Plainedge's Manez dominates Wantagh

The last time Tyler Manez faced Wantagh, it didn't go well. The Plainedge lefthander got hit hard in a relief appearance as a sophomore last season, and he was still aware of it entering the game.

After Saturday's dominant performance, last season's outing is now a distant memory.

Manez threw a three-hitter, walked four, and struck out 13 for top-seeded and host Plainedge in a 7-0 win over No. 8 Wantagh in the first round of the Nassau Class A baseball playoffs.

Plainedge (20-0) will host Game 1 of the best-of-three quarterfinals Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. Wantagh (12-8) will play in an elimination game Monday.

"It was definitely revenge," Manez said. "They smacked me last time. It's something you remember."

Plainedge is having a season to remember. The Red Devils have outscored opponents 160-42.

"Back in November, our objective was to be undefeated," Plainedge second baseman Ralph Caccavale said. "Obviously in baseball, it's something hard to do, but I had confidence in this team and we just want to keep going. We really have good team chemistry. We have three aces. We can hit, have speed, and play good fundamental baseball."

SEE PHOTOSPlainedge 7, Wantagh 0

Manez allowed an infield single on a close play at first base in the second inning and didn't allow the other two hits until the final inning.

"It was a dominating performance," Plainedge coach Tom Pisani said. "He pounded the strike zone with his fastball and they had a tough time. He's been that way all year. We knew he could come up with that type of performance."

Plainedge was very aggressive, stealing six bases. Brendan Swayne reached on an infield single with one out in the third and stole second base. Then he took off for third and the third baseman went to cover the bag and Caccavale hit the ball right where he would have been standing and it went into leftfield for a run-scoring single and a 1-0 lead.

Swayne and Caccavale, the top two hitters in the lineup, reached base in six of seven official at-bats. Swayne went 3-for-4 with two runs and two stolen bases and Caccavale went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and three stolen bases.

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"We try to get on base and get to third every time to set up runs for the third and fourth hitters," Swayne said.

Catcher Cody Golub, who also threw out two runners, hit a two-run double in a five-run fourth to make it 3-0. Caccavale added a two-run single to extend the lead to 5-0.

That was plenty of runs for Manez, who improved to 6-0 and allowed just one runner to reach third base.

"He has good composure," Pisani said. "He has good command and a dynamite fastball. He had a great summer. He got bigger and stronger. He's developing into one of the top pitchers around."