by Tucker Terranova
Final: Seaford 1, Wantagh 6
Wantagh takes a 1-0 series lead in the Nassau County Class A Finals thanks to a complete game from Christian Danzilo. pic.twitter.com/67fxvkkRdp
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 29, 2025
Some players simply have a knack for playing their best when the lights are brightest.
For Christian Danzilo, who earned a clutch save in game one of last year’s finals and got the start for top-seeded Wantagh in this year’s series opener, it’s beginning to look like this is the case.
The senior southpaw committed to SUNY Oneonta allowed just one run, struck out three, and carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning on 98 pitches, delivering a complete game for the Warriors in a 6-1 victory over A-2 #3 Seaford.
It was a performance that Wantagh head coach Keith Sachs said shouldn’t surprise many, given his lefty’s quality of work as an upperclassman.
“He did what he’s done for us the last two years,” Sachs said. “He throws strikes, pitches to contact and doesn’t beat himself. It takes a lot of hits to beat him.”
After falling to Clarke in three games in last season’s championship series, the Warriors entered Thursday’s contest with a sense of urgency that was evident from first pitch.
“We were so fired up heading into this game,” Danzilo said after the win. “We knew we couldn’t take these guys lightly. We had to play defense and have timely hitting, and that’s what we did.”
It wouldn’t take long for them to get on the board, as Tommy Wunderlich, deposited an RBI triple of the facing of the right-center field wall. He’d score on the next pitch, as an RBI groundout from Ryan Conigliaro put Wantagh up 2-0 after one.
“I came up to the plate looking to do damage,” Wunderlich – a member of last season’s finalist roster – said. “I was sitting fastball, got it, and was able to go the other way with it.”
An inning later, Wantagh tacked on another run when Charlie Cascino drove in Frankie McNally, who had doubled down the right-field line, to make it 3-0.
“It’s huge that I can trust every guy in the lineup to produce,” Danzilo stated. “We trust all of our guys up there in a big spot.”
Danzilo cruised through the first four frames, while his counterpart, Seaford LHP Luke Walsh, kept the Vikings in the game until the fifth, when the Warriors broke it open with a three-run frame.
Christian Danzilo discusses his complete game start and his squad’s added motivation after falling short in the Class A Championship last season. pic.twitter.com/6K4gosOgVN
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 29, 2025
Ryan Tullo led off with a single and scored on Mike Avitable’s RBI liner to right. An error and a McNally RBI single extended the lead to 6-0.
Seaford’s lone run came in the sixth, when Jordan Cassuto singled to drive in Ayden Das..
Danzilo quickly regained form, closing out the contest in the seventh with a relatively-quick final frame.
For the Warriors, the win is a step in the right direction but not something to celebrate. They’ve been in this spot before, and hope this series has a different ending.
“We’re coming here playing our best ball and we want to win,” said Danzilo.
Game two of the best-of-three takes place Friday at noon from Farmingdale State College. Wantagh is seeking their first County Championship since their 3-peat from 2016-2018.
