Bucks sweep Tomcats, providing own fireworks
After a gorgeous night spent side by side with teammates at the Shelter Island Fireworks last Saturday, the Shelter Island Bucks traveled to Riverhead the following morning to take on the Riverhead Tomcats.
The team has already made a name for itself this season as a loud, close-knit group, something Head Coach Andy Concepcion and many of the players attribute to spending the summer together on an island.
That tight-knit culture in the dugout helped push the Island’s Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League team to an impressive 14-8 victory against the Tomcats on Sunday, July 12, in a nine-inning contest. Here’s a look back at the action.
It was none other than Bucks first baseman David Swift (Bates College) who recorded the first RBI of the game, plating the first run for Shelter Island by allowing his teammate Sam Ametrano (Quinnipiac University) to score. Swift currently ranks second in the HCBL in runs batted in, while Ametrano leads the league in stolen bases.
However, two routine infield plays and a strikeout ended the early Bucks rally. Shelter Island’s defense showed signs of trouble early, as Riverhead went on an early run. A base hit, followed by a batter hit by a pitch, another single, and then Tomcats catcher Kevin Schnupp (University of Massachusetts) sent one flying over the outfield fence for a grand slam to give the Tomcats a 4-1 lead.
That wasn’t the only ball that would clear the fence that day, though. Bucks outfielder Sam Bradford (UMass Dartmouth) homered with two runners on to tie the game in the top of the third. An RBI from Ben Prince (University of Maine) brought his teammate Connor McGill (Point Loma Nazarene University) home to score the fourth run, making it 5-4 by the end of the frame.
As the Bucks’ defense continued to keep the Tomcats scoreless, Evan Clark (Notre Dame) hit a routine ground ball to Riverhead’s infield in the top of the fifth. However, an error by the shortstop left Clark safe at first. Capitalizing on his luck, Clark advanced to second on a passed ball before stealing third and eventually scoring on a grounder from Pearson Dodds (St. Lawrence University), extending the lead to 6-4.
Dodds went on to steal second and round third on a single from Jackson McBride (Bates College) and was called safe at the plate, making it 7-4. McBride continued the string of stolen bases, making his way around on a few base hits before successfully stealing home. One more run from Ametrano brought Shelter Island’s lead to 9-4 after the fifth inning.
The lead didn’t stop there. After a string of base hits, Prince found a gap in the infield to bring Ethan Harris (St. Lawrence University) home, making it 10-4. In the same frame, the Tomcats finally broke the offensive drought, plating one runner after a walk, a stolen base, and a base hit. A second run scored on an RBI infield single, although a pitching substitution to Xavier Hall (Emerson College), followed by a strikeout and a flyout, ended Riverhead’s rally, making it 10-6.
Shelter Island continued the rally in the top of the eighth, as three hits and even more stolen bases added four more runs for the Bucks. An RBI brought home two runs for the Tomcats in the bottom of the frame before the final inning. In the ninth, Shelter Island was held scoreless, needing just three defensive outs to seal the deal. Shelter Island substituted yet another pitcher, Danny Kerr (Thomas Jefferson University), who left one runner on base while recording two flyouts and a strikeout to end the game.
Following the game, the Reporter spoke with Coach Concepcion to discuss the victory. “It was a really good week of preparation, and that’s starting to show. We hit two or three home runs, which was huge for us,” he said. He added, “I think we’re getting to the point where we’re really starting to figure out who we are as a team.”
As for the closeness in the dugout, Coach Concepcion said the night before definitely helped. “The fireworks were a great bonding moment for the guys. It really helped out. I know Sam Bradford said it’s just a really cool experience being on the Island together, and the guys spend a lot of time with each other,” he said.
As for the remainder of the season, the time left before the playoffs is slim. The HCBL regular season runs through Wednesday, July 22. The team will play at home this Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and next Tuesday and Wednesday. Following the win over the Tomcats, the team is narrowly holding out of the bottom spot in the standings, sitting fifth overall with a 12-14 record, just ahead of the Tomcats (9-17). Above them, in order, are North Fork (11-13), Westhampton (14-11), Sag Harbor (14-11), and the league-leading Southampton Breakers (16-10).
As the team makes its final push toward the postseason, come out and support your Bucks!
