SOMERS, N.Y. - After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning of the Greater Hudson Valley Baseball League’s opening round, the 10u Somers team didn’t miss a beat. They scored four runs in the bottom of the inning, and Braiden Kaplan expressed a common refrain that led the way.
“I like pitchers that are slow, because I can get big hits against them,” said the right fielder. With three hits to prove it, there was no calm for Hastings in the Red Storm’s 12-2 mercy victory.
Home field at Reis Park had Somers take the diamond first, and alleviating any jitters for the starting pitcher was just a matter of trust in his teammates. “I was a little nervous, but I knew if I threw strikes, my defense would have me,” said Ryan Benedetto.
A strikeout looking took care of the first batter until a pair of Yellowjacket singles put runners on first and third. A passed ball then gave Hastings their only lead, and the error at first that followed proved to be a defensive anomaly.
Following another Benedetto strikeout, Mikey Fiumara stepped up and made easy work of a drive to center field. “It was just hit to me and I caught it,” he said modestly.
With the side retired, the Red Storm opened by putting the bat on the ball and exercising patience. Grounders by Eric Almquist and Anthony Ronzoni put the first two batters on, and Jake Williams worked a walk.
A passed ball scored Almquist, and more small ball followed. James Gates grounded out to second to push across the second run, and that had Kaplan zeroing in.
His line drive up the middle tripled the lead, and Zach Seiden was matter-of-fact about driving in run four. “I just hit the ball,” the DH clarified.
Benedetto was just as effortless in the top of the second. He strode out, struck out the side, and his offense took the cue.
Up first, Kyle Minichiello got things started with tunnel vision and restraint. “I just trust my eyes, and if it’s a bad pitch, I don’t chase it,” said the second baseman.
The table set with a walk, the bats went in motion. Almquist singled to right, and Ronzoni didn’t hesitate in the face of the pitching pace. “I went after the ball,” said the shortstop.
With a run in, Williams walked again, Kaplan got his second hit, and now up 7-1, Gates applied his standard approach. “I like to swing at the second pitch, because if you already have a strike, it means you know what the strike zone is,” said the first baseman.
Then the battery mates teamed up with the bats. Keeping the ball in play, grounders to the pitcher and shortstop weren’t fielded cleanly, and Benedetto and Dylan Massi increased the lead to nine.
One more run would invoke the mercy rule, and Seiden put it into effect. He smoked a single, and at 11-1, Somers was six outs away.
Benedetto delivered another flyout to Fiumara, and a grounder to short had Almquist hunkering down as usual. “You have to trust your mechanics,” the shortstop assured.
Another strikeout from Benedetto said as much, and after he drove in the final Somers run, Minichiello closed the game with two more strikeouts.
A run did score, but it wasn’t just pinpointing and perseverance that gave the reliever the goods to register the save. “If I mess up, these guys got my back,” the pitcher said.
With the most important piece in place, the completed puzzle should follow, according to Williams. “We’re going to win the chip,” the left fielder concluded.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here