Nassau baseball update and look ahead
MacArthur pitcher Adam Heidenfelder delivers to home plate during the first inning of a game against Port Washington. (April 29, 2013) Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Action continues Friday in the Nassau baseball playoffs. Let’s reset and take a look at what’s occurred this week.
Class AA
Three of the four semifinalists are set. We await the winner of Game 3 between No. 2 Hicksville and No 7 Syosset to determine the seeding. That series will conclude on Friday.
If Hicksville wins, they will host Carey and No. 1 seed MacArthur will face off against No. 4 Massapequa. If Syosset wins, they will travel to MacArthur and No. 3 Carey will host Massapequa. Each will be a best-of-three series that will begin Monday, May 20.
MacArthur powered past Bellmore JFK on the strength of two big pitching performances. Adam Heidenfelder pitched a complete game two-hitter with 12 strikeouts in a 5-0 Game 1 win. Dom Danetti went eight strong innings in Game 2 and Sean Carey drove in the winning run as MacArthur picked up a 3-1 win in 10 innings.
The Carey bats were loud in its two-game sweep of Calhoun. The Seahawks slugged three home runs in the series -- one each by Anthony Catapano, Darren Rodriguez and Andrew Ris. Erick Vilchez went the distance and struck out six in the clinching 9-4 victory.
Massapequa’s starters were able to shut down the Oceanside bats in its two-game sweep. Alex Cosenza struck out six and allowed eight singles in a complete-game shutout in Game 1, while Nick Fanneron tripled in the game's only run. Patrick Healy followed up in Game 2 with a four-hitter, allowing only one earned run in a 6-2 win.
Class A
Three double digits seeds remain in the quarterfinals – No. 13 Plainedge, No. 14 Valley Stream North and No. 15 Island Trees. No. 1 Wantagh was eliminated after falling to No. 8 Garden City and No. 15 Island Trees in consecutive games.
No. 2 South Side and No. 3 Clarke are the highest remaining seeds, but Clarke is facing a 1-0 deficit against Valley Stream North.
South Side defeated Island Trees 8-3 in Game 1 of its series.
Ambie Veras of Bethpage quickly stopped Plainedge's momentum in Game 1 of their series, pitching a complete game shutout with five strikeouts as Bethpage won 1-0.
No. 9 Seaford rallied with a four-run sixth inning to defeat No. 8 Garden City in Game 1 of their series.
Class B
The Class B finals are set as No. 3 Wheatley and No. 1 Locust Valley each swept their series.
Matt Rothstein’s two-run single plated the winning runs for Wheatley in Game 2 against Oyster Bay. The ace righthander should be rested to start Game 1 of the finals.
Locust Valley got strong pitching performances from Brett Paolicelli and Kevin Rieger in its 2-0 sweep of East Rockaway.
The finals begin on Monday, May 20.
Get ready for sun and fun with NewsdayTV's summer FunBook special! From celebrating America's 250th birthday to a new ride at Adventureland, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have your inside look at Newsday's summer FunBook.
Get ready for sun and fun with NewsdayTV's summer FunBook special! From celebrating America's 250th birthday to a new ride at Adventureland, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have your inside look at Newsday's summer FunBook.
