Yorktown clinched a share of the league title with Mahopac, its fifth league title in the last six years, all under coach C.J. Riefenhauser, with a 3-2 win at Horace Greeley on May 11, behind the performance of winning pitcher Liam O’Connor (5.2 innings, 5 hits, 0 earned runs, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts).
Jake Sgobbo (1.1 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts) recorded the save, with Swaraaj Pujari (single, run), Liam Lauth (single, RBI), Nico Masillo (single, RBI), Tyler Galante (run) and Brandon Manchess (run) providing the offense for Yorktown.
“It meant so much to be the winning pitcher in that game,” O’Connor said. “It reassured the trust that my coaches and teammates have in me to perform. It also feels great to know that something I participated in is going to have a lasting effect on not just the Yorktown baseball family, but the entire Yorktown community.”
O’Connor said that the trust from his coaches and teammates is one of the things that allowed him to pitch so well.
“Knowing that they all have my back brings me great pride,” O’Connor said. “We also have one of the best defenses in the entire section. It seems that almost every day, coach Riefenhauser says ‘We take more ground balls and fly balls than anyone in the section.’ Knowing this, I knew that all I had to do was throw strikes and use the fielders behind me in order to get the job done.”
Riefenhauser said it means a lot to win the league once again.
“We are proud of the recent success of the program,” Riefenhauser said. “It’s a testament to our players for buying into our system. The players dedication as well as the backing and support from the school community has meant a lot.”
Riefenhauser said that the team has been able to maintain consistency because of the dedication and leadership of his players, which has filtered down to their younger players.
O’Connor feels the way Yorktown’s organization is structured has been a tremendous help in the team’s continuous success.
“First, we have a great coaching staff who supports and believes in us at every step in the game,” O’Connor said. “Second, we have a great relationship with the Yorktown Athletic Club, which has allowed us to participate in clinics for the younger kids.”
He recalled “looking up to the varsity players whenever they would show up and was always inspired to work to be like them. With their guidance, it has made the journey to success very easy.”
O’Connor said “we have a really tight team,” adding that “everyone who is and has been a part of the team, has known each other for years. This has allowed us to have a great team chemistry and progress to this level on an annual basis.”
Yorktown finished the regular season with a 8-6 victory at Clarkstown South on May 12, led by Alex Ornstein (2-3, 2 runs, 2 walks, stolen base), Chris Lanza (3-4, RBI, double), Manchess (3-4, run, 2 RBI, 2 stolen bases), Xavier Guzman (2-4) and Jack Faulk (3.2 relief innings, win, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout).
No. 3 Yorktown (14-7) hosted No. 14 Roosevelt in the opening round of the Section 1 Class AA Tournament on May 16, winning 10-0 in five innings, with O’Connor (4 innings, 5 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts) grabbing the win on the mound, with Ryan Stevenson hurling a scoreless inning.
The win was Yorktown’s ninth in a row and 13th in its last 14 games.
No. 10 Lakeland traveled to No. 7 Nyack in the opening round of the Section 1 Class AA Tournament on May 16, falling to the host 11-2.
Lakeland lost at Carmel 7-0 on May 11, led by Alex Mautone (1-2, walk), Louie Vernagallo (1-3, stolen base), Ramzi Doñe (1-2) and Jake Consiglio (1-2).
The Hornets (8-13) hosted Carmel on May 12 in their regular-season finale, falling to the Rams 11-0, with Ryan Battista (1-2, walk, stolen base) producing for Lakeland.
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