|
|
Rough start for Stony Brook Bears
SBS Lax
|
April 08, 2009 | 02:52 PM
The Stony Brook Bears had a rough start to the season. After dropping the first game 18-3 to the Port Jefferson Royals on March 31, the two teams traveled to Stony Brook's Jeff Adams Field for an April Fools' Day Bears' home opener. "Yesterday was a little rocky," said Stony Brook head coach Vinny Cannino before the game. "We're going to play with a little more enthusiasm."
In the early stages of the game, it looked like it was going to be a pitcher's duel, but that wasn't the case. An eight-run third inning helped the Royals pick up from where they left off in Port Jefferson, as the Royals went on to crush the Bears 14-0 in a five-inning game.
Stony Brook had its strongest scoring opportunity in the bottom of the second. Stony Brook pitcher John Kanas walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch thrown by Port Jefferson starter Sean McGivney. After left fielder Tory Abrahemson struck out, third baseman Don Liotine singled to center. Kanas failed to advance on the play. The closest that Stony Brook came to scoring was to have runners on the corners, but nobody crossed the plate. "I just wanted to throw strikes and get out of the inning," McGivney said.
In the top of the third, Kanas was wild hitting the first three batters of the inning with pitches. Port Jefferson cleanup hitter Brendan Duffy added insult to injury with his bases-clearing triple. With one down, Port Jefferson left fielder Chris Esposito smacked an RBI double. Port Jefferson third baseman Ryan Ward hit an RBI single. Cannino made the call to the bullpen and brought reliever Brian Harrington in to pitch. He surrendered a two-run single to Port Jefferson second baseman Drew Crovello to end the damage.
Stony Brook first baseman Ryan Haas led off the bottom of the inning with a double to left. McGivney surrendered two walks to load the bases. Stony Brook right fielder Connor Moloney tapped the ball in front of the plate, but the cat-like reflexes of Port Jefferson catcher Justin Battelli allowed him to field the ball, step on the plate and throw to first for a double play. Stony Brook trailed 9-0 after three.
In the top of the fourth, two more Port Jefferson runs crossed the plate. Esposito, who reached base with an infield hit, and Duffy, who walked, both scored on an error committed by Stony Brook second baseman Sean Barker. Port Jefferson increased the lead to 11-0.
With his team leading 11-0 in the top of the fifth inning, Battelli, who didn't have any home runs last season, belted a two-run shot for his third of the season. "I did the best I could to sit on it," he said. "I made good contact and it came flying off the bat." An RBI double by Port Jefferson center fielder Joe Guerra put the finishing touches on Port Jefferson's impressive 14-0 victory.
McGivney, who had a successful 2 for 5 day with 2 RBIs at the plate, improved his pitching record to 1-1 by throwing a complete game shutout.
| |
|
|
|
| |
Copyright 2010
(631) 751-7744 | news@tbrnewspapers.com | www.northshoreoflongisland.com | About |
|
| |
|
