Final: Kings Park 4, Mount Sinai 0
WP: Hunter Colagrande (5 IP, 0 H, 8 Ks)Combined no-hitter between Colagrande, Callaghan and Hauk pic.twitter.com/rUaPoCXZA3
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 25, 2024
Kings Park Head Coach Andrew Abreu has a mantra for the team and it’s “Nothing Easy”. He joked that they lived up to that today, even in a combined no-hitter with a 4-0 lead.
With their ace Hunter Colagrande on the hill, it was reasonable to expect offense to be at a premium in this one. Colagrande was outstanding, firing five no-hit innings with 8 strikeouts. He reached his pitch count limit of 75 and gave way to Matt Callaghan who fired a scoreless sixth inning keeping the no-hitter in tact. In the 7th, reigning League MVP Brandon Hauk came in and struggled with his command, loading the bases before inducing a ground out to third to end the game and secure the victory over Mount Sinai.
Kings Park HC Andrew Abreu on the 4-0 victory pic.twitter.com/noG4fAJ6n4
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 25, 2024
Kings Park did their damage in the bottom of the first inning.
RBI hits by Chase Renna and Vincenzo Buffolino as well as a double steal allowed them to jump out to an early 3-0 lead. With their ace on the hill, they were in great position.
They added another run in the bottom of the second inning on a sac fly to left field by Brandon Hauk to make it 4-0.
To their credit, Mount Sinai hung tough and their starting pitcher, senior Mark Fazio, gave them six strong innings to give his team a chance to stay in the game.
Their best shot wound up being in the top of the seventh when they were able to show tremendous discipline and draw three walks to load the bases and turn over the top of the lineup.
With the potential tying run at the plate, Hauk was able to bear down and get a routine grounder to third to end it and put the finishing touches on a combined no-hitter. It certainly didn’t have the same nerve wracking moments of a typical no-hitter in large part due to six walks and a HBP.
There was one outstanding defensive play in the top of the seventh, though. Michael Cooper ranged far to his left and cut off a potential extra-base hit and converted it into an out as the Kings Park faithful was able to take a sigh of relief. A no-hitter generally features one or two great defensive plays and this was that moment.
With the victory, Kings Park begins their2024 campaign 1-0 and they will likely send freshman stud Everett Zarzicki to the hill on Wednesday as they look to make a return to the postseason this season.
