by Tucker Terranova
(Photo by Catherine Scarantino)
The Nassau County AAA Championship kicked off Saturday at Farmingdale State College, with No. 4 Port Washington facing No. 3 Farmingdale on a picture-perfect day to start Memorial Day Weekend.
Angel Cartagena breaks down his impressive day at the plate and a 6-3 win for Farmingdale. pic.twitter.com/FPQVQylvYw
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 25, 2024
How they got here:
Port Washington faced arguably the toughest challenge on the island in the semifinals: ending No. 1 Massapequa’s six-season title streak. After dropping Game 1 in eight innings, Port Washington fought back to win the next two games, toppling the reigning champions. They now aim to capture their first County Title since 1970.
Similarly, Farmingdale was shut out in Game 1 by No. 2 Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK. However, fueled by an offensive outburst totaling 26 runs over the next two games, they bounced back to win the series and advance.
Tale of the Tape:
Final: Port Washington 3 | Farmingdale 6 pic.twitter.com/ylGEsWiqIP
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 25, 2024
Jordan Welch made it look easy through two batters as he quick-pitched his way to consecutive strikeouts to kick off the morning. However, he was unable to escape the inning cleanly. After issuing a free pass to Koki Maezawa, Jackson Garcia ripped a single to left, putting runners on the corners with two away.
Attempting a coordinated pickoff play where Welch faked a throw to third before firing to first, he was called for a balk, bringing home Maezawa and giving Port Washington an early 1-0 advantage.
Farmingdale punched right back in the bottom half of the inning, as Maezawa worked himself into a jam by walking and plunking consecutive Dalers. Angel Cartagena made him pay, crushing a one-hopper off the right field wall for a 2-RBI double, giving Farmingdale the lead after one inning of play.
“I’ve missed the last two games with a sprained thumb, but felt better than ever today,” Cartagena said in a postgame interview with Axcess Baseball.
The bottom of the second inning seemed to be smooth sailing for Maezawa after he retired the first two batters he faced. However, he continued his struggle with control, walking the bases loaded and bringing up Jordan Welch with an opportunity to help himself and extend the lead. Welch crushed Maezawa’s 2-2 offering, but the wind held it in the ballpark as Anthony Iuorio tracked it down on the center field warning track, keeping Farmingdale at bay.
Farmingdale looked to add insurance in the bottom of the third and did so with Cartagena’s second extra-base hit of the morning, this time ripping a triple into the right-center gap.
Dennis Tower followed with a textbook sacrifice fly to medium-depth right field, bringing Cartagena home and giving Farmingdale a 3-1 lead through three innings.
Ive Mills crushed a leadoff double for Farmingdale that missed being a home run by mere inches to kick off the fourth inning. He eventually came around to score on an RBI single from Welch, which led to Maezawa’s departure from the game and pushed Farmingdale’s lead to three.
Farmingdale added two insurance runs in the fifth courtesy of Patrick Sebber and John Franco to take a 6-1 lead into the sixth, only six outs away from a win.
Port Washington scored two in the seventh and brought the tying run to the plate with two away, but it was too little, too late as Farmingdale put the finishing touches on a 6-3 Game 1 victory.
Welch twirled a gem for Farmingdale, providing them with six innings on 104 pitches, surrendering one run on six hits, walking five, and striking out five en route to the victory.
“We’ve had great chemistry, I’ve known Jordan since we were 11 and call all of his starts,” said Cartagena.
For Port Washington, Maezawa lasted 3.2 innings on 76 pitches, allowed four runs, five hits, punched out one, and issued five free passes, but was taxed with the loss.
Game 2 of the best-of-three series will take place Sunday at 1 pm and will be held at Farmingdale State College.
“We’re hyped and looking to win every game.”
