Wantagh edges Plainedge in thrilling game

It is only April, but it felt like a playoff game between Wantagh and Plainedge this afternoon. It was an exciting game between two of the top teams in Nassau Class A and Wantagh eked out a 5-4 win on the road.

Mike Stack delivered a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning on a 2-and-0 fastball with two outs off Tom Walsh, who struck out the first two batters of the inning on some nasty curveballs.

“That at-bat was great,” Wantagh coach Keith Sachs said. “He was really making us look bad. We couldn’t figure him out.”

Plainedge couldn’t figure out Wantagh’s Greg Welch. The Warriors’ ace came into the game in relief with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the sixth. Ralph Caccavale (3-for-3) hit a ball in foul territory and first baseman Adam Aponte made a basket catch with his back towards home plate and Cody Golub (2-for-4) tagged up and scored to tie the score at 4.  Welch issued a walk to load the bases again and then got a strikeout looking on a full count.

“I just needed to throw strikes,” Welch said. “I was nervous. I was pleased to come out of the inning that way. I expected to pitch, but not in that high level situation. I haven’t come into a game in that situation. It’s a lot harder than starting.”

Welch has an overpowering fastball, but had trouble with his location. He walked the first batter in the seventh. A balk moved pinch runner Brandon Fiscina to second with no outs before Welch struck out the side to end the game.

“They weren’t going to touch him,” Stack said. “He just needed to throw strikes.”

For more on the game, check out Sunday’s paper.