Pittman is the Hero in Bucks’ Walk-Off W Against Westhampton
The Shelter Island Bucks erased an early four-run deficit and capped their comeback with a walk-off RBI single from Jack Pitman (Bentley) to defeat the Westhampton Aviators, 8-7, in a thrilling seven-inning HCBL contest on Tuesday evening.
Westhampton struck first in the opening inning when Brett Connolly (High Point) reached on a throwing error that allowed Nick Koch (Merrimack) to score an unearned run for a 1-0 lead.
The Bucks answered immediately in the bottom half as Sam Bradford (Umass Dartmouth) lined an RBI single to center, scoring Sam Ametrano (Quinnipiac) to even the game at 1-1.
The Aviators took command in the third inning with a four-run outburst. Connolly ripped an RBI double to score Antonio Belgrove (Salem State) before Ryan Kiendle (Wilmington) followed with an RBI double of his own to score Connolly. Garrett Mathias (Bucknell) then broke the inning open with a towering two-run home run, extending Westhampton’s lead to 5-1.
Shelter Island responded with an equally impressive rally in the bottom of the third. Miguel Reich (Dickinson) delivered a two-run single, cutting the deficit to two. Moments later, Noah Heath (Rider) came through with a two-run single of his own to tie the game at 5-5.
The Bucks took their first lead in the fifth inning. Reich reached on a fielder’s choice to drive home Bradford before Heath followed with another RBI single. An error in right field on the play allowed Pearson Dodds (St. Lawrence) to score as Shelter Island moved in front 7-5.
Westhampton refused to go quietly in the seventh. Mathias lifted a sacrifice fly to score Brett Connolly, trimming the deficit to one. Later in the inning, Riley Reimund (St. Lawrence) reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, allowing Kiendle to score the tying run and setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Bucks quickly mounted their final rally. Bradford reached base on a leadoff single, and after Reich singled moving Bradford into scoring position, Jack Pitman delivered the game-winning hit, lining a single to left field that scored Bradford with the walk-off run to give Shelter Island an 8-7 victory.
Reich led the Bucks’ offense by going 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Heath matched him with two hits and three RBI. Bradford scored three runs and drove in one while collecting two hits, and Pitman came off the bench to deliver the decisive RBI single. Sam Ametrano also played a key role, reaching base four times and stealing an incredible four bases.
Westhampton was paced by Connolly, who finished 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Kiendle also had two hits and scored twice, while Mathias drove in three runs with his third-inning homer and seventh-inning sacrifice fly.
Joe Gaspari (Hartford) earned the victory with six innings of relief, allowing six runs—five earned—while striking out three after replacing starter Sam Lowenstein (Colby) in the second inning.