Dybus strikes out 14, hits two homers for Wantagh

Call Matt Dybus' nonchalance a factor of experience, swagger or dry humor, but he was the only Warrior shrugging his shoulders during his dominating performance against Bethpage in the first round of the Class A playoffs Saturday.

The Wantagh righty struck out 14, causing Golden Eagle batters to toss their helmets and bats in frustration after a familiar thwack against catcher Kyle Ambury's mitt signaled another casualty.

And as for his two home runs - which paced the Warriors' 11-0 victory and bought them a bye into the county semifinals - well, Dybus said they were right in his wheelhouse. It's no good letting those get away.

"I just kind of went out there and did my thing," Dybus said. "I was in the same spot last year [pitching in the first round]."

This time, Dybus pitched a three-hitter for first-seeded Wantagh (16-4). Only one hit left the infield. He allowed three walks and hit a batter. He also went 2-for-4, with a solo shot in the fourth and a three-run home run in the sixth.

No. 8 Bethpage (7-12) will play a winner of the single-elimination games (seeds nine through 16). Teams will be reseeded after the first round.

"He's been that way all year for us," Wantagh coach Keith Sachs said of Dybus. "And he can pretty much throw every day. He's a dream."

SEE PHOTOSWantagh 11, Bethpage 0

It was pretty much a dream sort of day for the Warriors, who kicked it off in the first with a solo home run off the bat of Matt Benedetto. Kevin Cohen, taking advantage of the wind blowing straight out to center, went long in the second to make it 2-0. Leading 4-0, Wantagh tacked on another four runs in the fourth, capped by Cohen's one-out, two-RBI double to right, which knocked starter Gavin Stewart out of the game.

"He's a good pitcher," said Cohen of Stewart, who added that the tough ability-based regular season schedule prepared the Warriors thoroughly. "We've seen him already a few times, and it prepares you a lot."

While Wantagh teed off, Dybus used his menu of curveballs, sliders and rocket fastball to upend Bethpage. He allowed an infield single that couldn't be handled by second-baseman Ryan Sliwak to lead off the third, and didn't give up a clean hit until Matt Shelly's groundball single in the sixth.

"He's a shutdown kind of pitcher," said Cohen, who plays centerfield. "It's great playing for him. You get those easy outs."

SEE PHOTOSHigh school sports -- May

For Dybus, it was literally business as usual.

"He's had four or five of these starts already," Sachs said. "He had everything working for him."