by Joe Bello
Chase Bocchi walks it off for LI Elite Cuomo with a 2-RBI single!!! LI Elite takes this one 5-4 over Team Francisco. pic.twitter.com/MDonkujxV0
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 19, 2024
Long Island Elite Cuomo and Team Francisco Notorious 9 faced off on Wednesday night in a battle of the first and second place teams of the Boys of Summer 15u National Division.
LI Elite would go on to win this exciting matchup 5-4 on a walkoff, standing strong in first place while improving their record to 7-0-2. While Team Francisco would drop to 6-4 on the summer, dropping from 2nd to 4th place in the standings with the loss.
While this one may not be considered a pitcher’s duel, there wasn’t too much offense for either side as well, LI Elite only had 4 hits, while Team Francisco had 3.
The back-and-forth battle this evening would start off in the bottom of the first inning, where Luke Chekmayan of LI Elite would beat out an infield single, scoring a runner and grabbing them a 1-0 lead.
Team Francisco tied the game up in the top of the second at one apiece with an RBI fielder’s choice by Chris Mangieri.
The score would remain 1-1 until the bottom of the third inning, where LI Elite would snatch the lead back with an RBI fielder’s choice by Matt Waters.
Mangieri would come up clutch again for Team Francisco in the top of the fourth inning, ripping a single down the left field line to drive in Frank Buffalino and tie the game at 2. TF would then take a 3-2 lead with a RBI walk drawn by CJ Everett, who came into the game as a pinch hitter for this at bat.
LI Elite answered back quickly, tying the game at 3 in the bottom half of the inning, due to Justin Walsh with an RBI fielder’s choice.
In the top of the 5th, which would end up being the final inning due to time limit, TF threatened by loading the bases, but the only run to come across would be on a balk by Walsh.
This gave TF a 4-3 lead with a chance to close out the game in the bottom of the fifth.
Chris Barling started off the inning with a walk for LI Elite, followed by Chekmayan reaching on an error. Chase Bocchi stepped into the box and ripped a single to the opposite field to drive both of them in and win it 5-4.
Bocchi had two rough at bats to start off the game, striking out in both of them, before becoming the hero for his team.
Axcess Baseball spoke to Bocchi following the victory,
“It feels great,” Bocchi remarked, “I had two tough at bats earlier in the game. I got back up looking for revenge, first pitch I saw a fastball up, and I just missed it.
“On that last pitch I saw that low and away fastball and I went right with it to right field and got the winning hit.”
Bocchi was then soaked with some celebratory water bottles by his teammates. A great way to end off a fun victory for him and his team.
