by Trevor Dugan
Axcess caught up with the Legacy Prospects after their win at Diamond in the Pines @liboysofsummer pic.twitter.com/KK7gHMyOhc
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 22, 2024
18u/17u Next Level Baseball faced off against the Legacy Prospects Sunday morning at Diamond in the Pines, as part of the Boys of Summer fall season. Instead of a doubleheader, the two sides agreed to play one nine-inning game.
The lefty Josh Lubell got the start for the Prospects, while Next Level sent out a lefty of their own in Jack Murphy.
It was apparent right away that both starting pitchers had their best stuff in this one. Lubell struck out two batters in the first inning, his first of nine strikeouts on the day. He would pitch five innings for the Prospects, allowing no runs.
Lubell told Axcess he felt like his pitches were really working Sunday morning.
“My changeup and slider were my best pitches in a two strike count,” Lubell said. “And my fastball was really moving today.”
In the bottom of the first the Prospects grabbed an early 1-0 lead thanks to lead off man Riley Batz. Leading off the game with a single, Batz proceeded to steal second and third base, then scored on a throw down to second to give the Prospects their first run of the game. His blazing speed was on full display in this one.
After a shutdown inning by Lubell, the Prospects offense went back to work in the bottom of the second. Collin Joy, a 2027 graduate of the Stony Brook School playing up for the Prospects, hit a single through the left side to score a runner from second, making it 2-0 Prospects.
Murphy settled in after that, and would not allow another run for the remainder of his outing. He demonstrated impressive command of all his pitches Sunday, racking up eight strikeouts in just four innings of work.
With both pitchers dealing, it remained 2-0 until the fifth inning when the Prospects offense struck for three runs. It started with Christian Balkcom, the 2025 outfielder from Holy Trinity arrived late to this game, but in his first at bat in the fifth inning he hit an absolute moonshot of a solo homer to center field. Balkcom finished the day 2-3 with three RBI. After five innings the Prospects led 5-0.
In the postgame, Balkcom discussed his approach at the plate that led to him such success Sunday morning.
“Just jumping on the right pitches at the right time,” Balkcom explained. “Making sure everything is right with my hands, and just making sure I hit the ball at the right speed.”
LHP Ben Feil entered in relief of Lubell in the top of the sixth. Next Level was able to get to him for their first run of the game, coming on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded. Feil avoided any further damage however, striking out the last two batters of the inning to get his offense back to work. He would finish with four strikeouts in three innings pitched.
In the sixth, Balkcomb came to the plate for the second time in as many innings with two runners in scoring position. He drove a ball through the right side of the infield to bring both runners home, giving the Prospects a 7-1 cushion.
The Prospects nearly needed those sixth and seventh runs. Next Level scored one more in the seventh to make it 7-2, then after a scoreless eighth inning they started to rally in the ninth.
A ninth inning rally by Next Level comes up short as the Prospects get the victory
FINAL: Prospects 7 – Next Level 4 pic.twitter.com/vQECeinjKt
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 22, 2024
They drew several walks to load the bases, and were able to score twice thanks to two more walks with the bases loaded. Now 7-4, the Prospects were able to tightrope out of danger and snuff out the Next Level comeback, ringing up the last batter on a strikeout looking to end it.
The Legacy Prospects improve to 2-1 on the season, while Next Level Baseball falls to 1-3.
