Walsh leads Plainedge to win over Island Trees

BY ADAM RONIS | adam.ronis@newsday.com

11:42 PM EDT, May 13, 2008

Baseball game between Plainedge and Island Trees.

Plainedge's Tim Walsh throws a pitch against Island Trees. (Photo by Peter DiLauro / May 14, 2008)

Nassau baseball coaches have been vehement in their dislike of the new ability-based grouping format that was initiated this season. If you need proof that the coaches think the regular season is devalued, take the approach Plainedge coach Tom Pisani used Tuesday against Island Trees.

Plainedge needs a three-game sweep to be co-champs with Island Trees. How much does it mean to Plainedge? Pisani had senior Tim Walsh on a pitch count of 50 because the playoffs start Saturday and Walsh will pitch.

"We had to think about the big picture and the playoffs," Pisani said. "With the new setup, these games don't mean a lot. It should be a great series to end the season, but it's a little tainted."

It wasn't for Walsh. He produced on the mound and with his bat in a 12-6 win over Island Trees in Game 1 of the Conference ABC-II series. Walsh threw 53 pitches in four innings, allowing one run and two hits, striking out five and walking one. He also went 4-for-4 with a homer, four RBIs and a walk.

Plainedge (13-6, 10-5) lost in the semifinals last season, and Island Trees (16-3, 12-3) won the Nassau Class A championship.

"Since September, I've been waiting for this series," Walsh said. "I wanted a shot at them last year so bad and we never got it. They're one of the better teams around. It gets us ready for the playoffs."

Walsh initiated a seven-run fifth with a three-run homer to put Plainedge ahead 3-1.

"His home run was huge in that spot," Pisani said. "That's what got us rolling."

Plainedge left six runners on base through the first four innings, but came through in the fifth. Nick Pustorino hit a two-run double and Joe Pugliese a two-run single to make it 7-1.

Plainedge will be seeded anywhere from No. 5 to 8.

"The way seeds work, you don't know if it's better to be 5 or 7," Pisani said. "There's no more double-elimination, so a league championship isn't the same."