2 victory. Rogers’ 6 strikeouts, 3 hits allowed performance proved to be more than enough to earn the victory after the bats from his teammates had a 5-run 4th inning to give him plenty of cushion.
Gavin Rogers is the Muddy Locker Player of the Game. @liboysofsummer pic.twitter.com/a4Lar2DRa5
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 18, 2023
Game 2 would showcase more of a back-and-forth affair, with both teams having leads in different parts of the game. Dodgers Nation got going quickly as they put 2 runners in scoring position to start. Luke Walsh then came through with a 2-run single up the middle to get his team in front early 2-0. Knights Empire got a spark in the 3rd inning when Anthony Massimillo stole second and scored on a wild pitch to cut the Dodgers Nation lead in half. Sivillo lined a ball into left to tie the game later in the inning, an E6 would later get Belbol home after he walked earlier in the inning and give Knights Empire a 3-2 advantage.
In the 4th Roman Brunetti countered with a SAC fly to even the ballgame at 3 but Dodgers Nation were not scoring that inning. Sleeper would score while Joe Rivera was up after a throw down to second went array to get the lead back for Dodgers Nation. Rivera then proceeded to launch one deep to left center that allowed him round the bases for an inside-the-park homer and extend the lead to 6-3. Knights Empire managed to get a run back on a Massimillo two bagger but as a second runner came around, Jeon on a relay throw home, fired a missile to the plate to keep it 6-4.
Knights Empire in the bottom of the 5th would dig down deep grab the lead back and never look back as Belbol found a gap and reached third and drove in Abrusci on the play. Dodgers Nations threw the ball away which Belbol took advantage of and scored to make it a 6-6. Sivillo would score from third later in the inning to grab the lead back and then Knights Empire got an insurance run to head into the final inning up 8-6.
An inaccurate throw down to second now makes it 7-6 Knights Empire. pic.twitter.com/5YJlM9BgbO
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 17, 2023
Morandi would get Walsh looking to end the game and complete the sweep for Knights Empire.
Knights Empire now sit at 8-4-1 in the Boys of Summer 15u American Division while Dodgers Nation now carry a 9-7-1 record. Both teams will compete in the Axcess Invitational this weekend.
