Shelter Island’s Offensive Explosion Sinks Westhampton
The Shelter Island Bucks, playing as the visiting team despite the game being held at Fiske Field, erupted for 13 runs on 18 hits and defeated the Westhampton Aviators 13-3 on Sunday afternoon in an HCBL contest that ended via the ten-run mercy rule in the ninth inning.
Shelter Island wasted no time taking control of the game, scoring twice in the opening inning. With the bases loaded, JD Stemhagen (Dickinson) lined a single to second base to score Sam Ametrano (Quinnipiac) and give the Bucks a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Miguel Reich (Dickinson) reached on a fielder’s choice that brought home Pearson Dodds (St. Lawrence) to extend the advantage to 2-0.
Westhampton answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the first when Danny Nawrocki (Bucknell) scored on a Shelter Island error, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
The Bucks added to their lead in the second inning. Tucker DeWolf (Wesleyan) scored on a throwing error by the pitcher before Sam Ametrano crossed the plate on a wild pitch, pushing the Shelter Island advantage to 4-1.
After a scoreless third inning, the Bucks extended their lead in the fourth when Stemhagen collected his second RBI of the afternoon with a single to center field that scored Cayden Van Dolah (Holy Cross), making it 5-1.
The Aviators mounted their only significant rally in the bottom of the fourth. Nick Koch (Merrimack) delivered an RBI single to right field that scored Oliver Kwan (Wesleyan), and Nawrocki followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home Luke Rizzi (American International), trimming the deficit to 5-3.
Shelter Island responded emphatically in the fifth inning, breaking the game open with a five-run outburst. Reich led off the scoring with a solo home run to left field. Later in the inning, Sam Ametrano singled home Xavier Hall (Emerson) before Jackson McBride (Bates) delivered the biggest hit of the game, a two-run triple to right field that scored Ametrano and Ben Prince (Maine). Noah Heath (Rider) capped the inning with an RBI groundout, giving the Bucks a commanding 10-3 lead.
The Bucks continued to add insurance runs late. In the seventh inning, Heath contributed a sacrifice fly that scored Ametrano, and Sam Bradford (UMass Dartmouth) followed with an RBI single to plate McBride and make it 12-3.
Shelter Island brought the game to an early conclusion in the top of the ninth when Noah Heath doubled to score McBride, giving the Bucks a 13-3 lead and triggering the HCBL’s ten-run mercy rule.
The Bucks’ offense was relentless throughout the afternoon. McBride finished with two RBI and scored twice, while Heath drove in three runs. Stemhagen collected two RBI, and Ametrano enjoyed an outstanding all-around performance, going 2-for-4 with two RBI, three runs scored, and earning the victory on the mound.
After starter Ryan McCausland (St. Lawrence( allowed three runs, two earned, over four innings, Ametrano shut down the Aviators over the next three frames, allowing no runs while striking out three to improve to 1-2 on the season. Connor McGill (Point Loma Nazarene) pitched the eighth inning to complete the victory.
The Bucks are back as the home team at Fiske Field on Tuesday when they play the Riverhead Tomcats while the Aviators host the Sag Harbor Whalers at the Longwood Youth Sports Association in Yaphank.