Pike, Southampton win Long Island title

This was all about defense. One team played flawlessly. The other didn't.

And that's a big reason Southampton is moving on. The Mariners scored three unearned runs and starter Chris Pike threw a seven-hitter and struck out 10 in a 3-1 win over Oyster Bay Sunday in the Long Island Class B championship at Farmingdale State College.

Pike improved to 10-0 as Southampton (19-4) won its second straight Long Island title. Tuesday, the Mariners will play the winner of Marlboro (Section IX) vs. Kennedy (Section I), with a trip to the state final four on the line. The game is slated for a 4 p.m. start but the location has yet to be determined.

"There is no one we'd rather have than Chris Pike in these tough games," Southampton coach Jim Coady said. "He rises to the occasion. That was a very good Oyster Bay team."

Oyster Bay (22-2) had its 20-game winning streak snapped after Southampton scored twice in the top of the eighth. Colin Buoniello produced a 2-1 lead with an RBI double to right centerfield that drove in Pike from first base.

Buoniello was mobbed by his teammates in front of the third-base dugout after he was replaced by pinch runner Nick Acquino. "What an awesome feeling: getting a hit like that in a big spot," Buoniello said. "It was a pitch high and away and I drove it to the gap."

Acquino scored on an infield throwing error for an insurance run. But it wasn't even necessary as Pike punctuated the win with two strikeouts in the bottom of the eighth to finish off the victory.

SEE PHOTOSClass B LIC: Southampton 3, Oyster Bay 1

"He's dominated all season but he had to really battle out there today," said Southampton centerfielder Ricky Wesnofske, who reached on an error and scored in the third inning. He also had a triple in the fifth. "It didn't surprise me that he had enough to lead us."

Pike, who was 3-for-4, led off the eighth with a single, then hustled from first to score the go-ahead run. "He was gassed coming around third and wanted no part of scoring," Coady said. "But I had to send him."

Pike slid across home plate and just laid there - totally exhausted.

"Colin's had some big hits," Pike said. "But I never thought I could score there."

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Southampton opened the scoring in the third with an unearned run. With two outs, Wesnofkse reached on an infield error. He stole second and went to third after Vin Abbate struck out and the ball got away from catcher Dan Roland. Abbate raced to first as Roland's throw sailed wide of the base. Second baseman Alex Lorusso made a nice backup on the errant throw but the speedy Wesnofske beat his throw home to make it 1-0.

The score stayed that way until the bottom of the seventh as Pike squared off in a pitcher's duel against Oyster Bay starter Joe Siringo. He allowed four hits, hit one batter and struck out seven through the first six innings.

Siringo, who wasn't slated to start, was 5-0 during the season, and was the emergency starter after Jake Robinson complained of a back injury.

"I just went out and pitched my game," Siringo said. "Jake's back was bothering him and coach gave me the ball. We usually play great defense. That was very uncharacteristic of our defense."

Said Pike: "They didn't hit the ball especially well, but the turf helps grounders get through the infield quickly. It's not a surprise that they won 20 in a row."

It's also no surprise that Pike delivered on the biggest stage.