As expected, offense was at a premium on the first day back after a four month hiatus from the field.
Pitching was at the forefront, but Long Island Strong swept a double header against Batting 1.000 at PAL Complex. They won Game 1 by a score of 2-1 and threw a combined no-hitter in Game 2 by the score of 6-0.
In Game 1, they sent Queens LHP Liam Pulsipher to the bump. He did his job, but the defense struggled through the first four batters of the game – resulting in one infield single, three errors and an unearned run to cross the plate on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Anthony Citarelli. Joe Stewart followed with a single to right field but the runner was held up at third. This wound up being a crucial decision as Pulsipher was able to bear down and strike out Tim Cassese and Jackson Sattinger to end the threat.
Chris Wiercinski took the mound for Batting 1.000 and he was sharp out of the gate. He struck out Trey Miller and induced a fly out to left field off the bat of Corey Tingo and a fly out to right by Jose Matos to end the first inning.
Pulsipher worked around a leadoff single by Cam Skudin and struck out Matt Nilsen, Billy Sullivan and Jack Santini in succession.
In the bottom of the second, two-time New York State Champ Brad Sakellarides drew a leadoff walk and he moved to second on a single by Queens-commit Andrew Smith. After the runners moved up on a ground out to second, Sakellarides scored on a wild pitch. No further damage occurred, as Wiercinski struck out Griffin Bell to end the threat.
Pulsipher got into a bit of trouble in the third inning.
After striking out Vin Pecora and Brendan Rose to open the frame, he allowed a single and back-to-back walks to Stewart and Cassese to strand the bases loaded.
Both team’s offenses did not get much going from that point on. Pulsipher was removed in favor of Bridgeport RHP Andy Francella. He was outstanding striking out six over three shutout innings, allowing just one base runner on a walk to Stewart.
With the time limit approaching, LI Strong needed to get a run across the board. They relied on a patient approach at the plate to make it happen. Consecutive walks to Ethan Angress, Trey Miller and Corey Tingo loaded the bases for Jose Matos. The hard-hitting Matos didn’t need to take his bat off his shoulder, as a wild pitch allowed Angress to score to deliver the 2-1 victory for the Strong.