🚨 WALK OFF GRAND SLAM 🚨
Hauppauge junior Mike Oliveto crushes a walk-off grand slam as the Eagles overcame a late 7-2 deficit to win 10-7 and improve to 7-0 pic.twitter.com/aFHDWjUBaF
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 8, 2024
As far as endings go, it doesn’t get any more dramatic than a walk-off grand slam.
Hauppauge junior Mike Oliveto was able to experience the pure jubilation of turning a deficit into a victory for the Eagles against rival East Islip, in the first game of a crucial three-game set which could determine Suffolk County League 5.
“It’s feels great…it feels amazing,” said Oliveto, in the moments following his heroics. Clearly at a loss for words, the junior was overcome with excitement after getting mobbed at home plate by his teammates. Needing a sac fly to bring the tying run in from home plate, Oliveto was able to do that and more, bringing in all three runners to cap a comeback, as the Eagles had been trailing East Islip by the score of 7-2 entering the sixth inning.
The game started with a great pitching matchup between sophomore Tucker Brown and junior Jaden Schmidt.
Hauppauge got on the board in the bottom of the first with three consecutive hits by John Margolies, Mike Oliveto and Matt Neglia.
The lead did not last long, though, as East Islip responded with two runs in the top of the second on a two-run single by Chris LaMacchia to score Brady Kneisel and Alex Johnston. The inning was extended on a walk drawn by John Talt.
East Islip extended their lead in the third inning on an RBI single by Alex Johnston to score Jaden Schmidt who hit a one-out double to right center field.
Trailing 3-1 in the fourth, Hauppauge got one run back on an RBI double by Mike Oliveto to score John Margolies to make it a 3-2 ballgame. Schmidt escaped with a flyout to left field by Matt Neglia.
In the top of the fifth inning, East Islip broke through with three runs as Hauppauge’s reliever Christian Jenny struggled with his command – walking Alex Johnston to bring in a run. Two more runs scored on an E2 and a steal of home to make it 6-2. They extended the lead in the sixth inning on an E5 to score Gavin Veltman and make it a 7-2 game.
Things were looking bleak for Hauppauge, but as I mentioned to someone at that moment, I’ve never covered a game at Hauppauge that was a blowout. They have a penchant for coming back from the dead and making late game comebacks on their home turf.
That’s exactly what they did.
The comeback began in the home half of the sixth when Ryan Schofield, who was hitting in the nine-hole for Roman Dixon hit a two-run shot to left field to score freshman Kyle Magill.
Hauppauge got runners on second and third with two outs but a ground out to first inning ended the threat and kept the score 7-4.
Looking to add some insurance runs in the seventh, East Islip got the leadoff run on via HBP of Lucas Patton, but the next three batters were retired in order setting the stage of the home half of the seventh.
Cole Wood led the inning off with a double, which set the tone for things to come. Ian Rivera drove him in with a double of his own to left center field. Kyle Magill and Ryan Schofield walked to roll the lineup over. Pinch hitter Max Ofgang struck out on a bunt attempt with two strikes for the first out of the inning. John Margolies reached on an E5 on what could’ve potentially been a game-ending double play.
That brought up Oliveto and the rest, as they say, is history.
With the victory, Hauppauge improves to 7-0 and puts themselves in the driver’s seat but they will still face a challenge in having to face UCF-commit Thomas Costarelli on Thursday.
