Carey wins L.I. championship

And the beat goes on…

John Daddino pitched a complete game with 13 strikeouts to lead Carey to a 5-3 win over Sachem North and its first Class AA Long Island championship at Farmingdale State College last Sunday night. 

Kyle DeMeo was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored as the Seahawks, who have won 13 straight games, advanced to the state semifinals. Carey (20-6) will face the winner of a regional final between Victor (Section V - Rochester) and Clarence (Section VI - Buffalo) on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Union-Endicott High School’s Sylvester Field in Endicott. Sachem North finished at 21-5.

The Seahawks got off to a terrific start as leadoff batter Tom Rydzewski drove the first pitch of the home half of the opening inning into the gap in right center for a triple. After DeMeo walked and stole second, Steven Marino singled to right to score Rydzewski and DeMeo. 

Next up was designated hitter Jack Young. With Marino running on the pitch, Young executed a perfect hit and run to put runners on the corners. 

With two outs, Carey coach Marc Hedquist continued to push the right buttons. With Young running on the pitch and the second baseman covering, Ron Licciardi blooped a single in the vacated area to give the Seahawks a 3-0 lead.

Rydzewski, who has been one of Carey’s toughest outs in the postseason, knew the importance of setting the tone. “I was thinking that I would get a first pitch fastball to drive,” Rydzewski said. “Everyone was telling me to try to hit the gaps. When I hit it I was thinking triple all the way. I feel very comfortable hitting on this field. It was great to get off to a good start.”

Despite striking out the side in the first, Daddino was having a tough time getting loose. Sachem North’s Brian Hennelly lined the first pitch of the second into left center for a single, but the Seahawks turned a 6-4-3 twin killing to fire up the capacity crowd.

The Flaming Arrows scored an unearned run in the top of the third, but Carey answered. DeMeo singled, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored when Harry Smith singled sharply to left field.