Massapequa Coast Juniors Win Long Island Championship

It took some time for Massapequa Coast's hitting to arrive, but when it did, it was enough to make them Long Island champs.

The Williamsport Junior League team won a hard fought victory 8-2 Monday night to take the title in Sayville.

For the first five innings, the game was an intense pitchers' duel, as Commack's Peter Kotsovolus and Massapequa's Bobby Honeyman  took complete control of the batters. 

Kotsovolus allowed only a walk and a single through three, as he seemed to have the Massapequa batters scratching their heads.

Honeyman  got off to a rocky start, issuing a walk to the first batter he faced. Travis Volpe then stole second, but Honeyman would compose himself as he struck out the next batter and started cruising.

The hitters finally came to life in the fourth inning. Commack's Paul Britt reached first on an error by catcher Frank Patara, and Nick Perullo was walked by Honeyman. But the Massapequa hurler would fight back to get two pop outs to end the inning, stranding two runners on base.

In the bottom of the fourth, Massapequa nearly rallied on three straight singles by Honeyman, Patrick Healy and Alex Cosenza  loading  the bases with only one out.

Commack made a pitching change, bringing in Paul Britt, who had been playing shortstop. Britt struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

Heading into the bottom of the fifth inning the game was still scoreless. Britt facing the top of the order, gave up a lead off single to Nick Breslin who hit a shot right up the middle. Massapequa had finally figured out a Commack pitcher and continued to hit freely off the young reliever. A string of hits and steals by Breslin, Garland, Healy and Alex Cosenza drove in the game's first runs. 

The bad news for the Commack side continued to grow as two hit batters and a couple dropped balls by the Commack catcher would cost the team some more runs. In all, they gave up five runs, six hits, three steals and two hit batters in the disastrous  fifth inning.

But Commack  didn't give in. In the sixth inning, a pair of walks and RBI singles by John Bopp and Peter Kotsovolus, shrunk the deficit to three. Alex Cosenza would come in on relief for Massapequa and shut down Commack.

Massapequa scored  three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning that shed a dark cloud over the Commack's hopes.

Entering the top of the seventh inning you could hear chants of three more outs from the parents on the Massapequa side.

The game ended at 8-2 making Massapequa Coast Long Island's best. 

Massapequa Coach Craig Garland couldn't get over the pitching duel saying, "How about those first five innings?"  

Massapequa Coast advances to the State Championship games which will be held on Long Island this year.

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