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Oyster Bay Claims Nassau Class B Title in 13-Inning Thriller

by Nolan Locke

Hofstra University’s baseball field played host to a back-and-forth battle in the Nassau Class B Championship matchup, serving as the deciding game three between No. 1 seed Oyster Bay and No. 3 seed Cold Spring Harbor. In a 13-inning clash, the Baymen outlasted the Seahawks defeating them 8-7 in walk-off fashion, netting them their first championship since 2015.

From the first inning the offensive first tone was set as Cold Spring Harbor took a 2-0 lead on a Ryan McCarey RBI single and an Owen Keegan bases-loaded walk. Oyster Bay looked to respond with a run of their own as Chris Hall would come around the horn after a leadoff single, cutting the deficit to 2-1 headed into the second. 

The second saw both teams go scoreless, however both offenses would return to form in the third. In the top of the third a leadoff infield single by infielder Bryan Goldstein followed by a Jesse Silver walk would get the inning started for Cold Spring Harbor. A sac bunt would then move the runners over before a 1 out fielder’s choice ground out by Thomas Desimone scored two for the Seahawks extending their lead to 4-1. 

The Baymen answered immediately in the bottom half. Dean Cekovic reached on a throwing error to kick off the frame and promptly stole second. Hall then delivered his second hit of the day—a clutch single to drive in Cekovic and cut the deficit to 4-2. A single by captain Chase Lordi and a gritty full-count walk by Ethan Ruff loaded the bases, threatening to break the game wide open. Cold Spring Harbor pitcher Jesse Silver escaped the jam, turning a massive double play that cut Hall down at the plate and retired the batter at first to preserve the 4-2 lead.

In the top of the fourth a single by Sam Levenbaum would be all for the Seahawks, bringing the trailing Oyster Bay offense back up to the plate. Thomas Vidro would launch a leadoff double, knocking Cold Spring Harbor starter Silver out of the game, bringing in eighth grader Mac Fairbairn for Cold Spring Harbor. Fairbairn began his day of work with a wild pitch and a walk putting runners at the corner for Oyster Bay as they looked to tie the game up. Fairbairn then fanned Anthony Scheidet for a crucial first out of the inning. But a four pitch walk to Cekovic loaded the bases for the Baymen. Fairbairn managed to work around the traffic however, striking out his second batter of the inning looking before a towering pop-up to shortstop would end the inning.

The top of the fifth was again quiet for the Seahawks offense, providing another opportunity for the Baymen to cut into the deficit. A hit-by-pitch and a full-count walk would end Fairbairn’s day as McCarey would enter the fray in relief for Cold Spring Harbor. Nicholas Van Bargen greeted the new pitcher with an RBI single, cutting the Seahawks lead to just one run. Captain Alex Karpavicius then roped a clutch two-run double to left field to put Oyster Bay on top, 5-4, capping a dramatic comeback to secure their first lead of the day. A single by 2B Jack Gerbosi would increase the Baymen’s lead to 6-4.

The Seahawks would respond immediately in the top of the sixth, as Keegan would nab his second RBI of the game, as Cold Spring Harbor tied it up on four consecutive singles. An RBI infield single by Fairbairn, would grab the lead back for the Seahawks just a half inning after the Baymen flipped the score.

The next two half innings would find both offenses falling silent, with McCarey striking out the side in the bottom of the sixth. 

Oyster Bay would come up to bat in the bottom of the seventh down one run, with their season and the championship on the line. With one out in the inning Scheidet singled, providing a lifeline for the Baymen. Scheidet then stole second, putting the runner in scoring position as Oyster Bay looked to tie it up. McCarey then struck out Cekovic swinging on a breaking ball leaving the Baymen down to their final out. With the season on the line Gerbosi stepped up to the plate, slapping a bloop single to shallow center field to tie the game up and keep Oyster Bay’s championship hopes alive.“I wasn’t trying to do too much,” said Gerbosi. “Just put the ball in play and keep it going, I got a base hit up the middle–that was a big one for us.”

In extra innings, Oyster Bay reliever Lordi and McCarey traded scoreless frames until the top of the 13th. As the Seahawks threatened to take the lead in the final frame. However, an incredible diving catch by center fielder Cekovic ended the inning to keep the game tied, bringing the Baymen back to the plate.

“Dean got his first shot in center field,” said head coach Jeff Schiereck. “For him to make that diving catch, it was really special.”

An infield single for Lordi, followed by an intentional walk and a hit by pitch would load the bases with just one out in the inning, putting the Baymen potentially on the cusp of a championship victory. Vidro stepped up to the plate, battling to a full-count before drawing a bases-loaded walk-off walk, sealing the extra innings victory for Oyster Bay, before instantly rushing towards his dugout to celebrate with his teammates. 

“It’s awesome,” said Gerbosi on the win. “The first time since 2015. We’ve been in this spot the past couple of years and finally got it done, big win.”