It was really the tale of two games – the first inning and the next 7.
In the first inning, Team Beast 14u nearly batted around, scoring four runs highlighted by a two-run single by Michael Ferdinando and a two-run double by Christopher Capone. At that moment, it seemed as if Team Beast had full command of the game and they would run away with it.
Bottom 1: Michael Ferdinando hits a 2-R single to right field to score Jake Fragiola and Joseph Borg
Beast 2, Bulldogs 0 pic.twitter.com/InFIzfsvjd
Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) November 10, 2023
From that point on, however, the script flipped. Team Beast’s offense did not muster another run the remainder of the game – stranding runners in scoring position a few times.
On the flip side, Roslyn Bulldogs were able to get on the board in the top of the fifth inning to make it a 4-1 game but they still needed to get the bats going as the time limit was inching closer.
In the top of the sixth (would’ve been the final inning), their bats finally woke up. A huge RBI single by Jake Giordano brought up Louis Gounaris with runners on 2nd & 3rd with 2 out. He came through with a clutch, two-out, two-run single to tie the game at 4-4.
Mid 6: Roslyn Bulldogs have mounted a comeback with a 3-spot in the sixth. Game-tying 2-R hit by Louis Gounaris
Beast 4, Bulldogs 4 pic.twitter.com/unSYE8k2Ba
Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) November 11, 2023
The next batter was retired, but the damage was done and the game was tied. In the bottom half of the inning, Beast had the opportunity to walk off, needing just one run. The leadoff batter, Jake Fragolo, smoked a double and stole third. It couldn’t have been a better start to the inning – especially with the No. 2, 3 and 4 hitters due up. Roslyn’s pitcher, Jake Lau, was determined to escape unscathed.
That’s exactly what he would do – striking out the next two batters before smarty issuing an intentional walk of the cleanup hitter, Fernandino. That brought up Thomas Lerose, who struck out to end the sixth inning.
Both teams went scoreless in the seventh – to bring the game to extra innings.
The California Rule would go into effect in the eighth inning with each team starting with a runner on second and 0 out. The Bulldogs did not waste any time, sending their free runner right away on an attempted steal of third. The aggressive move paid off as the throw got away, allowing Buslink to score easily. No further damage occurred, but with the way Roslyn’s pitcher, Jake Lau, was going this would be enough. He fired a scoreless eighth inning, with a line drive double play erasing the free runner at second to end the game.
It was an incredible show of resiliency by Roslyn who overcame an injury to their starting pitcher, an early 4-0 deficit and the chilly November northeast air to reach the playoffs. They will face B1000 Seminoles Dragovich at 8:15am at Middle Country Park with the winner playing in the 14u American Finals at 12:45pm.