by Chris Donnelly
Post game interview with Greg Becil pic.twitter.com/o8JtWJlHU2
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 27, 2023
The Westhampton Aviators won game 3 and the Hamptons League semifinals against the Southampton Breakers by a score of 3-2 to send them to the championship series against the South Shore Clippers.
It was a pitching duel as the Aviators sent Jake DeSlauriers (Hofstra) to the mound to send them to the championship series and he showed out going 7 innings only surrendering 1 hit and 1 earned run giving him the win. The Breakers sent Steven Hardiman (Bentley U) to the hill, and he was spectacular – going 6 innings, striking out 5 and only giving up 1 run which gave the Breakers a great chance to win.
Hardiman worked through some trouble early giving up a leadoff double to Ethan Guerra (Paris JC) giving the Aviators a runner in scoring position early. Up came Matt Torres (Dickson) who roped a one-hopper that looked like a single up the middle until shortstop Chad Pike made a sliding play throwing out Torres and preventing the run from scoring. Guerra would get to 3rd on a passed ball, but Hardiman would get a pop-up to Pike for the 2nd out. Jack Halloran (Emory) came up trying to give the Aviators an early lead as he hit a hot shot to 2nd base but another spectacular play from the Breakers this time it was 2nd baseman Kenneth Franquiz who saved a run on a clean pick and throw to 1st to end the inning.
Deslauriers and Hardiman continued to pitch well, both getting clean half innings to send the game into the 3rd inning. The top of the 3rd saw the 1st run of the game. After a leadoff walk, Ty Gilligan (Dominican) reached on an error setting up the Breakers with 1st and 2nd with 0 outs. The leadoff hitter John Vitucci (Seton Hall) would move the runners over a sac bunt setting the table for Pike. Pike would bring in the 1st run a sac fly giving the Breakers a 1-0 lead in the top of the 3rd.
Hardiman continued to go to work only giving up 1 hit his first time through the order. Deslauriers and Hardiman both sat down their competitors in order in the 4th.
The Breakers led off the 5th with a single from Franquiz who would steal 2nd on a delayed steal giving the Breakers a runner on 2nd with 0 outs. A groundout to 2nd would move Franquiz to 3rd giving Gilligan an RBI chance. Gilligan would come through as he hit a chopper to Guerra who would take the out at 1st allowing the Breakers to add to their lead as it was now 2-0 Breakers after 5 innings.
The 6th was when the Aviators would get on board. After a quick out Tyler Smith (St. Peters) belted a solo shot over the center field fence cutting the deficit to 1. Trying to tie things at 2 Luke Mistone (Cal St Fullerton) ripped a double giving the Aviators a chance to tie it. Zev Moore (MIT) ripped a single to center field and on a controversial call, Mistone was thrown out at home after Gilligan dropped the ball but was still able to tag Mistone before he could touch the plate keeping the Breakers in front 2-1 after 6 innings.
Bot 7: Greg Becil (Lehigh) gives the @WHAviators a 3-2 lead with a huge 2-run homerun pic.twitter.com/3Tv8j9N904
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 27, 2023
Deslauriers would go out for his last inning getting a 1-2-3 inning bringing up the Aviators in the bottom half. Jacob Pedersen (Adelphi) came in relief for the Breakers. A leadoff single and fielders’ choice would set up Greg Becil (Lehigh) with one out and a runner on 1st. Becil came up and did not disappoint as he ripped a no-doubter over the left-center fence giving the Aviators the lead for the first time all game.
FINAL: 3 @WHAviators @SH_Breakers 2
Aviators move on to the Finals pic.twitter.com/GEW4jAr1KY— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 27, 2023
The Aviators would bring in Ryan Miller (Norwich) to preserve the lead. Miller worked through trouble as he had runners on 2nd and 3rd 1 out but worked around it keeping the Aviators ahead 3-2.
Miller would hand the ball to Bruno Cergol (Finger Lakes CC) and he came out firing striking out the side to send the Aviators to the championship series against the South Shore Clippers.
