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Dodgers Nation Jasmin Take Opening Game of Long Island Rumble

by Jacob Infald

Dodgers Nation Jasmin took the opening matchup in the JV National Division of the Hot Stove Long Island Rumble Tournament 5-1 over the Huntington Hustl. They were led by their catcher James Raber (Bethpage 2027) who threw out two runners caught stealing.

In a game that was tied until the fifth inning, Raber’s efforts behind the dish proved to be of great importance for his team, especially his second caught stealing that took place in the fourth inning. With the score being tied at 1-1 since the first inning, Dodgers Nation starter Chase Korngold (Commack 2027) began to run out of gas. Two consecutive one-out walks led to the Hustl having runners on the corners with their cleanup batter, Ollie Frintzilas at the plate. 

Korngold threw a fastball up and inside that Frintzilas whiffed. Raber popped up, and fired a dart to second that beat the runner by a mile. Shortstop Tyler Baktis (Massapequa 2027) slapped the tag on quickly for the second out of the inning. One pitch later, Korngold got Frintzilas swinging to escape the jam.

“On those two throws, I was really just locked in on getting a straight line, not trying to do too much, but definitely getting the ball [to second], and they were out,” Raber told Axcess Baseball after the game. 

Dodgers Nation was able to take the lead for good in the following inning. Leo Guerrero hit a bloop single over the shortstop to start the inning. Two batters later with Guerrero on second with one out, Toby Young (North Babylon 2027) laid down a beautiful bunt that rolled between the pitcher and catcher. Young hustled out of the box, and there was no play at first and Dodgers Nation was set up with runners on the corners and one out. 

From there, they were able to manufacture two runs after two hit batters and a catcher’s interference to take a 3-1 lead. Hustl pitch Jesse Blohm (Huntington 2028)  did a great job producing weak contact, but it was the hit batters and walks that cost him. He hit four and walked two, en route to his complete game effort where he only allowed one extra base hit. 

Dodgers Nation was able to manufacture one more run in both the top of the sixth and the seventh. In the sixth, Jariel Diaz (Valley Stream Central 2027) came in his first at-bat of the game as a pinch hitter. With one out, two strikes, and the bases loaded, Diaz did a job as he lifted a fly ball to left field that was good for a sacrifice fly to make it a 4-1 game. 

In the seventh, Young led the inning off with a hard hit ball in the shortstop hole. Joey Perotti made a nice play on the ball, but Young was able to beat the throw for an infield single. Young stole second and third, and a throwing error from the catcher on the latter steal attempt allowed Young to score easily to give Dodgers Nation a 5-1 lead. 

After Korngold fired four innings of one run baseball, Lucas Adams was turned to for the final nine outs for Dodgers Nation. He did not surrender a run, striking out four and demonstrating an excellent pickoff move. The southpaw was able to catch two Hustl base runners leaning, one in the fifth and one in the sixth.

While Dodgers Nation was able to start the weekend off with a victory, they are not satisfied and hope to build off this win to play better baseball during the next two days of the Long Island Rumble tournament. 

“We’re gonna advance off this win definitely, and keep progressing and doing better,” Raber said. “Instead of just a 5-1 win, how about a 10-0 win.”