by Max Edelman
Island Trees take the lead!
Bobby Westcott connects on a two out, two-run home run to put the Red Devils ahead 3-2 in the top of the fifth. pic.twitter.com/ibKazxVYMS
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 28, 2025
The Plainedge Red Devils keep on rolling, as they traveled to and defeated the Island Trees Bulldogs 6-2. Trailing 2-1, a two-run homer off the bat of Stony Brook-commit Bobby Wescott gave the Red Devils the lead and they never looked back, scoring five unanswered runs en route to their 12th straight victory to begin the season.
“The pitcher was hitting his spots.” Wescott said after the game. “It was a long at-bat, I got to a 3-2 count. They know how to pitch here at Island Trees, but if you leave a fastball up in the zone, you’re going to do some damage with it.”
It wasn’t smooth sailing for the Red Devils to begin the game, as they fell behind early in the contest, a leadoff single by Nick Karras eventually turned into a run, as he was driven in by Justin Feldman on an RBI fielder’s choice groundout, which gave the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead.
After a clean first frame in which he retired Plainedge in order, starting pitcher Kevin Kristyensen was quickly reminded of the offensive onslaught the Red Devils are capable of. In the second inning, a leadoff walk surrendered to Mike Calapai came back to bite him. After advancing to second on a single by Jayden Gaghan, he was brought home by the Plainedge starting pitcher Jaxson Torres, which knotted the game at one. Island Trees wasted zero time answering back, taking the lead on a Karras RBI groundout.
After two scoreless frames, the Red Devils caught a game changing break, as Taylor Nitsch was able to reach base on a throwing error by third baseman Richie Montalvo. One batter later, Wescott sent a deep fly ball to right field that pinged off the scoreboard for a home run, giving Plainedge a 3-2 lead, a lead they would never relinquish.
The homer marked the end of Kristyensen’s day on the mound. In 4.1 innings, he allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits. Kristyensen struck out and walked three batters in the contest. Torres, the starting pitcher for Plainedge, pitched four innings, struck out six, walked two and allowed two runs on four hits.
The Red Devils tacked on another off relief pitcher Jack Luckey, who entered and pitched the remainder of the game for Island Trees. After being hit by a pitch, Calapi was able to steal second before scoring on an RBI single by pinch hitter Aidan McCarthy. McCarthy, who pinch hit for Torres, finished the game on the mound for Plainedge, striking out five and allowed only four hits in his three inning save.
The final two runs of the game for the Red Devils came in the sixth and seventh innings, with Nitsch bringing in a run on a single. The sixth and final run was scored on a Jack Kregeloh sacrifice fly to center field.
The Plainedge Red Devils move to 12-0 on the season, and will look to bring their win total to 13 when they continue their series against Island Trees on Tuesday at 5pm.
