Photo Credit: Adam Bundy

Shelter Island 6, Westhampton 2

Behind a dominant start from Diego Sarabia (Bates) and a balanced offensive effort, the Shelter Island Bucks defeated the Westhampton Aviators, 6-2, on Wednesday evening at Fiske Field. 

Sarabia was electric on the mound, holding the Aviators to just one hit over six innings, striking out 11 batters and walking four to earn his second win of the season. He allowed a two-run homer to Grant Dalton (Lackawanna) in the fourth inning, but otherwise stifled the Aviators' offense. Tyler Metcalf (Emerson) pitched the seventh to close it out.

The Bucks' offense was opportunistic against Aden Burnside (Marian), scoring two runs in the second and adding another in the third to lead 3-0

After Dalton’s two-run homer cut the Bucks' lead to one run in the fourth, Shelter Island responded in the fifth, scoring three runs to extend the lead to 5-2, giving the Bucks a cushion they would not relinquish.

Billy Fluharty (Bucknell) led the Bucks with two hits and two runs scored, while Tommy Munch (Occidental contributed two hits and an RBI. John Gannon (St. Lawrence) finished with two RBI, and Willie Landman (St. Lawrence) had an RBI single.

The Aviators struggled offensively, managing just two hits—Dalton’s home run and a single by Luke Rizzo (College of Wooster). Burnside (0-3) took the loss after allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits over 4.2 innings, striking out one. Andrew Yanez (Queens) tossed 1.1 scoreless innings in relief.

Defensive miscues hurt Westhampton, as they committed five errors, contributing to Shelter Island’s scoring opportunities.

Shelter Island’s speed was a factor, with Fluharty, Barrist, and Munch each stealing a base. The Bucks played a clean defensive game, committing no errors, in contrast to Westhampton’s struggles in the field.

South Shore 4, Southampton 1

The South Shore Clippers won their fourth straight game to improve to 7-9 on the season with a 4-1 win over the Southampton Breakers on Wednesday at William Floyd High School.

The Clippers took advantage of a three-run bottom of the first inning and never relinquished the lead, and it was more than enough for starting pitcher Jace Alvino (Southern Connecticut St.), who pitched five shutout innings, only allowing three hits as he earned his first win of the season.

Matt Gileno (Riverside CC) had an RBI single in the Clippers’ three-run second inning and Jake Acker (Wesleyan) brought in the Clippers’ fourth run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth.

Southampton got their lone run of the game in the top of the sixth on a solo home run by Brett Walmsley (Delaware), which was his second home run of the season.

Clippers relief pitcher KJ Lavoie (St. Rose), who led the HCBL saves last season with six, picked up his first save of the season, retiring the Breakers in order in the top of the seventh.