by Trevor Dugan
Axcess caught up with head coach Mike DiGiovanni and Renzo Iannou after the Juniors Ducks comeback victory. pic.twitter.com/I4r0Dp5S1C
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 26, 2024
In the second game of the day at East Coast Baseball’s 9u Memorial Day Clash, the Long Island Junior Ducks defeated the Merrick Mayhem – Cohen, 19-14.
For a game that lasted just four innings due to time constraints, there was no shortage of offense. The teams combined to steal 31 bases, 18 for the Junior Ducks and 13 for the Mayhem. Every player in the Junior Ducks’ lineup scored at least once.
The Ducks jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after an RBI single by starting pitcher Justin Webster. The Mayhem quickly countered with four runs of their own in the bottom of the first, taking a 4-1 lead into the second inning.
Nick Karabuber of the Mayhem drove in a run and then scored in the first inning. He would reach base and score in all three plate appearances, finishing the day 3-for-3 with 4 RBI, 3 R and a home run.
The Junior Ducks would get one back in the next inning to bring the score to 4-2. They would have scored more were it not for the heroic effort of Mayhem second baseman Dean Stamm, who made a terrific diving catch on a sinking liner to save a run.
In the bottom of the second the Mayhem offense exploded, hitting two triples in the inning and scoring seven runs. One of the triples came off the bat of Finley Goldberg, who would finish the day 1-2 with an RBI and a run scored. The Mayhem led 11-2 after their second inning outburst.
Facing an uphill battle, the Junior Ducks began to claw their way back. They would strike for three in the inning, one coming on an RBI single by three hitter Anthony Sanchez. He would finish the day 3-for04 with a game high 5 RBI. Midway through the third the Mayhem led 11-5.
Renzo Ioannou took over on the mound for the Junior Ducks in the bottom of the third and looked sharp, pitching a 1-2-3 inning to get his offense right back to work.
The top of the fourth lasted over 30 minutes and saw 14 Junior Ducks cross home plate. Everyone was getting involved, an endless stream of hits saw a six run deficit turn into a five run lead for the Junior Ducks. They had gone from down 11-2 to leading 19-11 in the span of two innings, scoring 17 unanswered runs.
Renzo Iannou delivers an RBI single as the Junior Ducks stage an incredible comeback, scoring 14 runs in the fourth.
Junior Ducks 19 – Mayhem 11 midway through four. pic.twitter.com/mVTVNOrkch
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 26, 2024
By the end of the Junior Ducks onslaught the umpire informed both sides that due to time constraints, the bottom of the fourth would be the final half inning.
Trailing by eight, the Mayhem put up a good fight, striking for three runs in the last inning including two on a home run by Declan Cohen. They came up just short though, and the Junior Ducks won by a final score of 19-14.
Head Coach Mike DiGiovanna was proud of his team for the way they fought during their comeback victory, and cited the team’s fundamentals as the source of their comeback.
“I tell these kids every game.. you’re never out of anything. Let’s put the ball in play, make them earn it,” said DiGiovanna. “The team with the most free bases at the end is gonna win the game.”
DiGiovanna also highlighted the performance of Ioannou, who he said was instrumental in keeping the team focused during their comeback.
“I was saying to them you got to be loud. The louder you are, it puts pressure on the other team,” Ioannou said. “Once they have pressure, we start getting hits.”
The victory for the Junior Ducks secures them a third place finish in the 9u Memorial Day Clash. The Mayhem will finish fourth.
