Louis Iannacchino sparks Center Moriches' win over Port Jefferson
Center Moriches' Louis Iannacchino drives in three runs with a double in the second inning during the Suffolk Conference V against Port Jefferson on Sunday at the Holbrook PAL Complex. Credit: Bob Sorensen
The inaugural Suffolk Conference V baseball championship was a lopsided affair. For the first time, Suffolk crowned five conference champions in different classifications. The small schools title pitted Center Moriches, the Suffolk Class B champion against Port Jefferson, which earned the Suffolk Class C title.
Louie Iannacchino broke open a 2-1 game with a three-run triple in a four-run second inning and Center Moriches went on to an 11-1 win over Port Jefferson to claim the Suffolk Conference V crown Sunday at the Police Athletic League Stadium in Holtsville.
Iannacchino’s drive split the center and rightfielders for the bases-loaded triple.
“He’s hit consistently all season,” said Center Moriches coach Paul Gibson. “That was a really big hit and broke the game wide open.”
Center Moriches scored four in the second and six more in the third inning. Joey Hiller had a two-run single and Leyton Pulsipher a run-scoring double in the barrage.
The Red Devils (13-10) will meet Wheatley, the Nassau Class B champion, for the Long Island Class B title at Hofstra University on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Port Jefferson, the Suffolk Class C champion, will meet Carle Place, the Nassau Class C titlist, for the Long Island Class C championship Thursday at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue at 4:30 p.m.
“We throw strikes and play great defense,” Gibson said. “We don’t rely on overpowering pitching. We rely on guys that are steady in the zone and trust our defense. This was the kind of game that we usually play.”
Center Moriches used four different pitchers and allowed only five hits and one walk. Starter Joey Hiller was nicked for a run in the first inning when leadoff man Luke Filippi singled, stole second and scored when Kyle Erikson lined a two-out single to rightfield. Reliever Andrew Foster threw two innings to earn the win. Riley Morris and John Johnston pitched the final two innings and kept Port Jeff off the scoreboard.
Port Jefferson failed to move a runner to third base after the first inning. Filippi reached base in all three at bats, including two hits. The Royals did get to celebrate an historical achievement in Sunday’s fourth inning. Leftfielder Abigail Rolfe became the first female baseball player to single in the postseason in Suffolk County history. Rolfe led off the inning with a sharply lined single to centerfield.
“She put a good swing on it,” Gibson said.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
