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Plainedge Rolls to 13-3 Win in Game 1 of Nassau A Finals to Continue Bid for Perfection

by Nicholas DiLapi

In the Nassau County Class A Championship, the Plainedge Red Devils are seeking to keep their perfect season alive, while the Wantagh Warriors are hoping to upset the Red Devils.

Game 1 of the series started over an hour after the scheduled first pitch after a thriller between Bellmore JFK and Garden City in the Class AA Championship needed 12 innings to determine a winner. 

The Warriors started the game hot, with a leadoff hit from Nick Lattanzio, followed by a walk and a single to load the bases. Michael Amodio then brought home Lattanazio on a force out at 2nd, then Ryan Tullo successfully stole home, bringing Wantagh to a quick 2-0 lead after the first half inning. 

Heading into the bottom of the 1st, it seemed that Wantagh would put the undefeated season to the test. But then, after an error to let the leadoff man, Taylor Nitsch, reach 1st base safely, followed by a dropped third strike where Bobby Wescott reached safely, and then a walk to load the bases. Then came a series of unfortunate events, including a hit by pitch RBI and RBI single to tie the game, and then a sacrifice fly, 2 base hits, and a walk brought in a total of 5 runs, completely changing the game. Plainedge led 7-2 heading into the second inning. 

In the third and fourth innings, Wantagh would add on 2 more runs, with both runners coming on from a HBP, with the first being brought home on a wild pitch in the 3rd and the second on an RBI double in the 4th. 

Wantagh showed some life in the 5th inning, with a Ryan Tullo RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 6. 

A 6-run lead was too risky for Plainedge, however. They decided to tack on 3 more runs in the 5th inning, including RBI hits from Brady Henderson, Bobby Wescott and Mikey Calapai.

In the 6th inning, Plainedge hit a leadoff triple and then a sacrifice fly to end the game due to a 10-run lead mercy rule. 

Pitcher Jaxson Torres, who went the full 6 innings, is expecting the team to finish their perfect season.

“We worked our way up here for a perfect season so far, and we’re not gonna stop now,” said Torres. 

Game 2 of the Championship series will be tomorrow, May 29th at 3:00 PM, at the Farmingdale State Baseball Stadium in Farmingdale, NY.