by Mike Merolle
The @GCsports player of the game is Plainedge’s Matt Rosenberg.
Rosenberg struck out 7 batters and allowed 0 runs helping Plainedge defeat MacArthur on Monday. pic.twitter.com/qIW69YjPji
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 1, 2024
It was a score only a pitcher could love. Plainedge defeated MacArthur, 1-0, at home in a non-league game to open the 2024 schedule.
Tyler Bonsignore was on the mound for MacArthur and he was near perfect. Bonsignore had two strikeouts in both the first and second inning and three in the third. He opened the fourth inning with his eighth strikeout of the day but Plainedge’s bats retaliated.
Bobby Wescott hit a solo home run to open the game’s scoring. The lefty-on-lefty blast put a dent in the scoresheet but Bonsignore closed the inning with a strikeout.
Top 4: MacArthur 0 – Plainedge 1
Bobby Wescott hits a solo shot to left center for the lead. pic.twitter.com/1VfOas8772
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 1, 2024
Plainedge made things difficult again for Bonsignore in the bottom of the fifth by loading the bases with two outs. The southpaw got out of the jam after Zach Rosenzweig hit a flyout to right field. Bonsignore was given the official loss but it was an impressive performance after he finished the day with 12 strikeouts and one run allowed in six innings pitched.
In the offseason, Plainedge’s head coach, Colin Fratrik, told Axcess Baseball how confident he is in his pitching staff. He said that many arms would be competing for spots this year and the first name he mentioned was Matt Rosenberg.
Rosenberg, like Bonsignore, was stellar on the mound on Monday. Rosenberg started hot striking out four through three innings. In the fourth, three walks allowed by Rosenberg put Plainedge in danger of surrendering runs but the defense helped get three outs preventing MacArthur from scoring.
After the bumpy fourth, Rosenberg responded with three strikeouts in the fifth. He was awarded the win and finished the day with seven strikeouts and zero earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched. Santino Batista earned the save after relieving Rosenberg in the sixth and helping shut out MacArthur.
Rosenberg was the GameChanger player of the game and he spoke about his performance. “Felt great. Just pounded the zone, got as many strikeouts as I could, and dominated out there,” Rosenberg said. “To start off with a W in a home opener? Very crucial for us. It’s only going to get better than this.”
Plainedge will travel to South Side for another non-league game on Wednesday and MacArthur will host Lynbrook for a non-league matchup on Tuesday.
