by Andrew Barbieri
Postgame interview with coach Bobby Cruz, his son Bobby Cruz, and Nick Grigonis. pic.twitter.com/6mI2RUaIuP
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 12, 2023
In ECYB Tournament’s 10u Summer Showdown American Division Championship, the Bayside Yankees used an 8-run first inning to propel themselves to a run-rule victory over the Floral Park Knights, 13-1.
The Knights reached the championship with a 2-0 win against Phenom Baseball while the Yankees won in a back-and-forth affair versus Titans Baseball- Fergo, 9-7.
The Yankees rolled the dice and saved their best pitcher for last as they fought through the semifinal and give hard thrower Anthony Arvelo the ball in the Championship. The Knights got a great performance from Jake Horton who pitched a complete game shutout and looked to get the same outing from Noah Soe who scored the game winning run in the semifinal.
After Soe singled and Horton walked with 2 down, Arvelo settled down to get Jake Gutierrez to strikeout on high heat and the Yankees got to work immediately at the plate. The first 2 batters Alex Hirschfield, and Anthony Verde both found gaps for doubles to make it 1-0, Arvelo also ripped a two bagger to make it 2-0. Nick Grigonis scored on a wild pitch during Chase Almona’s at bat, then Almona brought home Arvelo with a base knock. Almona would come home on another wild pitch and the Yankees led 5-0. 3 batters later, John Spirou brought in another run with a single, the Yankees capped off the rally with 2 more runs on pitches that got to the backstop. Altogether, they sent up 12 batters, had 8 hits, and jumped ahead 8-0.
Grigonis came back up in the 2nd and while behind the count, he still found a pitch he liked and barreled it over the right field wall to add another run on the board.
FINAL/4: Bayside Yankees 13, Floral Park Knights 1. The Yankees with a strong performance to win the 10u Summer Showdown! @EcybTournaments pic.twitter.com/Or6FLuepXu
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 12, 2023
Bayside continued to score in the 3rd. Spirou picked up a 2-run single, Verde scored another with a line up the middle, and Grigonis added a sacrifice fly. The Yankees were 2 runs away from 15 runs which would have ended the game right then and there.
Soe would rip one to the opposite field for a double that would also bring in a run, the lone run for the Knights. However, Arvelo fielded a comebacker and threw on to first to retire Gutierrez and secure the Bayside Yankees 3rd championship of the summer.
It truly has been a summer to remember for the group as they’ve won over 60 games in a total of 80 games played, coach Bobby Cruz and his players should feel proud of what they’ve achieved over the past couple of months.
