In sports, some things go beyond the playing field, and one of those is the Sorrentino Cup.
The annual game is named for Joe Sorrentino Jr., who was born Jan. 4, 1965, and died Dec. 12, 1981, and who played football, basketball and baseball for Yorktown. The 44th edition of the Cup was played between host Yorktown and crosstown rival Lakeland at Granite Knolls Park on May 2, with emotions running high.
“Since I took over this is a game that’s bigger than baseball,” said Yorktown sixth-year coach C.J. Riefenhauser. “Thanks to Lakeland, they always do a great job with this, they know the meaning behind it. This is a game that on our schedule, is a must win game. For the family (Sorrentino’s), it’s their day, again it’s bigger than baseball.”
The day started with a ceremony honoring the Sorrentino family before the game and ended with an 8-0 Yorktown victory. The win was the Huskers’ third in a row and seventh in their last eight games.
Helping propel Yorktown to the win was the performance of winning pitcher Swaraaj Pujari (6 innings, 4 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts).
“This game has a lot of importance behind it,” Pujari said. “Every year we come out attacking. We play with a chip on our shoulder and come out wanting to win this game for [the Sorrentino family].”
Pujari credited his teammates for his performance.
“I trusted my defense, knowing that they are going to make all the plays, letting the other team hit the ball, counting the zone,” Pujari said. “I had full confidence in my team and everyone I had behind me.”
Riefenhauser was glad to have Pujari on the mound.
“Since the beginning of the year, he’s been awesome,” Riefenhauser said of Pujari, who had been dealing with a neck injury. “I’m happy to get him back full strength now.”
Yorktown took a 5-0 lead in the first inning, on a three-run double to right field by Luke Ciamei (2-4, 2 runs, 3 RBI) and a two-run double to right by Brayden Saviano (2-2, 3 RBI).
“We are getting on base, doing the little things, running the bases well and when we hit line drives and put the ball in play, we are a good team,” Riefenhauser said.
Brandon Manchess (2-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI, walk) also had a two-hit game for Yorktown.
“It’s not just a game—it’s more than a game,” Manchess said. “Every year we come out here and play for them.”
Manchess was walking on air when he hit a two-run homer to dead center field in the second inning, increasing Yorktown’s lead to 7-0.
“I was so excited, I was so pumped and I was just thinking deep down, that was for Joe,” Manchess said, describing how he felt as he rounded the bases after his home run.
Saviano added an RBI single to right in the third inning to finish the game’s scoring.
Lakeland’s Ramzi Doñe singled to right and Kevin Brown walked to put runners on first and second with one out in the fourth. After a visit to the mound from Riefenhauser, Pujari recorded a strikeout and a groundout to third to end the Hornets’ threat.
The visit, Pujari said, “was just to reset myself.”
He added that he “was getting a little ahead of myself, missing up. I just had to take a breather [and Riefenhauser] reminded me that my defense is going to make the plays. So I let them put the ball in play.”
Husker reliever Ryan Stevenson ended the game by striking out all three batters he faced in the seventh inning.
Yorktown also swept Carmel, winning the first game 8-0 at Granite Knolls Park on April 29, highlighted by winning pitcher Liam O’Connor’s performance (6 innings, 1 hit, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts).
The Huskers (8-7) won at Carmel 5-4 in 8 innings on May 1 in Game 2, led by Manchess (3-3, double, walk, RBI), Chris Lanza (3-4, game-winning solo home run in the eighth), Lirim Biberaj (2-3, run, 2 RBI, walk) and winning pitcher Jack Faulk (3.2 innings, 0 runs, 4 strikeouts in relief).
Lakeland (7-9) lost at Mahopac 11-1 in five innings on April 27, paced by Louie Vernagallo (1-2), Frankie Veca (1-1), Alex Mautone (run, walk) and Brown (2 walks, RBI).
The Hornets fell at Brewster 10-8 on April 29, led by Mautone (3-4, 2 runs, RBI, stolen base), Doñe (2-3, 2 RBI, walk), Charlie Cappo (2-4), Mikey Santoiemma (2-4, 2 RBI), Ryan Battista (2-4, 2 runs), Vernagallo (1 hit, run, RBI, walk), Brown (1 hit, run, RBI) and JJ McDermott (1 hit, RBI).
Lakeland won 1-0 against visiting Brewster on May 1 with a sacrifice fly by Doñe scoring Vernagallo in the fourth inning. Mautone (win, 4 innings, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts) and Battista (save, 3 innings, 3 strikeouts) got the job done on the mound.
Travis Reigle contributed a single and a walk against Brewster.
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