by Max Edelman
Owen Smith is the @GetGameChanger Player of the Game as the East Meadow RHP went the distance and also drove in 3 runs at the plate pic.twitter.com/ooUcF4Mwuj
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 25, 2025
Owen Smith did it all for East Meadow, as the Jets took down the Bethpage Golden Eagles 11-1 in a run-rule after six innings. Both on the mound and at the plate, Smith shined, pitching all six innings for the Jets, allowing just one run on four hits, striking out one.
“My command in the beginning wasn’t too hot,” Smith said after the game. “But my boys had my back, they put up runs and I eventually found the strike zone, it worked out well.”
While Smith was rightfully complimentary of his offense, he was a major reason for their success, Smith drove in three runs in the contest, tied for the team lead.
In the bottom of the first, the Jets wasted no time putting a run on the board, as after the first two batters were retired by Golden Eagles starting pitcher Mike Macholz, a Smith single, followed by a Joseph Lanza RBI double gave the Jets a 1-0 lead before the first inning even ended.
In the third inning, the Golden Eagles were able to tie the game when Bethpage designated hitter Will Lynn drove in what would be the Golden Eagles only run of the game on an RBI groundout. However, Bethpage stranded runners on second and third at the end of the inning, runs that eventually came back to bite them.
The Jets broke the game open in the third, erupting for six runs. The first two came on a two RBI single by Smith. East Meadow extended their lead to 4-1 when a Lanza fly ball was lost in the sun by the right fielder. An RBI single by Daron Lake and a two-run single off the bat of Ryan Lauth extended the lead to 7-1 and drove Macholz out of the game before he could record an out in the second.
Smith helps himself! Driving in two runs with a two-RBI double!
The Jets added two more on an error in right field, and on an RBI single by Daron Lake.
The Jets lead 5-1, and have men on second and third with no one out. pic.twitter.com/scZtvixrGV
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 24, 2025
In two innings, Macholz allowed seven runs (six earned) on four hits. Macholz struck out two and walked four. Jordan Martin came in relief, and was able to stop the bleeding, but the damage was done, and East Meadow took a 7-1 lead into the fourth inning.
After scoreless fourth and fifth innings, the Jets were able to put the finishing touches on a dominating win in the sixth inning. After reaching on a dropped third strike, Trevor Smith reached third after a pair of wild pitches. Trevor’s brother, Owen, drove him in on a sacrifice fly. Tommy Stein made the game 9-1 on a sacrifice fly, Lauth made it 10-1 on an RBI single and Ben Rose was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give the Jets an 11-1 run rule win.
The win moves East Meadow to 6-3 on the year, while Bethpage drops to 6-3. East Meadow clinches the series win over the Golden Eagles, and will next take on Jericho on April 28.
