by Chris Sacchi
Some shenanigans from fellow Shelter Island Bucks around Joseph OConnell, but he stays focused to talk with @SachChristopher about over 4 innings of work out of the bullpen to earn the win in a 9-6 victory over the @WHAviators pic.twitter.com/e5ywjaMvnJ
Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 25, 2019
The Shelter Island Bucks led for most of Mondays game against Westhampton, and took down the Aviators by a 9-6 score.
Jeff Long for Shelter Island and Westhamptons Ryan Smith was the starting pitching match up, but both players did not make through the fourth inning. In a battle of the bullpens, Shelter Island came out on top, led by right-hander Joseph OConnell.
OConnell entered with a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning, with two outs and runners on second and third. Long had given up a home run to Westhamptons Sean OKeefe as well as two singles in the inning, and Bucks manager Brian Daly was looking for a pitcher to end the rally and retain the lead with two outs.
OConnell did not even need to throw a single pitch to end the rally, as he picked off a runner on second base to finish the bottom of the third.
My first baseman Eddie Satisky told me hey heads up, I made a step over move to second base. Theyre gonna try and put on down on you, thats the usual strategy teams do when a new guy comes out of the pen because they dont think pitchers are athletes.
Shelter Island built the 4-1 lead thanks to a lead off single from Dylan Judd in the top of the fourth inning off of left hander Ryan Smith. Christian Pierre later doubles off of relief pitcher Tyler Wittman to score Judd and catcher Ryan Semo. Bryce Daniel then walked, and came around to score on a single by Larson Fontenot. Fontenot stole both second and third, and scored after a double by John Shields for a four run top half.
The OKeefe home run allowed Westhampton to fight back 4-1, and scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie it at 4-4 heading to the seventh. Nick Bottari, OKeefe, Landon Grey, and Joe Stewart all scored after hitting singles, and Stewart added an RBI along with David Franchi.
The 4-4 tie wouldnt last long, as Shelter Island added five runs in the top of the seventh to make it 9-4. Judd led off with a double against new pitcher Ty Wilson, who after the double struggled mightily with his control. He then hit Semo with the very next pitch and walked the next three batters to force a run. Wilson was replaced before getting an out.
Now ahead 5-4, a two RBI double by Bryce Daniel and a two RBI single by John Shields made it 9-4, and Shelter Island broke up the tie to lead again, and did so for good.
Nick Bottari hit a home run to lead off the seventh inning to make it 9-5, and Westhampton scratched across a run in the bottom of the ninth, but Shelter Island held on for a 9-6 victory.