by John Sullivan
Andrew Valente and Jayden Locissano are the Muddy Locker Players of the Game pic.twitter.com/uIwjhsyMaa
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 24, 2023
Dodgers Nation came out swinging the bats early and often Monday Night in East Islip against Owls Baseball. The lead off batter, Jayden Loccisano jumped on the first pitch of the game for a bullet line drive single into left field. The two batter, Ryan Camier, did the same. Aidan Quinn then worked a walk to make it bases loaded and no outs. Daniel Cevallos followed that up with a very well hit sac fly into center field for an RBI. After a pop out and hit by pitch, Domenic Azzariti took a fastball to the arm for the hit by pitch RBI. Luckily for the Owls, James Sabella was able to notch a K on the next batter and end the inning. In the bottom of the first, Andrew Valente kept the momentum going for Dodgers Nation with a quick 1-2-3 inning via a fly out and two soft groundouts.
In the second inning, Dodgers Nation kept it up on offense. After a lead off hit by pitch from Zach Migliore, Jayden Loccisano smoked a double down the left field line to score Migliore. Loccisano would later come around to score from second thanks to some savvy base running on an RBI fielder’s choice hit by Daniel Cevallos. This would give Dodgers Nation a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second. Andrew Valente put up another quick inning in the bottom of the second, inducing 3 groundouts and working around a 1 out error.
The third inning was the quietest of the whole game, as it was the only inning where both teams went scoreless. Dodgers Nation did threaten with two walks to lead off the inning, but Greg Inserillo came in relief for the Owls and got a huge strikeout, fly out, and groundout. Unsurprisingly, Andrew Valente continued to roll in the third for Dodgers Nation, notching a 1-2-3 inning with a backwards K.
In the fourth, Dodgers Nation got back to their scoring ways on offense. After Aidan Quinn singled and both Daniel Cevallos and Domenic Azzariti worked walks, Matthew Orena stepped up to the dish with the bases loaded and two outs. Orena came through, as he smoked a ground ball off the pitcher’s glove for a single and an RBI to make the game 5-0. In the bottom of the fourth, Andrew Valente put up yet another 1-2-3 inning with a soft groundout, a fly out and a strikeout.
Jayden Loccasino continued his monster game at the plate in the fifth by crushing a lead off triple over the centerfielder’s head. After the next batter, Ryan Camier worked a walk, Aidan Quinn stepped up to the plate and delivered a two RBI double down the left field line to make the score 7-0. Quinn would later come around to score on Josh Strauss’ deep sac fly into center field to make the game 8-0.
Final: After the owls put up 2 in the fifth, the game is ended due to time limit. Here’s an RBI single from Shake Mills of the Islip Owls. Dodgers Nation wins it 8-2 pic.twitter.com/PeP4rf7r4W
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 24, 2023
With the bottom of the fifth being the last inning due to time limit, Andrew Valente took to the mound looking to complete a no-hitter. Unfortunately, that no-hitter was broken up immediately when Finn Connors ripped a leadoff single into left for the Owls. But, Valente was able to induce a double play on the next batter to become one out away from a shutout. But, the Owls showed heart with two outs. After Armani Smith reached on an error and stole second, Shane Mikos singled into center to score Smith. Then, Jose Duran walked to bring up Dylan Welsh. Dylan smoked an RBI double into the gap to make the score 8-2, but Valente notched a strikeout on the next batter to end the game. After the game, Jayden Loccasini and Andrew Valente both agreed that this big 8-2 victory would help Dodgers Nation get hot and gain some momentum in their upcoming games.
