Andrew McQuade's two-run double in fifth sparks Connetquot baseball past Ward Melville
Andrew McQuade of Connetquot reacts to his teammates after his double in the fifth inning of a Suffolk League II matchup against Ward Melville on Monday in Bohemia. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
Freshman Andrew McQuade was having one of those days. The Connetquot third baseman was forced to make a few very difficult plays on first inning slow rollers, and it didn’t work out. Not once, but twice, contributing to two Ward Melville runs.
But this is one tale that supports the adage, ‘it’s not how you start, but how you finish’.
Trailing 2-0 with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, McQuade came through in a big way. He lined a two-run double to rightfield to ignite a five-run Connetquot rally in a 5-2 come-from-behind win over Ward Melville Monday in a Suffolk League II baseball game.
DJ Filippone gave the T-Birds the lead with a two-out infield single. Mike Mallon added an RBI-single and Dan Ryan drilled a run-scoring double for the final margin. Connetquot remained undefeated at 6-0.
“We told him to battle through it and we’d pick him up,” said Filippone, Connetquot’s starting pitcher. “As a senior role model for the young guys that’s my responsibility.”
The 15-year-old McQuade said his coaches and teammates were incredibly supportive during a tough first inning.
“It helped that everyone had my back,” he said. “I’ve been in pressure moments since 12U baseball. And it felt great to get the big hit.”
Connetquot coach Rob Burger, who earned his 100th career win last week, was pleased with the comeback win and McQuade’s resilience.
“We have some younger players and they’re going to make mistakes,” he said. “I told Andrew don’t let it carry over to the offense. He really came through. DJ didn’t have his best stuff, but he kept us in the game.”
Perhaps the biggest defensive play came in the top of the fifth inning. Ward Melville (3-4) tried to pad the lead when Rowan Golub was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a ground out.
Danny Cornish drilled what looked like an extra base hit into the left centerfield gap. Centerfielder Matt Lineman had other ideas. The speedy Lineman took an excellent route to the ball and made an all-out diving catch to rob Cornish and keep Golub from scoring. Filippone finished the inning with a flyout to Lineman to keep the score at 2-0.
“I had a great jump and got there in time,” Lineman said.
Filippone went six innings, allowed three hits, walked three, including two intentionally, hit two batters, and struck out five for the win. Jack Doucet pitched a scoreless seventh for the save.
“DJ gave us the chance to come back,” Burger said. “Our lineup is deep and we can hit but we were getting into some bad counts. We made some adjustments in that fifth inning.”
Ward Melville starter Andrew Poxon held Connetquot scoreless through four innings but was removed with one out and runners at first and third. Poxon allowed five hits, walked three and struck out five and had a no decision.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.