Final: Division 10, South Side 1
WP: Mike RoyMatt Bolton: 2-for-3, 2 BBs, 2 runs scored, 4 SBs pic.twitter.com/CtvcZbQrWr
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 5, 2024
Division HS has been one of the true baseball powerhouses on Long Island dating back to the mid 1970s. Much of that is due to their grittiness, blue-collar attitude and attention to detail. Recently, however, they have been fortunate to have high-end talent that has really helped lead them to the top of the standings. Just since 2021, they have graduated Nick Roselli (Binghamton) and had back-to-back Diamond Award winner in Joe Yovino (Elon) and James Sill (SUNY Old Westbury). This year, they appear to have another one of those and Matt Bolton.
The Binghamton-commit is off to a red-hot start to the 2024 season – going 11-for-13 with 3 HRs after his 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 4 stolen base performance in Division’s 10-1 victory over South Side.
Matt Bolton is 11-for-12 with 3 HRs to start the season and he stole 4 bases today with 2 hits in Division’s 10-1 win @GCsports pic.twitter.com/ie4kpyUuqy
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 5, 2024
Following the victory, Bolton spoke about the team’s aggressiveness on the bases calling themselves “wild dogs on the bases.” This was a reference to Coach Tom Tuttle‘s mantra for the base running saying he wants the team to be “wild dogs with rolexes”, meaning they will be aggressive but only within reason.
Coach Tuttle added that “right now we are doing everything well – we are pitching really well, we are running the bases really well and obviously we are hitting. Sometimes, you’re not always going to hit great and you have to do other things well, but I’m really happy with the way we are playing overall.”
They were facing a young but talented pitcher in South Side freshman RHP Stellan Zangari, who we featured as part of our “Up Next” series. Zangari had a great challenge facing the reigning Nassau County Champs on the road with such a potent lineup. They wasted zero time in the home half of the first after their starter, Mike Roy, fired a scoreless first inning.
Bolton got things going with a walk and he stole two bases to get himself to third. Isaiah Marino drew a walk and Colin Siegel hit a fly ball to center that was dropped to score Bolton. KK Delacruz was hit by a pitch and Cody Brush hit a sac fly to score another run. Mike Roy was hit by a pitch and Demetrios Zirogiannis hit a sac fly of his own to bring in the third run of the inning. After a pickoff attempt brought in the fourth run, an error on the shortstop scored Roy to make it 5-0.
With a team like Division, that lead is insurmountable as they simply are too disciplined to defeat when you make errors.
Mike Roy was outstanding, he went five innings, striking out seven, walking one and allowing just three hits.
South Side’s lone run came in the third inning on an RBI single to left field by Al Magaraci to score John Pericolosi. By that point, Division had already built up a 7-0 lead after a bases loaded walk issued to Zirogiannis and a HBP of Cody Brush brought in runs.
Zangari’s day was done after 1.2 innings, allowing two hits, 7 runs (3 ER), 3 BBs and 2 Ks. The freshman has a bright future but today was simply not his day. Harry Johnson came on in relief and did a good job steadying the ship, going 2.1 innings, allowing two hits, 1 run, walking two and striking out three.
Division was able to tack on one run in the fourth inning and two in the sixth to make it 10-1 and put the game completely out of reach. Aidan Quinn went 2-for-4 on the day as well.
With the victory, Division improves to 3-0 overall but will start up Conference AA-II play on Monday against Carey,. They also face Roslyn, Calhoun, New Hyde Park and Garden City in what will be one of the toughest leagues on Long Island.
