Westhampton Aviators Come Back From Six Run Deficit, Winning in a Walk-off Thriller
by Nolan Locke/Axcess Baseball
The Westhampton Aviators stormed back from a six-run deficit to defeat the Riverhead Tomcats in walk-off fashion in an 11-10 thriller on Thursday.
In a pendulum-esque contest, designated hitter Riley Reimund (St. Lawrence) played hero for the Aviators, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs on the night and capping his performance with a walk-off base hit in the seventh to seal the comeback for Westhampton.
The dramatic ending seemed unlikely from the early innings, as the Tomcats kicked off the game with back-to-back triples from center fielder Dylan Kennedy-Fujah (UMass Boston) and first baseman Richie Heyder (Farmingdale State).
The explosive start drove in the first run of the game and placed another runner just 90 feet away before the Aviators could even record an out. The Tomcats tacked on another two runs from a Bryan McCleary (Adelphi) RBI single and an Allen Watson (St. John’s) sacrifice fly before the Aviators were able to escape a turbulent opening frame.
The Aviators responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the first. Danny Nawrocki (Bucknell) drew a one-out walk, promptly stole second and third, and came home on a Brett Connolly (Washington (MD) fielder’s choice in a textbook hit-and-run play.
After both starting pitchers quieted things down with scoreless second innings, the offensive fireworks returned in the third. Aviators starter Andrew Dillon (SUNY Oneonta) issued four straight free passes to kick off the inning, handing the Tomcats a 5-1 advantage. A Sam Leonard (Hofstra) sacrifice fly, and a Matt Gileno (Riverside City College) RBI single, then put another crooked number on the scoreboard for Riverhead.
Finding themselves down by six runs, the Aviators’ offense stepped back into the box and immediately began to chip away. Westhampton manufactured three runs of their own by playing more effective small ball, stealing four bases in the frame to cut the Tomcats‘ lead to 7-4.
The Aviators‘ aggression on the basepaths was certainly no coincidence.
“I want them to get out there and steal bases,” said Coach Tom Hoare. “More often than not, we’re able to take the bags, press the issue, and that’s what we’re doing.”
In the fifth, the offensive chaos continued as the Tomcats once again stretched their lead to six runs. Riverhead scored three after Adrian Tavarez (St. John’s) roped a two-run triple to right-center field, followed by Leonard grabbing his second RBI of the game on another sacrifice fly to make it a 10-4 ballgame.
But again, the Aviators refused to say die. Westhampton scratched out four runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame, capitalizing on bases-loaded walks from both Riley Reimund and Oliver Kwan (Wesleyan) as control continued to be a bug-a-boo for the Tomcats. Antonio Belgrove (Salem State) added a clutch two-run single to slash the deficit to 10-8.
“We tell them, you gotta swing at strikes,” Hoare said. “You don’t want to expand the zone. If they’re not going to throw you strikes, then you got to take your walk and let the next guy do it.”
Facing their smallest deficit of the game, the Aviators finally notched the game back even in the bottom of the sixth. Westhampton once again loaded the bases before a costly error from the Tomcats‘ first baseman allowed two runs to cross, making it a 10-10 deadlock.
In the top of the seventh, the Tomcats found themselves with an opportunity to retake the lead after an Evan Schickler (Rider) walk and a passed ball put the winning run on second with just one out. A groundout advanced Schickler, putting the runner just 90 feet away from putting Riverhead back in front.
However, Aviators reliever CJ Forman (Adelphi) kept the game tied, getting second baseman Tavarez to pop up to the infield to cap off two scoreless, no-hit innings in relief.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Aviators looked to seal their comeback, searching for a spark and a moment of walk-off magic. A one-out Tristan Gatchalian (SUNY Cortland) walk provided that spark, and a subsequent groundout. moved Gatchalian over to second and into scoring position. With the Aviators down to their final out, Reimund stepped into the batter’s box looking to finish the job for Westhampton.
“I walked into the box thinking put something in play,” Reimund said. “Keep it up the middle, and when I got my pitch, I was like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna put it up the middle.’”
Reimund did exactly that, ripping a 1-0 breaking ball to shallow center field to drive home the winning run as his teammates poured out of the dugout to celebrate the comeback victory.
The Aviators move to 7-5 and will look to carry their momentum into Friday’s matchup against the North Fork Ospreys, while the Tomcats will look to shake off the tough loss in their clash with the Southampton Breakers.