Gatto's save keeps Bulls in first place

Anthony Gatto hadn't pitched in two weeks. The Smithtown West senior ace was nursing a sore back and sat out last week's three-game series against Centereach. But the Bulls turned to Gatto in Tuesday's first-place showdown with host West Islip.

Gatto was summoned to relieve starter James English with no outs and two runners on in the bottom of the seventh. He was brought on to protect a two-run lead with the top spot in the Suffolk League III standings on the line.

"These are the moments you play for," said Gatto, who was a Suffolk League IV MVP as a sophomore. "This was a big game for both teams."

Gatto retired three of four batters, striking out the final one on a 3-and-2 fastball as Smithtown West edged West Islip, 4-3, for sole possession of first place. Smithtown West improved to 11-2 and West Islip fell to 9-4. The teams meet again Wednesday at Smithtown West.

"He's the horse," Smithtown West coach Al Nucci said. "When it's that time in the game, it's Gatto time. I wanted James [English] to try and complete the game and he did such a nice job. But it's easy to make the move when you have a player like Gatto to turn to."

West Islip had English in trouble early. Tyler Bell crushed a long double to score leadoff man Joe Valentine, who had singled, for a 1-0 lead. After a hit by pitch and a walk loaded the bases, English struck out the next two hitters and escape further damage.

"That was a big spot," Nucci said. "They had an opportunity to open a substantial lead and he showed great composure and got out of the jam. That was the turning point in the game."

SEE PHOTOSSmithtown West 4, West Islip 3

English struck out sophomore Dan Jagiello on a 3-and-2 fastball and then fanned freshman Sam Ilario to end the inning.

"He deserved the win," Gatto said. "We need him to pitch well."

Smithtown West tied the score in the third. Matt Martin doubled down the rightfield line, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Steve McDermott's double. With two outs, Valentine, the West Islip shortstop, made a spectacular diving stop of a ball headed into centerfield and threw out Ricky Alessi to end the inning.

West Islip starter Christian Stancavage ran into trouble in the fourth after he walked Gatto. Nick Dellasperanza singled and Tyler Reinig followed with a two-run triple, which one-hopped the left-centerfield fence for a 3-1 lead. English squeezed home Reinig with a well-placed bunt to make it 4-1.

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"I hit a 1-and-1 fastball," said Reinig of the 340-foot drive. "It felt great off the bat."

West Islip answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Jagiello singled, moved to third on Ilario's double and scored on Tom Woodburn's single to make it 4-2.

"We let them escape in the first inning," West Islip coach Shawn Rush said. "Our pitcher had one rough inning against a very good hitting team. We had our chances."