Derek Yormack's blast powers Bellmore JFK baseball past Garden City in Game 1 of Nassau AA final
Derek Yormack of Bellmore JFK homers in the top of the 12th during Game 1 of the Nassau Class AA baseball final against Garden City on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Farmingdale. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Derek Yormack needed one pitch.
The Bellmore JFK junior got that pitch — one that was out and over the plate. He crushed the 0-and-1 offering, a drive of more than 370 feet to rightfield, for a solo home run in the top of the 12th inning to break a scoreless tie.
The Cougars added an unearned run and held on for a 2-0 win in the opener of the best-of-three championship series against Garden City in the Nassau County Class AA baseball playoffs Thursday at Farmingdale State College.
Thursday night’s instant classic is the longest extra-inning game in Nassau playoff history, according to Helms Bohringer, the president of the Nassau County Baseball Coaches Association.
The teams will meet for Game 2 on Friday at noon at Farmingdale State College.
“I was hunting my pitch,” Yormack said, “and he beat me with the first fastball.”
It was Yormack’s county-leading eighth home run of the season.
Derek Yormack of Bellmore JFK reacts as he crosses home plate after hitting a home run in the 12 inning during Game 1 of the Nassau Class AA baseball final against Garden City on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Farmingdale. Credit: Dawn McCormick
“He’s the best player on Long Island,” Bellmore JFK coach Mike Gattus said. “Every time he steps to the plate, he’s a threat.”
Yormack, a Vanderbilt commit, had an opportunity to give the Cougars the lead in the 10th inning. He came to bat with runners at first and second with no outs. He worked the count to 3-and-0 and was given the green light to swing by Gattus. Yormack just got under the 3-and-0 fastball and flew out to centerfield. He spoke about the missed opportunity.
“The pitch was right down the middle and I missed it,” he said with a laugh. “I was happy to get another shot. And I’m really happy that we finally won a game in the county finals.”
Bellmore JFK is making its third straight appearance in the county championship, having been swept the past two years. So this win felt special. Bellmore JFK has never won a county title in baseball.
“This year has been different,” Gattus said. “We’ve come back and beaten each of our playoff opponents on the way to the finals. We are a fun bunch and we play relaxed. We have big-game experience from the past few years and that’s helping us this year.”
Junior Dylan Babek pitched nine scoreless innings to put the Cougars in position to win. Babek, who served as a reliever all season, was making his second start of the year with a 1-0 record and three saves.
“Just pound the zone and let the defense do the work,” said Babek, who threw 123 pitches. “They take the pressure off me because I know they’ll make the plays. Ryan [Yormack] made a crazy amount of tough plays at third base.”
The scoreless game through 11 innings saw clutch defense, solid pitching and kept the capacity crowd on edge. Garden City starter Joe Carey pitched seven innings and allowed two hits, walked four and struck out six.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
