By Tucker Terranova
Mark Reo discusses the keys to victory in the 16U LI Huskies’ 4-3 @liboysofsummer win over the Top Tier Aviators, as well as what’s led to their eight-game conference winning streak. pic.twitter.com/mSd9Vqr02Z
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 1, 2025
With the summer schedule reaching its midpoint, teams across the Island are beginning to round into form. For the 16U LI Huskies, Tuesday’s matchup was another step in a strong start and a textbook display of fundamental baseball.
Backed by sharp defense, quality pitching and a textbook display of small-ball, the Huskies edged the Top Tier Aviators, 4-3, extending their conference win streak to eight games and improving to 8-2-1 in league play.
“We’ve been relying on our defense and pitching recently to help us win,” said catcher Mark Reo, who finished 2-for-3 and scored the game-winning run. “When you combine that with a few timely hits, good things happen.”
Top Tier right-hander CJ Burkhardt worked around early trouble in the top of the first, escaping a jam after an error and a walk put two on with one out. He induced a groundout to end the threat and keep the Huskies off the board.
The Aviators rewarded him in the bottom half. Carter Pletman led off with a double off the center-field fence and came around to score on a Damian Sosa double to left-center, giving Top Tier a 1-0 lead after one.
They extended the lead in the second behind heads-up baserunning. Andrew Walters singled to start the inning, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a throwing error during the next at-bat to make it 2-0.
The Huskies answered in the third. Reo drove a hard single into the right-center gap to bring home a run and cut the deficit to 2-1.
“I’ve been trying to shorten up my swing and not do too much,” Reo said. “I tried to hit hard line drives today and be aggressive in the count.”
In the bottom half, Top Tier pushed the lead back to two. After back-to-back walks, the Huskies turned to reliever Chris Mazzola. A single loaded the bases, and Andrew Manesis drew a walk to force in a run and put Top Tier ahead 3-1.
But the Huskies clawed back in the fourth with a perfectly executed small-ball rally. Griffin Troisi singled to right on a hit-and-run, moving Jayden Setiadi to third. Troisi then stole second, and Sameer Rahaman laid down a suicide squeeze that not only brought in the tying run but also plated Troisi after a throwing error, leveling the score at 3-3.
Final/6: LI Huskies 4, Top Tier Aviators 3
The Huskies improve to 8-2-1 in @liboysofsummer play with a come-from-behind victory. pic.twitter.com/JlLX3wLLeP
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 1, 2025
“We try to win in any way possible,” Reo said. “If that means bunting the ball — that’s what it takes, and we’re fine with that.”
Reo stayed hot in the fifth, leading off with a double into the right-field corner. After a sacrifice bunt from Chase McQuade moved him to third, Dan Cornish lifted a sacrifice fly to right to give the Huskies their first lead of the game, 4-3.
After a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh, Rahaman, who had started the game at shortstop, came on in relief to close it out. The right-hander struck out the first batter he faced on six pitches before making a highlight-reel play — snaring a scorching line drive back to the mound and doubling off the runner at first to seal the win.
“He can come in at any time, and we trust him to get the job done,” Reo said. “That was an amazing play to end the game.”
The Huskies (8-2-1) resume league play next Tuesday against B1 Ghost-Stewart. Top Tier (1-6-1) is back in action Wednesday for a matchup against Dodgers Nation Anzano at 5:30 p.m.
