Our @BsbLifestyle101 Player of the Game is Justin Harvey for his game-winning two-run home run in the sixth inning pic.twitter.com/ZrH09z2XBM
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 3, 2019
With the game on the line in the sixth inning of a rivalry game, Justin Harvey was looking for one pitch. He got it, up & in, and he did not miss it.
He deposited a 2-R home run to left field to score his brother, Nick, and break a 3-3 tie against Smithtown West.
Smithtown East sent Adelphi-commit Michael Storms to the mound. He allowed two runs in the top of the first on an RBI ground out by Jason Weinhaus that scored Eric Reuter and an RBI single to center by John Powlowski to score Jimmy Klee.
Brendan Kupka started for West, he allowed the runs right back on an RBI double by Will Kennedy and an error committed by the first baseman to score Kennedy. The first inning took a total of 45 minutes to play. Between the gusts of wind, the offense and some poor defensive play the pace of play certainly slowed to a crawl.
An RBI double by Reuter with two out gave West a 3-2 lead, but that did not last long either as Kennedy hit a solo shot to left field to tie it up.
Mike Ciminiello came on in relief in the fourth inning and he did a great job of holding the fort. The hard-throwing southpaw worked a 1-2-3 fourth inning and fifth inning.
Matt DeRosa came in for West in the fifth inning with two runners on and allowed a single to Ryan Pennisi to load the bases, but he induced a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Ciminello to end the threat.
In the bottom of the sixth, Nick Harvey drew a one-out walk to set the stage for his brother who sent the home crowd into a frenzy with his home run. When it appeared the game was over, West put up a fight in the top of the seventh with a two out rally. Ciminiello missed with a close 2-2 pitch and ultimately walked Christian Amoruso. Tyler Loft came on in relief. Cleanup batter Jason Weinhaus hit an RBI single to bring it to 5-4. With the go-ahead run on base, he was able to bear down and strike out Steven Friscia to end the game and win East’s third straight game.
These two teams will close out their series tomorrow at West, with East looking to finish the sweep.