By Tucker Terranova/Axcess Baseball

Playoff races are often decided by the smallest of margins. Whether a game or a run, baseball provides little room for error, especially late in the season.

Chasing a playoff spot and clinging to a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning, Sag Harbor Whalers right fielder Chris Morabito (Bucknell) proved baseball is, quite literally, a game of inches. Morabito soared above the right-field fence to rob the first-place North Fork Ospreys of the lead, sparking a four-run bottom half that helped seal a crucial 7-2 win.

The moment sent Mashashimuet Park into a frenzy — and gave Morabito a moment he’ll never forget.

“After the catch, I kind of stopped myself and realized that was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done in my life,” Morabito said.

His catch preserved starter Will Darrell’s (Vassar) winning effort. Darrell tossed six innings, allowing two runs and striking out five.

“Me and my catcher (Kieran Shea) came into the day with a clear plan,” Darrell said. “We wanted to work backwards and mix in everything. I was happy with my control and filled up the zone pretty well.”

Darrell delivered a shutdown first inning, and the Whalers gave him an early lead in the bottom half.

After Mario Cubello (St. John Fisher) beat out an infield single and eventually reached third, his brother, Matteo Cubello (St. Anselm), drove him in with a sacrifice fly to deep left field, giving Sag Harbor a 1-0 advantage.

The Ospreys answered quickly with two runs in the second. Trevor Dosenbach (Richmond) ripped a single to left to score Cristian Rodriguez (Pace), and Matt Fagnant (Marywood) flared an RBI single of his own, putting North Fork ahead 2-1.

The Whalers reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the second. Tyler Sirchia (Dartmouth) led off with a solo homer to right, and Jaxon Beiswenger (Bucknell) added a sacrifice fly to deep center, scoring Shea for a 3-2 lead.

From there, both starters settled in.

Darrell retired six straight across the third and fourth, then stranded Fagnant in the fifth by inducing a pop-up from HCBL batting average leader Thomas Matuszewski (Jefferson).

“I tried to get back to my tempo from the first,” Darrell said. “I kind of lost what was working in the second, but was able to get back to it.”

Perez matched Darrell’s effort, striking out Matteo Cubello on an 0-2 fastball with two away in the fifth to keep it close.

Then came the game’s defining moment.

With a runner on first and two outs in the sixth, Schnupp crushed a fly ball that seemed destined to clear the fence. But Morabito made what could be the HCBL catch of the year — leaping to rob the home run and preserve the 3-2 Whalers lead.

Sag Harbor rode the momentum, plating four in the bottom half.

Sirchia opened the inning with a single, followed by a walk to Jared Shear. Shea laid down a bunt single to load the bases before Ethan Righter (Hamilton) roped a double to the opposite field to score two. Beiswenger added a sacrifice fly, and Mario Cubello capped the rally with an infield single to bring home Righter and make it 7-2.

Righter took the mound in the seventh for his first appearance of the summer and closed the door with a scoreless frame.

The Whalers improved to 13-12-4 and moved into a playoff spot with the win — a position Morabito knows they’ll have to fight to keep.

“It’s going to take great pitching, complete pitching, and continuing to play as a team,” Morabito said.

North Fork returns to action tomorrow afternoon with a visit to Shelter Island, while Sag Harbor hosts the South Shore Clippers. Both games are scheduled for 5 p.m.