Jordan Meirowitz's three RBIs spark Wheatley to Conference VI title

After beginning the season on the junior varsity, Wheatley freshman Jordan Meirowitz received word that he was likely to be called up to the varsity baseball squad soon.

Once he earned the opportunity midseason, Meirowitz continued to thrive. And that didn’t change even when he arrived on the biggest stage of them all.

Meirowitz ignited Wheatley’s offense on Sunday, going 2-for-4 with a two-run inside-the-park home run and three RBIs, and Kyle Rosenberg struck out 10 in the Wildcats’ 10-3 victory over Pierson in the Long Island Conference VI championship game.

"This is pretty crazy," Meirowitz said. "After starting out at JV, I got the call-up and I’m happy that I could help the team out in every way that I could. Coach [Paul] Paino told me he would call me up and I knew there was a chance we could make it this far, but I never thought that it would actually happen, so this is pretty surreal."

Wheatley (13-8) earned the third Long Island championship in program history and first since 2016.

"To win a Long Island championship is the best feeling possible," Rosenberg said.

With Wheatley ahead 7-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Meirowitz laced a hit to left-center that fell just outside the centerfielder’s diving attempt. As the ball rolled toward the wall, Meirowitz was off to the races. He slid across home plate headfirst just ahead of the throw for the homer.

SEE PHOTOSPhotos: Long Island Conference VI baseball championship

"I was thinking about holding him up but I’m glad I didn’t," Paino said, laughing. "My decision was to send him . . . We’ll take that. Inside-the-park homers are fun."

Wheatley’s starting pitcher also had his fair share of fun. Although he allowed 10 hits, Rosenberg’s only struggles occurred in the third, when he surrendered two runs and five hits as the Whalers (16-2) took their only lead of the day at 2-1. Rosenberg cruised from there and pitched a complete game.

"I was just trying to throw strikes the entire game," he said. "We have one of the best defenses in the county, so my boys got behind me and it worked."

Meirowitz ripped an RBI single to right later that inning to tie the score at 2 and was followed up by his brother Jake, who hit a two-run double to left that put Wheatley ahead for good.

Jake Meirowitz spoke about what it was like to share this championship moment with his younger sibling.

"This is a great experience," he said. "Especially having my brother here with me. He’s a great player and had a great impact, especially as a freshman. I’m very proud of him . . . I can’t wait to make more memories and get more wins with him."