THROGGS NECK, NY - The Maritime College baseball team began their 2020 season with a doubleheader sweep of Plattsburgh St. in a cold day on Reinhart Field. The Privateers came to play in both games as they won in dominating fashion with scores of 10-2 and 8-2, respectively.
In the opening game,
Matt Paghidas (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) got the start on the mound and delivered a solid four innings for Maritime as he only allowed one run on three hits with four strikeouts to earn the win. Unfortunately, the one run came in the top of the first inning allowing the Cardinals to grab the early momentum. In the bottom of the inning though, Maritime responded as
Ryan Rockhill (Eastchester, NY/Tuckahoe) delivered a big single with the bases loaded and two outs to give Maritime the lead at 2-1.
Following a 1,2,3 inning for Paghidas in the second, the Privateers added to their lead behind a sacrifice fly from
Travis Zurita (Ozone Park, NY/Poly Prep) and a single up the middle by
Phil Russo (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea). Paghidas then concluded his day on the mound by throwing two more shutout innings and giving Maritime the chance to tack on two more insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. A single from Russo loaded up the bases and then
Jake Vera (Plainview, NY/Bethpage) brought in a run by sending a line drive to right center. Two batters later, Rockhill added another RBI to his day at the plate with a fielder's choice.
Leading 6-1 with three innings left,
Ryan Ragone (Yonkers, NY/Stepinac) and
Skylar Graff (Syosse, NY/Syosset) closed out the game for the Privateers on the mound while the Maritime offense kept rolling as they went to secure a 10-2 win.
Matt Eng (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood) finished the game 3-4 at the plate with four runs scored, a double, and an RBI, while Russo also went 3-4 with a run scored an RBI. Rockhill led the way in RBI's with three, while Zurita chipped in two of his own.
In the second game, the Cardinals got off to a hot start once again as they converted on fielding error and crossed home plate twice. The Privateers struggled to find their rhythm on offense early on in game two, but after Eng walked, stole a base, and scored on a wild pitch in the third inning, Maritime got things rolling with a six-run fourth inning.
Austen Bishop (Millersville, MD/Archbishop Spalding) got the rally going with a bases loaded single that forced a throwing error to score three runs, and then Eng scored Bishop with a single to center and stole two more bases to put himself in scoring position. Leading 7-2 with three innings left,
J.P. Silvestri (Bronx, NY/Fordham Prep) and
Joe Ragone (Yonkers, NY/Stepinac) closed out the game on the mound. Silvestri finished with the win by throwing three innings without a hit or run allowed.
Travis Bruinsma (Ronkonkoma, NY/Connetqot) got the start for the Privateers and threw the first three innings without allowing an earned run.
The Privateers will travel to Florida next week for five games in four days. To see the full 2020 schedule, click here, and watch the post-game press conference with head coach
Charlie Barbieri, Paghidas, and Russo below!
