The Maritime College baseball team took to the road on Saturday to take part in a Skyline Conference doubleheader against the Bears of St. Joseph's Brooklyn. Coming into the afternoon on a six-game winning tear, the Privateers were able to extend their streak to eight games as they bested the Bears by scores of 5-4, and 10-0 to complete the series win.
In a game that came down to last licks for Maritime, the Privateers willed a strong final frame to complete the comeback in game one of the series. In the second game of the day, the Bears fell victim to an excellent outing by the reigning Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week,
Niko Concha (Ballston Spa, NY/Saratoga), who threw a complete-game shutout while only allowing one hit.
In game 1 of the two-game set, Maritime pegged freshman
Ryan Ragone (Yonkers, NY/Stepinac) to make the start. Ragone's afternoon was highlighted by a seven-strikeout performance, which ties his career-best mark that he recorded earlier this season in a victory against Staten Island. After six innings on the mound, Ragone left the contest with the Privateers trailing the Bears 3-2. Up to that point, Maritime's two runs came in the third inning, by way of a
Travis Zurita (Ozone Park, N.Y./Poly Prep) RBI single, and an RBI double off the bat of
Phil Russo (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea). Still trailing, the Privateers tied the score at three apiece, as
Nick McTighe (Merrick, N.Y./Holy Trinity) singled through the left side to score
Shane Sullivan (Stewart Manor, N.Y./Chaminade) in the top of the eighth inning.
Heading into the top of the ninth tied at three,
Joe Scerra (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) led off the inning by working a walk. Two batters later, a
Matt Eng (Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood) single advanced Scerra to put the go-ahead run on third base. Following a stolen base by Eng, Zurita was intentionally walked to set up a bases loaded for Russo. Russo was able to put the ball in play for a fielders choice, as Scerra scored on a Bears error, giving Maritime its first lead of the game at 4-3. The Privateers were not finished yet as two batters later Sullivan single to right center to score Eng and give Maritime the 5-3 lead. Pitchers
Alex Poliwoda (Southold, N.Y./Southold) and
Skylar Graff (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) combined in the bottom half of the inning to help secure the 5-4 win. Poliwoda would then go on to record his first win of the season, as Graff recorded his first save. In the save, Graff entered the game with the bases loaded and only one out against the Bears top hitter, however, Graff was able record a clutch strikeout and then deliver a fly ball to center field on the next batter to secure the win for Maritime.
Eng and Sullivan led the Privateers with three hits apiece, while freshman catcher
Ryan Rockhill (Eastchester, NY/Tuckahoe) added two hits of his own.
In game two, Concha continued his pitching excellence as he fanned nine batters en route to his second straight complete game shutout. Concha threw a complete, seven-inning shutout last week against John Jay, which earned him Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week honors. On offense, Maritime wasted little time to add support for Concha, as they scored one run in the first inning, and seven runs in the second inning. An offensive explosion in the second inning, included RBI's from the bats of Eng, Russo, Zurita, Eric Wening,
Shane Sullivan (Stewart Manor, N.Y./Chaminade), and
Adam Mosca (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa), which gave the Privateers the early 8-0 advantage. Maritime went on to add two more runs, to secure the 10-0 win.
Junior first baseman Russo recorded four hits in five plate appearances, while Rockhill added three of his own to lead Maritime on offense. Rockhill, along with Zurita led the Privateers in RBIs with two each.
Maritime will seek to add to their streak as they host Mount St. Vincent tomorrow in a Skyline doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m. on Reinhart Baseball Field.
