SOMERS, N.Y. - After falling behind 3–0 early, Swee Brand Works mounted a determined comeback to claim an 18–11 C-League win over Bardi Osteria.
The spark came in the second inning, when veteran Chris Herzegovitch stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and a plan.
“When I try to muscle up, it doesn’t usually work out,” said Herzegovitch.
“I never met a pitch I didn’t like,” he joked after his RBI single up the middle helped launch the comeback.
Bardi Osteria struck first, loading the bases with singles by Jack Maher and Nolan Fierro and a walk by Brandon LaSpina. Nick Maestri followed with an RBI single, and Bobby Zattola later drove in two more after a tag-out at the plate.
In the top of the second, Swee answered quickly. Chris Townsend, Ben Berliner, and Vinny Costanzo all singled to load the bases. “We’ve got youth, vitality, and a little bit of wisdom,” said Townsend. Herzegovitch and Gordo Mackie each delivered RBI singles, and a walk by Danny Haigh tied the score at 3–3.
Danny’s father, Rich Haigh, added a go-ahead RBI groundout, and Mike Moro capped the inning with a two-run double over the centerfielder’s head. “The pitch was outside, and I went with it,” said Moro.
With a 6–3 lead, Johnny Kearney took the mound and quickly set the tone with a strikeout and two groundouts. “He’s an ace and keeps us in games,” said Moro.
Swee’s bats stayed hot in the third. Singles from Brian Opfer and Berliner and doubles by Townsend and Anthony Costanzo extended the lead to 8–3. Though Vinny Costanzo made the first out, Herzegovitch came through again with a single. Mackie grounded out to second, scoring another run, and a fielding error on Kurt Wronsky’s grounder pushed the score to 11–3.
Bardi Osteria fought back in the bottom half. Fierro and LaSpina singled, and Maestri moved them over with a sacrifice fly. Keven Kenney’s two-run double, followed by hits from Kevin Brown and Joe Forturado, cut the lead to 11–7.
Bardi closed the gap even further in the fourth. After two outs, singles by LaSpina and Maestri set the table for Bryce Shar, who made it 11–8 with a single to left.
Swee quickly responded. Townsend reached on an error, Berliner and Vinny Costanzo singled to load the bases, and Mackie blooped in a run. Wronsky’s grounder to the right side added another, extending the lead to 13–8.
Swee’s defense stepped up next. After a leadoff walk, Townsend started a 5–4–3 double play. Though Bardi strung together a two-out rally with a pair of hits and a double by Maher, Kearney ended the threat by getting Fierro to pop out.
In the top of the sixth, Swee blew the game open. Moro tripled in a run, and two defensive miscues set up Townsend, who cleared the bases with a triple of his own.
“They were playing in and giving an old guy a break,” he joked.
With a blend of youth and experience, Swee Brand Works rolled to victory.
“We’ve got young guys who can hit and run, and older guys who know how to play,” Moro said with a smile.
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