Hesselbirg Records Fifth Straight Multi-RBI Game in Riverhead’s Victory at Shelter Island
The Riverhead Tomcats overcame an early deficit with a massive sixth inning to defeat the Shelter Island Bucks 14-8 on Tuesday night at Fiske Field.
Riverhead got on the board first in the opening inning when Evan Schickler (Rider) delivered an RBI single that scored Richie Heyder, giving the Tomcats a 1-0 lead.
The Bucks answered with a four-run second inning to take control. Jack Pitman (Bentley) tied the game with an RBI single before George Proffitt (St. Lawrence) reached on an error that allowed JD Stemhagen (Dickinson) to score. Cayden Van Dolah (Holy Cross) added a sacrifice fly and David Swift (Bates) followed with an RBI single as Shelter Island built a 4-1 advantage.
The Bucks added another run in the third when Proffitt grounded out to bring home Stemhagen and extend the lead to 5-1.
Riverhead began chipping away in the fourth. Sam Leonard (Hofstra) singled home Matthew Ryan (Adelphi) to cut the deficit to 5-2. Shelter Island responded in the bottom half of the inning as Ethan Harris (St. Lawrence) singled home Van Dolah and Evan Clark (New Haven)followed with an RBI single to score Swift, putting the Bucks back in front 7-2.
The Tomcats mounted their comeback in the fifth inning. Thomas Iaquinto (Felician) lined a two-run single to score Schickler and Zach DeMilt (Adelphi) before Matt Hesselbirg (Mercy) doubled home another run. Leonard then added an RBI single to trim the Shelter Island lead to 7-6.
Riverhead completed the comeback in the sixth and then some, erupting for eight runs in the inning.
Iaquinto tied the game with a sacrifice fly that scored Richie Heyder (Farmingdale State). Moments later, Hesselbirg delivered the go-ahead hit, a two-run single that scored Schickler and DeMilt to put the Tomcats ahead 9-7. Riverhead continued to pour it on as Kevin Schnupp (Umass Amherst) reached on an error that brought home another run, Joey Cohen (Post) added an RBI single, Heyder drove in a run on a fielder’s choice, and DeMilt capped the inning with a two-run double to make it 14-7.
Shelter Island scored once in the seventh when Swift was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing home Ben Prince (Maine), but the Bucks could get no closer as Riverhead secured the 14-8 victory.
Hesselbirg continued his torrid stretch at the plate, finishing with three RBI. The performance marked his fifth consecutive game with at least two RBI, he now has 16 RBI over his last five games played. His go-ahead two-run single in the sixth inning proved to be the turning point in the game.
Iaquinto also had a big night for the Tomcats, driving in three runs, while Leonard collected two RBI and DeMilt added two more with his late double. Riverhead’s offense produced 14 runs after falling behind by five runs through four innings.
Riverhead returns to the road on Wednesday against the Sag Harbor Whalers at Mashashimuet Park while Shelter Island is back at home against the Westhampton Aviators.