Sailer Delivers Walk-Off Double as Breakers Edge Aviators, Move Into First-Place Tie
The Southampton Breakers celebrated Independence Day at Southampton High School with a dramatic finish on Friday, as Sean Sailer lined a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift Southampton to a 3-2 victory over the Westhampton Aviators.
With the win, the Breakers improved to 12-8 on the season and moved into a tie for first place in the HCBL standings with the Sag Harbor Whalers. Westhampton fell to 11-9, one game back in third place.
Southampton struck first in the opening inning without recording an RBI. Michael Caron (Assumption) reached and eventually came around to score when Liam Daly (Holy Cross) stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher, giving the Breakers a 1-0 lead.
The Aviators answered in the top of the third. Frank Kentoffio (Brookdale CC) walked and then Brady Green (Bucknell) singled putting runners at the corners for Garrett Mathias (Bucknell). Mathias, delivered the game’s biggest hit to that point with a two-run single to left-center field, putting Westhampton ahead 2-1.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Zach Khozozian (Harvard) launched a solo home run to right field, evening the score at 2-2.
From there, both pitching staffs took control. Westhampton starter Justin Lin (MIT) allowed just one earned run over four innings while striking out four. Lincoln Waterman (Nichols) kept the game tied into the seventh despite issuing three walks.
Southampton’s bullpen was equally effective. Daniel McDonnell (Roger Williams) tossed two scoreless innings with three strikeouts, Trey Stricker (West Chester) added a perfect sixth inning, and Evan Gentile (Hartford) worked a scoreless seventh to earn the victory.
The Breakers finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh. Chase Jones (West Chester) led off with an infield single before Sailer stepped to the plate and ripped a double to left field, bringing Jones home with the game-winning run and sending the Southampton dugout onto the field in celebration.
Southampton outhit Westhampton 10-6 in the victory. Caron finished 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, while Sailer went 2-for-3 with the walk-off RBI. Khozozian’s solo homer provided the Breakers’ other run-producing hit.
For the Aviators, Mathias drove in both runs, while Green collected two hits and scored once. Westhampton struck out 10 times and stranded six runners in the one-run defeat.
On a day fitting for fireworks, it was Sailer’s final swing that provided the biggest spark, keeping Southampton atop the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League race.