Nassau all stars top Suffolk in slugfest

Cameron Sorgie had big plans for Friday night. The fire balling righthander had a doubleheader of sorts. The Floyd senior planned to take prom pictures in the late afternoon, jump in his mom's car, and get to Farmingdale State College for his scheduled start in the RTC Foundation's 7th Annual Grand Slam Challenge.

Sorgie was scheduled to pitch the first inning of the Nassau-Suffolk senior all-star game, get dressed and head out to the East Wind in Wading River to join his classmates for the William Floyd senior prom.

"We had to make special arrangements to be at both places," Sorgie said. "The school doesn't allow students to go to the prom unless they arrive by limo or bus. No one is allowed to drive to the prom. So I want to thank the school for making the provision allowing me to play in the all-star game."

Sorgie arrived just before game time, stripped off his tuxedo, and donned his navy blue all-star jersey for the Suffolk squad. It's nice when a plan falls into place.

Wantagh's Ryan Sliwak greeted Sorgie with a leadoff triple to the left centerfield gap and scored on a Jake Thomas fielder's choice as Nassau took a 1-0 lead. Sorgie finished the inning with no further damage.

The hits kept coming for both teams as Nassau outscored Suffolk, 12-8, in a slugfest that saw 27 hits, including eight for extra bases, before a crowd of 416 at Farmingdale State College. Suffolk now leads the series 5-2.

"Both teams had one incredibly big inning," said Nassau head coach Ken Sicoli of East Meadow. "It was a wildly entertaining game for offense. I really enjoyed being around all the talent."

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With Sorgie on his way back east after his brief encounter with all-stardom, Nassau added three runs in the second inning keyed by a Brendan Swayne run-scoring single and Stephen Laurino's run-scoring double for a 4-0 lead. Suffolk answered with a seven-run fifth for a 7-4 lead. Suffolk totaled eight hits in the outburst, including a run-scoring double from Sachem's Brendan Garry, a one-run triple by Shoreham's Ryan McAlary and Lindy teammates Stephen Skon and Mike Roehrig added run-scoring singles.

"We had two teams loaded with guys that could really swing it," Suffolk coach Anthony Frascogna said.

Calhoun's Jake Thomas, who was named the Nassau MVP, led off the fifth with a triple to right centerfield. He was the first to score in an eight-run barrage that gave Nassau a 12-7 lead.

"He's a special player," Sicoli said. "He's an especially good kid in the dugout, always smiling and loving the game. He just carries himself so well."

It was a night to remember for quite a few all-stars. Sachem's Alec Sole went 3-for-3 and was named the offensive player of the game. Half Hollow Hills West lefthander Remy Janco, who is headed to Duke, earned the MVP award for Suffolk, after he struck out four in two innings of scoreless relief.

"It was an opportunity to pitch against the best from Nassau," Janco said. "So it was a challenge."

The defensive gem of the evening came at second base when Chaminade's Tom Rouolis made a diving grab of a line drive and doubled the runner off first base. And Andrew Gallagher, who had six saves for Chaminade, was most outstanding pitcher, after he allowed an unearned run in two innings of relief for the save.