PATCHOGUE, NY – For the first time in six years, the Maritime College baseball team will be playing for the Skyline Conference title.  After dropping a 10-6 decision to top-seeded St. Joseph's LI (29-9), the second-seeded Privateers (29-14) moved into the championship round for the first time since 2017 with a 6-1 triumph over sixth-seeded Purchase (22-21) in an elimination game at Gregg Alfano Field on Saturday.

St. Joseph's LI jumped out on Maritime early in the semifinal contest.  The Golden Eagles scored an unearned run in the bottom of the first, then increased their lead to 3-0 on Phil Krpata's RBI double in the second.  After Freddy Forgione's (Ronkonkoma, NY) two-run homer brought Maritime within 3-2, St. Joseph's LI immediately responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third.

It would remain that way until the top of the sixth, when the Privateers used four singles to score twice.  Jaden Shea (Severn, MD) and Randy Ventura (Syosset, NY) sparked the rally before Vasilios Vafakos (Astoria, NY) and Ian Wilson (Bayonne, NJ) drove the runners in.  However, the Golden Eagles scored three times in their half of the inning, then added another run in the eighth.

Forgione crushed his second two-run homer of the game in the top of the ninth.  Rob Copozzi (Center Moriches, NY) and Shea followed with singles, putting the tying run on deck with two down.  Ventura grounded out, though, and St. Joseph's LI advanced directly to the championship round with a 10-6 victory.  The Privateers, meanwhile, dropped into an elimination round matchup against Purchase with the loss.

Maritime outhit St. Joseph's LI 14-11 in the contest, and six Privateers had multi-hit efforts.  Forgione finished 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs, while Anthony Madigan (Greenlawn, NY) was 2-for-5 with two runs scored.  Shea and Ventura both went 2-for-5 with a run scored, and Wilson ended up 2-for-4 with an RBI.  Brandon Stanley (Swedesboro, NY) (7-3) took the loss on the mound after yielding nine runs (only three of which were earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts and a walk over six innings.  Andrew Heiderstadt (Farmingdale, NY) allowed one run and three hits in the final two innings.

Krpata was a triple short of the cycle for St. Joseph's LI.  He went 5-for-5 with four runs scored and three RBIs.  Jake Giannico had three RBIs, while Ryan Decoursey contributed two hits.  Starting pitcher Peter Manger (6-0) lasted 5.2 innings on the mound.  He surrendered four runs on eight hits and struck out two.  Dante Morabio earned the save after pitching the final 3.1 innings.  He was charged with two runs on six hits and issued one walk.

The elimination game against Purchase started off as a pitcher's duel between Shane Sullivan (Stewart Manor, NY) and Jonathan Uzzo.  The sides traded zeroes until the top of the fifth, when Wilson reached on an error to start the inning, then, with two out, Matt Milone (Farmingville, NY) belted his 15^th home run of the season, a two-run shot that gave Maritime the lead.

That advantage increased to 6-0 in the top of the sixth.  After Shea singled and Ventura walked to start the inning, Michael Frazzetta (Howard Beach, NY) deposited a three-run long ball over the fence in left.  Wilson continued the rally with a one-out walk before stealing second.  That brought up Madigan, who sent a base hit up the middle to make it a six-run game. 

Purchase got one across in the bottom of the seventh before Jonathan Racanello (New Rochelle, NY) and Joseph Sorge (Montgomery, NY) shut the Panthers down over the final two innings.  After Racanello hit the first batter he faced, the duo retired the last six in a row to finish off the 6-1 win and send Maritime into the championship round.

Madigan and Shea each had two hits against Purchase, while Wilson scored twice.  Frazzetta knocked in three on his home run, and Milone's homer was a two-run shot.  Sullivan gave up four hits in 3.2 innings of work.  He walked one and struck out one.  Jake Bernardi (Bronx, NY) and William Chu (Port Washington, NY) combined to go an inning.  Jack Kellner (Seaford, NY) (3-2), meanwhile, was credited with the win after tossing 2.1 innings and surrendering one run on three hits with a walk and a strikeout.

Six of Purchase's seven hits in the contest were singles.  Patrick Reyes had a double for the only extra-base knock, and he also drove in the Panthers' only run on a sacrifice fly.  Uzzo (1-3) took the loss after allowing two unearned runs on five hits over five innings.  He notched two strikeouts and two walks.  Brandon Reybok and Cass Muller were each charged with two runs out of the bullpen.

On Sunday, Maritime and St. Joseph's LI meet again at 11 a.m. with the championship at stake.  Should the Privateers win, a winner-take-all contest will follow immediately afterwards.  Maritime needs to win both games, while the Golden Eagles only require one victory to become Skyline champions.