by Andrew Barbieri
Knight Empire are the @liboysofsummer College/18u Champions! pic.twitter.com/HZ1FVrYwlR
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 14, 2023
Seven Innings was not enough to determine a champion between LI Scouts Academy and Knights Empire at Holy Trinity High School as Knights Empire broke a 7-7 tie in the 9th inning and came victorious 12-7.
Ziam Deljanin took the hill for Knights Empire and Connor Marcelli got the start for Scouts Academy and it was Scouts Academy who were able to strike first. Lance Burger and Kyle McLaughlin worked walks to start the bottom of the 1st. With 2 outs, Frank Rega one hopped the fence in center to score both to give Scouts Academy a quick 2-0 lead.
Frank Rega (SUNY-Purchase) drills a 2-run double to center and LI Scouts Academy is now leading 2-0 after 1. pic.twitter.com/7f1o5YJLDS
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 14, 2023
In the 3rd Scouts Academy came across 3 more runs. Tyler Penisi lined a ball inside the third base line to plate a pair. Dom Rivera a batter later, brought in McLaughlin to extend their advantage to 5. With the way Marcelli had begun the game with 4 strikeouts and the ability to get out of innings even with traffic on the bases, Scouts Academy would be able to keep their lead intact until the end.
Knights Empire proved to have plenty of fight though. Joey Moen came up with runners on second and third with one out in the 4th looking to get the Knights on the board. He hit a slow roller to short but used his speed to put pressure on the throw. The ensuing throw to first got away and allowed 2 runners to score, making the deficit only 3. Later in the inning, Deljanin found a hole to score Moen to make it 5-3.
Scouts Academy would go to the bullpen a frame later after Marcelli surrendered a walk to Chris Critchley who was the leadoff man. Michael Balnis would enter and get through the 5th and come back out for the 6th. Knights Empire would scratch across another run while in search of clawing back into the game as Johnny Nodjack picked up an RBI on a fielder’s choice. Nodjack relieved Deljanin and would let Chris Bartho score on a balk which gave Scouts Academy a 2-run lead once again as they looked to get the final 3 outs.
Alex Giuliani led off with a base knock, Moen added in a single to get the tying run on base and build the pressure for Balnis on the mound. Balnis retired Pat Reyes and Eric Corey and was 1 out away from the Championship but still had to deal with JJ Palumbo at the plate, who could tie or even take the lead with one swing. Palumbo one hopped the left centerfield fence, 1 run scored and Moen was held at third which made it 6-5. It was then up to Deljanin, with Knights Empire still trying to tie the game, they had not been knotted up since it was 0-0 at the start of the game. Deljanin would come through with a liner back up the middle to score 2 and give his team the lead, their first of the game. The tables had been completely turned, it was now Scouts Academy playing from behind and were trailing 7-6, and down their last 3 outs. With 2 down, McLaughlin was plunked to keep the game alive. He then stole second to put himself in scoring position as the tying run. Derek Santeramo was down to his final strike, he would send a one hopper to third, the throw to first was airmailed and gave McLaughlin enough time to score and even the game at 7. Scouts Academy wouldn’t be able to walk it off and the game would head to extras. Both teams would start with a runner on second to start the inning.
McLaughlin would get it done as the new pitcher in the 8th and toss a scoreless frame. Nodjack on the other side however would also keep it knotted at 7 to force a 9th inning.
Knights Empire retakes the lead with a Pat Reyes single. pic.twitter.com/6HUXgKtdDx
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 14, 2023
Reyes, Nodjack, Critchley, Giuliani, and Corey would all pick up RBIs to give Knights Empire a convincing 12-7 edge in the 9th. Nodjack had the most notable at bat of the bunch as Reyes at third broke for the plate and Nodjack placed a perfect bunt down the first base line to secure the run. With the 5 run cushion, Nodjack looked to get the game over with for good on the bump. He struckout the first 2 batters he faced and then got Anthony Logiacco to pop up to third. After the long back and forth affair that saw both teams comeback in the late stages of the game, it was Knights Empire who were crowned champions with a dramatic, 12-7 win and end the Summer season on a high note.
