One bad pitch costs Abbate his first loss

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- With one pitch in the first inning, Sean Abbate matched his season high for earned runs allowed. The Division senior righthander began the game by getting a strikeout and grounder to shortstop before issuing a four-pitch walk to Brad Kaczka.

The next pitch to Zach Salvia was crushed over the leftfield wall for a two-run homer and was the difference for Division in a 3-1 loss to Pittsford Sutherland Saturday in a State Class A baseball semifinal at NYSEG Stadium.

"I was trying to get ahead and unfortunately I left it too much over the plate," Abbate said. "It was a belt high fastball and he pretty much smoked it. I wish I can go back to that moment and throw a different pitch. I knew once he hit the ball, it's gone. It's the worst feeling as a pitcher."

Abbate hasn't experienced that often this season. He suffered his first lost to finish 10-1. Abbate won five games in the postseason.

Abbate went the distance allowing six hits, five walks (one intentional), and struck out eight. He allowed a leadoff double in the third to Jordan Swisher, who came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Salvia for the final run.

"I could pitch a lot better," Abbate said. "I had a couple guys with two strikes and let up a base hit. I probably should have been smarter."

Abbate gave the offense a chance to rally. He left runners at first and second in the second and fifth innings and stranded the bases loaded in the sixth, but the offense produced just three hits.

"When you have a guy like Sean, it eases the nerves," Division leftfielder J.J. Kissane said. "He's a dominant pitcher and in my opinion he's the best pitcher on Long Island. He threw a good game. He made one mistake."