by Andrew Barbieri
Jayden Ramirez is the Muddy Locker Player of the game. pic.twitter.com/Z1oKbYvIG3
Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 7, 2023
At Adelphi University, the Top Tier Aviators were trailing by scores of 4-0 and 6-4 but still found a way to squeak out a win in 14u American Division Boys of Summer league play against LI Storm.
After both sides went down quietly in the 1st, the Storm found their way to break the ice in the 2nd inning without a base hit. With 2 gone, Andrew Gold walked and since he was catching, he was run for by Tony Cavaliere. Cavaliere stole 2 bags during Michael Rogners at bat, Rogner eventually walked to set up runners on the corners. Travis Amato, Top Tiers pitcher, stepped off towards third base and then looked behind him to see Rogner heading to second, while Amato couldnt get Rogner, Cavaliere snuck down the third base line to score and make it 1-0 Storm.
The Storm would tack on more runs in the 3rd. They loaded the bases with no outs and got RBIs from Michael Desiderio, Charlie Jettmar, and Jason Halpern to make it 4-0 before the Aviators used 1 of their 2 comebacks on the evening to get themselves back in the game. Jayden Ramirez roped a ball down the left field line to pick up his second double of the night, this time he drove in 2 to cut the Storms lead in half. Amato a batter later hit a 2 run single up the middle and the game was even at 4.
With 8 combined runs and plenty of stoppages, the next inning would represent the last due to time constraints.
FINAL: Top Tier Aviators 7, LI Storm 6.
The Aviators complete the comeback with a walk off on an error. pic.twitter.com/1qOrtOYxaZ Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 7, 2023
Cavaliere led off the 4th and chopped on behind the third base bag that counted as an infield hit, he continued to wreak havoc on the bases as he stole 2 more while on which caused a balk while he was on third to retake the lead. Ryan McCabe got 1 more run to score on a groundout to short to give the Storm a cushion in search of a victory. The Aviators proved to have another comeback in them. With 2 in scoring position, Carter Pletman plated a pair to tie the game with a single. Ramirez was next up and was intentionally walked, later Amato came up with the bases loaded with 2 outs. The only outcomes were an Aviators win or a tie and it seemed as though the game would finish 6-6 after Amato was popped up on the right side of the infield. However, miscommunication allowed the ball to drop and Congelosi scored to win the game.
With the win the Aviators are now 8-2 and have won 6 straight in the Boys of Summer season. The Storm are now 2-7 and have dropped their last 4.