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Massapequa International 12-Year-olds Fall to Merrick

Massapequa eliminated from playoffs.

The Massapequa International Little League 12-year old Williamsport team was eliminated on Sunday after losing 15-5 to Merrick.

Massapequa was eliminated after their second loss of the District 31 tournament, finishing with a 2-2 record.

“It was a hard-fought battle. We took an early lead, but Massapequa didn’t quit. Our kids played good defense and battled away during every at-bat,” Craig Levine, Merrick head coach, said. “[Robert] Backus came in to close the game out for us and he always has a great bat up there.” 

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Merrick collected four runs in the bottom of the first inning by way of an RBI double by Dylan Hughes, a two-run double by Jerry Kourkoumelis and an RBI single by Matt Torretta. Kourkoumelis finished the game with a team-high four RBI.

Matthew Pinto hit a solo home run for Massapequa to cut the lead to 4-1 in the top of the second, but Merrick added two more runs in the bottom half of the inning on a fielder’s choice play and an RBI single by catcher Josh Levine, who would later add a home run to give him three in as many games during the tournament.

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The lead would only get larger in their following turn up at bat as Merrick scored two runs, one on an error and an RBI double by Robert Backus, who had the top offensive performance for his team. He went a perfect 4-for-4 with the RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base.

Massapequa mounted a comeback in the next two innings, scoring four runs to cut the lead to 8-5. Robert Wines hit a two-run double in the fourth, followed by an RBI single by Paul Strakowski. Cole Masterson hit a solo home run in the fifth inning as well.

However, Merrick would end all drama with their biggest inning of the day in the bottom half of the fifth. They scored seven runs, highlighted by a two-run double by Eric Gossert and the three-run home run by Levine to reach the 10-run mercy rule and end the game.

“This was our fourth game of the tournament and we came back in every game, including our first game with Merrick,” Joseph Pinto, Massapequa International head coach, said. “I’m proud of the guys and this tournament is a great thing with Little League.”

Merrick overcame a 6-4 loss to this same team in their first game, where they once led 4-0, but have since won their last two games.

The win sets up a game with Seaford on July 6 at 8 p.m. at Burns Park for a chance to face Massapequa Coast Little League in the District 31 championship round. 

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