by Tucker Terranova
Jack Murphy discusses his base-clearing triple which gave Garden City a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, as well as what was working for his squad today and what an LIC means for the program. pic.twitter.com/zMzYcQoMhC
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 5, 2025
The typical approach against a sub-1.00 ERA Division-I arm? Scratch out a run or two and lean on your pitching to do the rest. Garden City had other plans.
Facing League IV MVP Thomas Costarelli and the top statistical pitching staff on Long Island, the Trojans erupted for nine runs across the fourth and fifth innings, storming past Suffolk Class AA champion East Islip, 10-5, to capture the Class AA Long Island Championship Thursday at Farmingdale State College.
The win delivered Garden City its first LIC title since 2021 and a long-awaited return to the state tournament for the first time since 2000, with the 2021 event canceled due to COVID-19. The victory also kept Garden City perfect this postseason, improving to 8-0 in playoff action.
“It’s insane. This moment is everything I’ve ever dreamed about since I was little,” said Trojans’ center fielder Jack Murphy after the postgame festivities. “We play as a family, and that’s what you saw today. We stuck together – and look where we are.”
Murphy’s performance out of the number nine spot perfectly embodied Garden City’s all-hands-on-deck approach. The bottom half of the Trojans’ order – hitters five through nine – combined for seven hits and seven RBIs in the win.
“Our whole lineup is able to produce, and that helps us win games,” Murphy said. “This is what’s gotten us to this point, without everybody contributing, we wouldn’t be here.”
Garden City struck early in the first inning with an RBI single from Kyle Walsh, but East Islip answered in the third. Chris Rizzo drove in a run with a single, and Lucas Patton scored on a defensive miscue to give the Redmen a 2-1 lead.
That lead didn’t last long.
Jack Murphy’s bases clearing triple gave Garden City the 4-2 lead and GC has since broken the game open they lead 10-3 pic.twitter.com/IfMyH25QhK
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 5, 2025
In the top of the fourth, Murphy stepped in with the bases loaded and ripped a go-ahead, bases-clearing triple off the left-field wall. He later came home on a sacrifice fly, turning the tide as Garden City grabbed a 5-2 advantage.
“I was just trying to stay back on the ball and stay alive once it got to two strikes,” Murphy said. “I knew eventually the strikes would come – and that’s what happened.”
With the lead in hand, starting pitcher Joe Carey settled in. Despite some early command issues, the junior left-hander delivered six innings, allowing three runs and earning the win.
“I knew who my counterpart was, but my job was just to go out there and set the tone for my team,” said Carey, who held East Islip scoreless through three. “I was able to get ahead of guys and work my offspeed.”
It’s a performance head coach David Izzo noted is common for his team – and particularly his ace.
“We’ve been winning games on pitching and defense all season,” Izzo said. “Carey showed how much of a competitor he is with his performance today. To be able to throw the way he did without his best stuff was very impressive.”
East Islip scratched across a run in the fifth to cut the deficit to 5-3, but the Trojans blew it open in the top of the sixth against reliever Jaden Schmidt.
Kyle Walsh opened the scoring with an RBI double to the left-center gap. Will Jewell followed with a sacrifice fly, and catcher Shea Burns laced an RBI triple into right-center. Murphy then worked a walk and came around to score alongside Burns on a two-run double by Skylar Lang that stayed just inside the first-base line, stretching the lead to 9-3.
The Redmen added two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Garden City’s lead proved insurmountable.
With the win, the Trojans advance to face Section I champion Fox Lane on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Hofstra. Garden City is 1-for-1 in state tournament appearances, having won the Class B title in its lone trip back in 2000.
“There’s only been one group of Garden City kids to play in states,” Izzo said. “It’s been a great season with these guys – they work incredibly hard, and it’s been a pleasure to coach them. We’re excited for the opportunity and hoping to make the most of it.”
