Merrick Little League Defeats Massapequa Coast to Stay In Championship Race

The Merrick Little League 12-year-old Williamsport team defeated Massapequa Coast in extra innings, 9-8, on Sunday afternoon atto force a winner-take-all Game 2 for the championship. Since the loss was Coasts’ first of the , Merrick must win again to claim the title.

“It was an awesome win. We took an early lead and the team just fought through the adversity even when we were down in extra innings,” said Merrick head coach Craig Levine. “We just need to approach the next game like every other game we’ve been playing. We will go out there and play good, fundamental baseball and keep up the hard work.”

Merrick started off fast in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three runs. Dylan Hughes hit a two-run home run and Robert Backus knocked in another run with a single. Hughes helped with a solid defensive job early on, holding Massapequa Coast scoreless through the first two innings on the mound.

In the top of the third, Coast got on the board with a solo home run by Chris Keenan and an RBI double by Brandon Fanizza to cut the lead to 3-2. Merrick added a fourth run in the bottom half of the inning, but Coast tied the score at 4-4 after a pair of solo home runs by Albie Fanera and Jake Sabia.

Nico Racalbuto gave his team the lead right back with a solo shot, followed by two RBI singles by Jerry Kourkoumelis and David Aiello to extend the Merrick lead to 7-4. Coast fought right back with an RBI single by Dylan Nealis and a run walked in with the bases full, courtesy of Justin Schirmacher.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, Backus, the Merrick closer, followed up two strikeouts with a handful of walks, eventually allowing Mark Rodriguez to score the tying run after a bases loaded walk to Keenan. After a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the sixth, Coast took their first lead in extra innings after a single by Fanera to score Austin Torres. Hughes made an unassisted double play to end the inning with Merrick behind 8-7.

With their championship run on the line, Merrick got the bats going once again. Racalbuto hit an RBI single to tie the score and Eric Gossert collected the game-winning hit to score Connor Hannon from third base, giving Merrick a dramatic 9-8 win.

“Our defense wasn’t our normal defense today. We need to tighten ourselves up defensively and keep our emotions inside, so that it what we will need to change next game,” said Massapequa Coast head coach Brian Schirmacher.

Merrick is currently 4-1 in the tournament and Massapequa Coast, winners of District 31 during the last two years, now stands at 3-1. The second game of the championship round will take place on Wednesday, July 13 at 8 p.m. at Burns Park.