Shelter Island Defeats North Fork 9-4 for Sixth Straight Victory

The Shelter Island Bucks continued their torrid stretch of play Friday night, scoring nine runs in the first three innings and riding that early outburst to a 9-4 victory over the North Fork Ospreys in Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League action. With the win, the Bucks extended their winning streak to six games and improved to 9-10 on the season.

Shelter Island capitalized on a shaky defensive start by North Fork, plating four unearned runs in the opening inning. After Sam Ametrano (Quinnipiac) scored on a throwing error, Lucas Ametrano (Holy Cross) eventually crossed the plate himself on another Osprey miscue to make it 2-0. Cayden Van Dolah (Holy Cross) later scored on a sacrifice fly by Sam Bradford (UMass Dartmouth) before Connor McGill (Point Loma Nazarene) came home on a passed ball, giving the Bucks a commanding 4-0 advantage after one.

The Bucks continued to pour it on in the second inning. Lucas Ametrano delivered the big blow with a two-run triple that scored Sam Ametrano and George Proffitt (St. Lawrence), extending the lead to 6-0. Van Dolah followed with an RBI groundout to push the advantage to seven runs.

Shelter Island added two more in the third inning when Sam Ametrano drew a bases-loaded walk and Lucas Ametrano was hit by a pitch with the bases full, stretching the lead to 9-0.

North Fork finally broke through in the fourth inning as Ian Vertucci (Felician) singled home Nicolas Martini to make it 9-1. The Ospreys added another run in the fifth when Gianni Generoso (SUNY Westchester CC) reached on a fielder’s choice that allowed Bradyn Thompson (Bates) to score.

North Fork mounted one final push in the seventh. Generoso delivered an RBI single to score Demetrios Bardatsos (Rider) before Eli Sitzer (Washington (MO) worked a bases-loaded walk cutting the deficit to 9-4. However, Shelter Island reliever Xavier Hall (Emerson) retired the next batter to end the threat and secure the victory.

Ryan McCausland (St. Lawrence) earned the win for the Bucks, tossing 6.1 innings while allowing four runs, three earned, on 11 hits with two walks and two strikeouts. .

Lucas Ametrano paced the Shelter Island offense, finishing with a triple, two RBIs, and three runs scored, while Sam Ametrano reached base four times and scored three runs. The Bucks managed just eight hits but took advantage of six walks and multiple North Fork errors to build their insurmountable early lead.

For the Ospreys, Generoso drove in two runs, while Vertucci added an RBI as North Fork fell to 7-11 on the season.