Witteck helps Island Trees to Game 2 win

It was difficult enough for Mike Witteck not being able to pitch this season because of rotator cuff tendinitis in his left shoulder. The frustration mounted when the Island Trees leftfielder slumped for most of the regular season.

The playoffs have been a different story. Witteck has contributed in many ways and Tuesday he did it via the walk. Witteck went 1-for-1 with three walks, three runs, an RBI, and a stolen base as No. 3 Island Trees defeated No. 7 Division, 12-6, in Game 2 of the Nassau Class A baseball finals at Farmingdale State to even the best-of-three series at 1. Game 3 will be played at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Farmingdale State.

"You have to wait for your pitch and I didn't see mine," Witteck said. "Not pitching is really hard. Hitting is the way I have to contribute, so I just have to help with that. During the regular season I was trying to hit for power. Now, I'm hitting line drives and ground balls through the hole."

"He's our No. 1 pitcher and he's not pitching for us," Island Trees coach Joe D'Auria said. "He was struggling with the bat early, hitting the ball right at people. He's turning it on."

As did the rest of the Bulldogs' lineup after they scored one run in Game 1. Louis Mele hit a two-run single in a six-run third to give the Bulldogs (22-6) a 2-0 lead. Witteck walked with the bases loaded to make it 3-0. Ryan MacDonald capped the scoring in the inning with about a 365-foot blast to right-center for an RBI triple.

Winning pitcher Mike Jeannetti's RBI single made it 7-0 and ninth-place hitter Kyle Nigro hit a three-run triple in the fourth to make it 10-0. The bottom three hitters in the lineup went 4-for-7 with four walks, a sacrifice bunt, and six RBIs. Nigro was 2-for-4 with four RBIs.

"I had two strikes and was trying to protect the plate," Nigro said. "I got my pitch and hit it to left. We all contribute. The top of the lineup has been driving us home. We just get on base. Everyone is doing their job right now."

SEE PHOTOSIsland Trees 12, Division 6

Division (19-7) scored six in the fourth highlighted by a two-run triple from Johnny Muller and a three-homer by J.J. Kissane to pull within 10-6 before the Bulldogs added one run in each of the next two innings.

"We were very disciplined and got into their bullpen, which was a key," D'Auria said. "We worked counts and got some key hits when we needed to."