Kings Park's Nicola Chespe scores winning run in 8th inning to capture Suffolk Class A title
Nicola Chespe of Kings Park reacts as he crosses home plate to score the winning run in the 8th inning in a win over Sayville in the Class A Suffolk baseball final on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Selden. Credit: Dawn McCormick
It was bases loaded, one out, bottom of the eighth inning with the Suffolk Class A baseball title on the line.
Sayville pitcher Aidan Devane had been nearly unhittable over six innings of scoreless relief. His performance allowed Sayville to erase a three-run deficit against Kings Park to force extra innings.
Now Devane found himself surrounded by Kings Park base runners at that point of the game. He’d allowed a leadoff single to Everett Zarzicki and then watched his centerfielder Patrick Coan make a spectacular all-out game-saving catch in left centerfield for the first out.
A wild pitch allowed Zarzicki to move to second base and when Sayville catcher Shane Meehan couldn’t locate the ball, Zarzicki sprinted for third safely.
Sayville coach Joe Esposito called for time and ordered intentional walks to the next two hitters, Nicola Chespe and Connor DeKenipp, to load the bases and set up a potential inning-ending double play.
It almost worked.
Chris Schor grounded a one-hopper back to Devane, who fired home for the second out. But the throw to first, for what would have been a double play, took first baseman Jack Lankowicz off the base.
Third base coach Andrew Abreu wheeled Chespe around third and toward home with the potential winning run.
“I made a hard turn and coach sent me,” Chespe said. “I saw the throw to the plate ahead of me and dove over the catcher and reached out with my left hand to get the plate. I was expecting a low tag, so I wanted to get over him.”
The return throw home from first base skipped to Meehan, allowing Chespe to score and give Kings Park a 4-3 walk-off win over Sayville to capture the Suffolk Class A baseball title Saturday at Middle Country Athletic Complex in Selden.
Chespe was mobbed by his teammates.
“It was a total blackout moment,” he said. “It was euphoric, super exciting.”
Kings Park (22-2) will meet Plainedge (26-0) at Farmingdale State College for the Long Island Class A title on June 6 at 7 p.m.
“We’re always aggressive on the bases,” Abreu said. “We like to force the action and make the other team make plays.”
The Kings Park offense came out hot in the first inning. The first three batters reached base and all scored. The key hit – who else – Chespe a one-out, two-run double.
The Kingsmen didn’t score another run until the winner in the eighth. Sayville reliever Aidan DeVane was brilliant through six shutout innings giving the Golden Flashes a chance to come back and win. They nearly did, scoring two in the fourth and one in the seventh.
But Zarzicki, the Kings Park starter, was just too good.
He retired the first 10 batters before Devane lined a single to right to break up the perfect game bid in the fourth. Meehan followed with a bloop single to right and Devane hustled his way to third. The ensuing throw from the outfield got past third baseman Dylan Frers, allowing Devane to score. Meehan scored when Brody Tellier struck out and the ball got away from Chespe to make it 3-2.
In the seventh, Tellier singled, Lankowicz walked and after one out, Abreu intentionally walked Nate Lewis to load the bases. Zarzicki walked Aidan Merrit to tie the score at 3. But then struck out the next two hitters to escape any further damage.
“You ride with him because he’s a winner.” Abreu said of Zarzicki. “He’s as tough as they come and focused.”
Zarzicki (7-1) pitched a five-hitter with two walks and 10 strikeouts for the win.
“There is never a moment that is too big for me,” Zarzicki said. I trust the process. And I put myself in those moments and play them out. I’m always ready for that tough spot.”
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
