by Trevor Dugan
After being shut out by Lindenhurst on Monday, Sachem East bounced back with an 11-2 win Wednesday to even up their three game series. Ryan Lane led the way on offense with four RBIs, and SP Dante Algeri picked up the win after five strong innings on the mound.
Lindenhurst SP Jackson Martin kept the Sachem East bats cold over the first two innings, holding them scoreless and allowing just one hit. His offense got him an early lead, with all-league SS Ricky Nunez driving in the game’s first run on an RBI single in the top of the first. Lindenhurst added another in the top of the second when Billy Steinmann beat out a chopper for an RBI infield single, taking a 2-0 lead into the third inning.
Sachem East’s offense finally broke their scoreless streak in the bottom of the third, chasing Martin from the game and putting up five runs to grab their first lead of the series. Their first run scored on a bases-loaded walk, which prompted Lindenhurst to bring in Steinmann in relief of Martin. The Arrows’ first baseman Lane greeted him from the bullpen with a two-run single to put Sachem East on top 3-2.
Two more runs would score in the inning on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly, pushing Sachem East’s lead to 5-2.
Lane, who was named GameChanger player of the game after the win, spoke about his approach at the plate that helped him find success.
“My first two at-bats I went down 0-2, so I was really working on my two strike approach,” Lane said. “I really started crowding the plate, choking up on the bat, I’m ready to stand in front of a pitch if I need to. That let me hit it oppo for two RBIs.”
Lane would add a sacrifice fly and an RBI double after his go-ahead single, finishing 2-2 with four RBIs.
After taking the lead in the third, Sachem East never looked back. Algeri kept Lindenhurst off the board over the next two innings, finishing his start by pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the fifth. The right handed starter finished his day with two earned runs allowed and four strikeouts.
Sachem East scored at will for the remainder of the game, with Lindenhurst’s bullpen struggling to contain the newly awakened offense. Three more scored in the bottom of the fourth when Chris Ragona and Ryan Margolis each hit an RBI single. In the bottom of the sixth, Lane and Jake King hit back-to-back RBI doubles to swell the Sachem East lead to 11-2.
RHP Johnny Mulqueen pitched the last two innings for Sachem East, ending the top of the seventh with a strikeout to finish off a dominant victory and improving their record to 3-2 in league play, while Lindenhurst falls to 3-5.
Speaking to Axcess post game, Lane was feeling good about his team’s big day at the plate after a difficult game one of the series.
“We got shut out last game, so we’ve really been trying to get the team going and get more quality at-bats,” Lane explained. “From the third inning we were putting the ball in play, people were getting on base, loaded the bases, a couple hits here and there and we started scoring.”
“This team has a lot of potential,” Lane continued. “I think now that we’re getting back into it, getting fired up, I think this team can go on a pretty good run, and we’re really confident going into game three.”
The two League II teams will finish up their three game set Thursday April 16 at Lindenhurst High School.
NOTABLES:
Winning pitcher: Dante Algeri, 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 K
(Sachem East) Ryan Lane: 2-2, 4 RBI, 2B
(Sachem East) Chris Ragona: 1-2, 3 RBI, R
(Lindenhurst) Ricky Nunez: 2-3, RBI
(Lindenhurst) Dallas Bednarik: 2-4, R