by Trevor Dugan
MXE Academy Giac Squad takes game one of their doubleheader at PAL Stadium
FINAL: MXE 8 – Bonnies 3
With a win in game two, they will be crowned @liboysofsummer 16u Fall Division Champions pic.twitter.com/VY1R8AaUpo
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) October 27, 2024
16u MXE Academy Giac Squad and the Bonnie Bees met Sunday morning for the first two games of a three game series to decide the Boys of Summer 16u Fall Division Championship.
LHP Ethan Azoff (James Madison 2026) got the start for the Bonnies in game one. MXE sent out RHP Jefferson Biener (Division 2026).
The Bonnies had the bats working in the top of the first. After a leadoff strikeout, the 2-5 batters hit four consecutive singles. The first run scored when Reynaldo Medina (Park Slope Collegiate 2027), laced an RBI single into center field. Two more runs would score in the frame, one coming on a well executed double steal of second and home.
The Bonnies held a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the first, but they wouldn’t have it for long. MXE scored three runs on two bases-loaded walks and a passed ball, tying things at three right away.
Biener went back to work in the second and fired a 1-2-3 shutdown inning. Despite a shaky first inning, Biener looked sharp the rest of the way and did not allow another run through his six innings pitched.
MXE jumped ahead in the bottom of the second thanks to an RBI double by Patrick Annello and an RBI single by Jack Lyke (Trinity 2025), making it 5-3.
Biener followed that up with another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the third.
Wade Middleton (John Jay 2027) entered to pitch in relief for the Bonnies in the bottom of the third. With two outs, MXE lead off man Lucas Eagleston smashed a line drive to the wall, but an excellent relay by the Bonnies defense caught him at home as he attempted to score, saving a run and ending the inning.
MXE would get to Middleton in the bottom of the fourth however, when Lyke struck again for another RBI single, this time driving in two. He would finish game one with a team high three RBI. MXE held a 7-3 lead heading into the fifth.
Biener was truly cruising at this point, as the Bonnies hitters just couldn’t seem to figure him out. He fired another quick, scoreless inning in the fifth.
MXE would get one more insurance run in the fifth, when Luke Giglio smashed an RBI double to make it 8-3. It was the third double of the game for MXE.
Fernando Alvarez (Mepham 2027) came in to record the final three outs for MXE, pitching a scoreless seventh and helping MXE to an 8-3 victory.
GAME TWO
Blake Coy (James Madison 2027) delivers a walkoff hit for the Bonnies, capping a dramatic two out rally to keep their fall season alive
FINAL: Bonnies 6 – MXE 5
The teams will meet next Saturday to determine the champion of the @liboysofsummer 16u Fall Division pic.twitter.com/URLlbUCy33
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) October 27, 2024
The Bonnies needed a win in game two to stave off elimination and force a decisive game three for the 16u Fall Division Championship.
The Bonnies gave the ball to Penn Jurgensen (Williamsburg Prep 2027) while Jack Lyke (Holy Trinity 2027) got the start for MXE.
MXE picked up where they left off and scored right away in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by Jefferson Biener, his first of a team high two RBI in game two.
The Bonnies answered with a four spot in the bottom of the first. Haruo Narita (Peddie 2027) put them on the board with an RBI single to drive in two. Another two runs came in on an RBI double by Bonnies catcher Blake Coy (Williamsburg Prep 2027), giving the Bonnies a 4-1 lead after one.
Jurgensen fired a shutdown inning to get his offense right back to work, but Lyke found his groove following a rough first inning. The MXE starter pitched a scoreless second, and didn’t allow another run until the final inning.
MXE cut into the Bonnies’ lead in the top of the third, scoring twice to make it a 4-3 ballgame. One run scored when Pat Anello doubled to center for his third extra base hit of the day, and another scored on a throwing error.
In the fourth, MXE jumped ahead thanks to some good luck, scoring two runs in two separate errors with two outs in the inning. They led 5-4 heading into the bottom of the fourth, and Lyke pitched a quick scoreless frame to hold the lead.
In the fifth, MXE threatened to increase their lead even further. A leadoff single and two walks loaded the bases with just one out, prompting the Bonnies to make a pitching change. Evan Phillipson (Xavieran 2027) came in to face the daunting task of escaping the jam, and delivered. He struck out his first batter faced and then forced a fly out to end the inning and keep the score at 5-4.
It would remain 5-4 until the bottom of the seventh. With the championship on the line, the Bonnies got one more chance against MXE starter Lyke, who had not allowed a run since the first inning.
Lyke retired the first batter, then hit the next to put the tying run on base. A fielder’s choice made it two outs with a runner on first, then a single and a walk loaded the bases for Blake Coy (James Madison 2027).
The Bonnies’ catcher came through in the clutch, hitting a walk-off single to drive home two runs and give his team a dramatic 6-5 win.
The two out rally by the Bonnies forced a decisive game three for the LI Boys of Summer 16u Fall Division Championship, which will be played on Saturday November 2.
