East Rockaway falls in Class C baseball championship
East Rockaway's Ryan Kelly (4) hits a base hit in the fifth inning during the Long Island Class C baseball final between East Rockaway and Southold on Thursday June 2, 2016 at the Holtsville PAL Stadium. Credit: Bob Sorensen
East Rockaway fell behind in the first inning and couldn’t overcome a dominant pitching performance, mustering only three hits in a 4-0 loss to North Salem in the Southeast Regional Class C baseball championship Saturday in Poughkeepsie.
North Salem’s Dan Capra struck out seven in a complete game and hit an RBI single to take the lead in the bottom of the first. He later singled and scored as his team jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the fifth.
“It was a tough day offensively for us,” said East Rockaway’s Ryan Kelly, who went 1-for-3. “We had our starting pitcher, Nick Ippolito, go down early in the game with a knee injury, but we scored no runs. The offense wasn’t there today.”
East Rockaway coach James Hickey said he was proud of his team’s effort against a strong opponent, now 17-5.
“They fought, they battled,” Hickey said. “We faced a good team and our guys were the same type of group they’ve been all year. They kept fighting; we just couldn’t get the bats going today. We ran into a good team and a good pitcher.
“I think overall, disappointing end today, certainly. We’d love to be playing another week, but I think there’s a lot to be proud about.”
East Rockaway finished the season with an 11-10 record.
Sarra Sounds Off Ep. 35: EI baseball, girls lacrosse and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," we look at East Islip baseball's inspirational comeback story, Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week and Tess Ferguson breaks down the top defensive players in girls lacrosse.
Sarra Sounds Off Ep. 35: EI baseball, girls lacrosse and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," we look at East Islip baseball's inspirational comeback story, Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week and Tess Ferguson breaks down the top defensive players in girls lacrosse.
