Baseball / Ospreys Stay Hot, Extend Winning Streak to Six

Ospreys Stay Hot, Extend Winning Streak to Six

Date:  Source: Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League

Photo Credit: Olivia Daddona

 

The North Fork Ospreys continued their midseason surge on Saturday afternoon at Fiske Field, scoring early and riding strong pitching to a 7-3 win over the Shelter Island Bucks. With the win, North Fork improved to 15-5-1, extending their winning streak to six games and strengthening their hold on first place in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League. The Bucks dropped to 9-11-0 with the loss.

The Ospreys wasted no time jumping ahead, plating five runs in the top of the first inning against Shelter Island starter Brennan Shapiro (Babson). North Fork took advantage of a hit batter, a walk, and timely hits from Nick Pratt (UMBC), Steven Kienzle (Southern New Hampshire), and Thomas Matuszewski (Mount St. Mary’s), who delivered a three-run triple to highlight the frame.

North Fork tacked on a run in both the second and third innings to build a commanding 7-0 lead. Matuszewski continued his standout performance, finishing the day 3-for-3 with three RBI, while Kienzle (Southern New Hampshire) added two hits and an RBI. Pratt also drove in a pair, and Rocco Cimino (Pace) scored twice and stole a base.

On the mound, AJ Mitchell (Dominican) was sharp for North Fork, allowing just one hit over five shutout innings while striking out five to earn his third win of the season. Shelter Island finally broke through against the Ospreys' bullpen in the later innings, scoring one in the sixth on an RBI single from John Gannon (St. Lawrence). The Bucks would score two in the seventh on a Billy Fluharty (Bucknell) RBI triple and a North Fork error.

Shelter Island struggled to solve Mitchell early, and a late rally fell short. Fluharty led the Bucks' offense, finishing 2-for-3 with a triple, a double, and an RBI, and Alex Barrist (Lafayette) added a double.

The Bucks' bullpen did its part to keep the game within reach, as Joe LaPrade (St. Lawrence) tossed four scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits and striking out three. But Shelter Island couldn’t overcome the early deficit.

With their sixth straight win, the Ospreys are firing on all cylinders heading into the second half of the season. At the same time, Shelter Island will look to bounce back as they battle for playoff positioning in a Sunday doubleheader against the Westhampton Aviators in Bridgehampton.