by John Sullivan
Vincent Genovese (Tri State Arsenal) and Ian Rivera (Yeti Baseball) are the Muddy Locker Players of the Game pic.twitter.com/gJCbFV3mRh
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 7, 2023
The 16u matchup that took place Monday night between Tristate Arsenal and Yeti Baseball was one that featured two incredible starting pitchers that refused to crack under pressure.
Ian Rivera (starter for Yeti) and Vincent Genovese (starter for Arsenal) both displayed their talent on the mound immediately, as they both tossed quick 1-2-3 innings in the first. The second inning was not as easy for Rivera though, as he ran into a bases loaded one out situation after giving up a single to Mike Fosorile and walking two batters. But, the bases being loaded didn’t seem to affect Rivera because he struck out the next two batters with ease, blowing fastballs right by them to escape the jam. Rivera’s counterpart, Vincent Genovese responded to this by putting up another quick scoreless inning with help from Chase DeLeonardis, who threw out a runner trying to steal second to end the inning.
After Rivera’s somewhat rocky inning in the second, he seemed to completely settle in on the mound in the third inning. In this inning, he was able to induce a pop out, record a strikeout, and then induce a groundout for an easy 1-2-3 inning. In the bottom of the third, Genovese continued his dominant ways on the mound, as he recorded a groundout to first, a fly out to center, and a pop out to short for a 1-2-3 inning of his own. In the fourth, Arsenal was able to put a little bit of pressure on Rivera after Jake Parpan was hit by a pitch and stole second to lead off the inning. But, the pressure just seemed to make Rivera even better on the mound. With a man on second and no outs, Rivera recorded a strikeout looking on his curveball, a strikeout looking on his fastball, and then a strikeout swinging on his changeup to end the inning for Yeti. Unfortunately for Yeti, Genovese kept cruising on the mound in the bottom half of the inning, as he worked around a walk to toss a scorless inning with two pop outs and a groundout. The game was all tied up at 0-0 heading into the fifth.
End of 5: Both pitchers continue to dominate as Vincent Genovese works out of a second and third 1 out jam with a strikeout and a fly out. Game is still scoreless pic.twitter.com/Odj70hvANe
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 7, 2023
In the fifth, Rivera put up a very clean inning for Yeti, as he tossed a 1-2-3 inning with two pop outs and a strikeout. But, for Arsenal, Genovese ran into his first bit of trouble on the mound. After Camden Wallace reached on an error and Ian River singled, the two pulled off a double steal to put Genovese in a tough second and third with only one out situation. Despite only having one strikeout on the day, Genovese was able to dig deep and get Matt Mancini swinging on a high fastball for strike three and the second out. Then, Genovese got Jacob Gordon to fly out to left to end the inning and keep the game tied up at 0.
The sixth inning felt like a repeat of the fifth, as Rivera worked an easy 1-2-3 inning and Genovese once again faced a second and third with one out jam. This time, it was Jake Romeo, who worked a walk and Nick Friscia, who reached on a fielders choice who pulled off a double steal to set up the situation. But once again, Genovese didn’t seem fazed by the pressure-filled situation at all. Facing the three and four batters in the Yeti lineup, Genovese was able to induce a groundout back to himself and a pop out to right field to once again escape the jam.
Mid 7: Ian Rivera strikes out the side to finish up 7 scoreless inning with 12 strikeouts. Game is tied at 0 pic.twitter.com/55yNZlPsjA
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 7, 2023
In the seventh inning, Ian Rivera finished off his outing with his strongest inning of the day. Rivera needed only 12 pitches in this inning to punch out the Arsenal’s 3,4, and 5 hitters and give his team a chance to walk it off. Unfortunately for his team, Vincent Genovese denied this chance, as he induced a fly out and two groundouts to send the game to extra innings tied at 0-0.
In extras, Camden Wallace took over on the mound for the Yeti and immediately ran into trouble after Genovese hit a lead off double and reached third on a passed ball. It seemed improbable that Arsenal wouldn’t score, but Wallace shows end that he has ice in his veins after he recorded a strikeout, a pop out, and then another strikeout to end the inning and give his team yet another chance to walk it off. After a lead off line out from Shea Miller, Jacob Gordon hit a single up the middle and stole second to put a runner in scoring position with one out for Yeti. The next batter, Greg McSweeney hit a line drive on the screws, but it was right at the shortstop, who caught it and threw it to second for a double play to end the game in a 0-0 tie.
End of game: Vincent Genovese finishes off the complete game 8 inning shutout and Arsenal tied Yeti 0-0 pic.twitter.com/mbpcDcFfvg
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 7, 2023
Both Ian Rivera and Vincent Genovese showed that they are extremely talented pitchers with bright futures ahead for them on Monday Night and it was extremely exciting to watch both of them battle on the mound. Rivera’s final stat line was 7 IP, 12 Ks, 2 hits, 2 BB, and 0 runs allowed. Genovese’s final line was 8ip, 2Ks, 2 hits, 4BB, and 0 runs allowed.
