Floyd freshman Evan Hoyle throws shutout in varsity baseball debut
Evan Hoyle of Floyd delivers a pitch in the first inning of a Suffolk League I baseball game against Riverhead on Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Eastport. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
It will be difficult for Floyd freshman Evan Hoyle to outdo his varsity baseball debut Thursday afternoon. Then again, nothing could be harder than the assignment he was given for the debut: outduel Riverhead’s Matt Zambriski.
Hoyle pitched five scoreless innings with six strikeouts, leading visiting Floyd to a 3-0 win over Riverhead in Suffolk League I action at Eastport South Manor Sports Complex in Eastport. Hoyle surrendered five hits and four walks, but he stranded all nine baserunners.
Hoyle’s gutsy outing was needed in order for the Colonials (9-6, 9-6) to have a chance against Zambriski, who entered play with a 0.74 ERA. Luckily for Floyd, it did not have to play from behind because Hoyle was equal to the task.
“I wasn’t really nervous going into it,” Hoyle said. “I had faith in myself and my team. I knew they had my back.”
That comfort level got Hoyle through the dicey moments. The Blue Waves had at least one baserunner in all five frames against him, but he held them to 1-for-12 with runners on base. With runners in scoring position, Hoyle held them to 0-for-8 with three strikeouts.
“I never really get in my head; I’m never really nervous,” Hoyle said. “I just go out and have fun. This feels pretty good. Especially being my first varsity start, I’m very proud of myself.”
The only hit Hoyle allowed with a runner on came in the bottom of the fourth inning on a double by Riverhead centerfielder Connor Downey, but Floyd leftfielder Gabriel Beta played it perfectly. Beta hit shortstop Kiernyn Mehmel with a good throw that allowed him to throw a runner out at home plate, keeping it scoreless.
With runners on second and third base and two outs in the top of the fifth, Mehmel chopped a ground ball up the middle off Zambriski and beat the throw to drive in second baseman CJ Ortiz. The throw bounced away, allowing centerfielder Jaden Miller to come around and score, making it 2-0.
Zambriski allowed just one earned run and four hits in five innings, striking out seven for Riverhead (6-7, 6-6).
“I’m pretty proud of that, but it was a team effort,” Mehmel said. “We always practice small ball and fundamentals.”
From there, righthander Jackson Seifert took the ball and pitched two scoreless innings for the save, securing a three-game series sweep.
Mike Anderson is a high school sports reporter who has covered 12 sports so far at Newsday. He was the sports editor of Stony Brook University's campus newspaper for two years.
