By PAUL GOTHAM
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — There was no late-inning rally this time. After coming from behind in their three most recent wins including a pair of victories in eight innings, the McQuaid Jesuit Knights season stalled in the NYSPHSAA Class AA semi-final.
But it wasn’t for the lack of chances.
“From the first inning on we just had a lot of opportunities to score runs,” McQuaid coach Tony Fuller said after his Knights fell to Massapequa (VIII), 7-1 at Gary Crooks Field on Maine-Endwell High School, Friday evening. “We just didn’t capitalize on the big hit. We left a small army on base.”
McQuaid loaded the bases in the fourth without an out and came away with just one run. In the fifth, they filled the sacks again. This time a runner was forced at home before an inning-ending double play short-circuited the threat.
“Tonight we probably won’t get much sleep because we had opportunities to take control of that game,” Fuller added. “That’s baseball. We just couldn’t figure out the big hit. I thought the kid was safe at the plate. That would have been 2-2 with no outs. That’s just something that happens.”
Massapequa took control of the game in the sixth. Andrew Primm highlighted a four-run frame with a bases-clearing triple. The junior catcher fought off three 0-ball-2-strikes pitches before going opposite with an outside breaking ball to plate Adam Mosca, Chris Wasson and Michael Cottone.
Massapequa had all the runs it needed.
“We did it all for the last month,” Fuller added. “There are going be days where the bounces don’t go your way and a call here or there doesn’t go your way. It is what it is. Our guys battled to put themselves in position to potentially win the game, but it just didn’t happen today.”
The Knights Steve Sercu knotted the game at one with a pinch hit, RBI single in the fourth. Billy Kehrig led the frame with a base hit up the middle. Tyler Cyrus reached on an error, and Thomas Manno loaded the bases with a bunt single.
Sercu delivered with one out, but the Jesuit Knights could not capitalize further.
Trailing 2-1 in the fifth, Ben Beauchamp took advantage of a Massapequa error to get aboard. Tyler Griggs and Kehrig knocked back-to-back singles to load the bases, but Massapequa starter Daniel Gdanski got a fielder’s choice at the plate and a come-backer for 1-2-3 double play to extinguish the threat. The senior right-hander retired seven of the last eight batters he faced to end the game.
Kehrig finished 2-for-4 and scored McQuaid’s only run in the game. AJ Fina singled and also reached base on a hit by pitch. McQuaid finished with seven hits.
Nick Fossari, Luke O’Mahony, Mike Moreno and Mosca collected two hits apiece for Massapequa.
McQuaid finished the season 17-6.
Massapequa will play Liverpool (III) in Saturday’s final. Earlier in the day, Jeff Destefano tossed a complete, and the Warriors beat Kingston (IX), 4-2. A 10 a.m. first pitch is slated at NYSEG Stadium.
Other Section V results:
Class A
Wantagh (VIII) 5 Pittsford Sutherland 1
Wantagh will play Vestal (III) in Saturday’s championship.
Class B
Livonia 7 Mattituck (XI) 0
Reid VanScoter struck out 11 and tossed a 2-hitter to lead Livonia into Saturday’s championship. Leadoff man John Smith finished 3-for-4, and Billy McDevitt drove in a pair of runs with two hits in three at bats. Livonia will play Albany Academy (II) at 4 p.m. on Saturday at NYSEG Stadium.
Class C
North Salem (I) 6 Avon 2
North Salem will play Potsdam (X) in Saturday’s final.
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