Seahawks fall in semifinals

Senior Ryan Kass crushed a double to left field to bring home Dan Sullivan with the eventual winning run in the top of the eighth inning to give No. 2 Calhoun a 4-3 victory over No. 3 Carey on May 25, and a sweep of a best-of-three Nassau Class AA baseball semifinal series.

With the victory, the Colts advanced to the county championship series against top-seeded MacArthur. Junior Kyle DeMeo went 4-for-4 with three doubles for Carey.

Carey coach Marc Hedquist was disappointed with the outcome. “We let this one slip away,” Hedquist said. “We gave a great hitting team a second and third life, and they took advantage of it. We had opportunities all game, but left men in scoring position. We didn’t deserve to win.”

The Seahawks, who finished the season with a record of 14-10, appeared to have the game in hand, as their ace John Daddino took the mound in the seventh with a 3-1 lead. The Colts had scored just one unearned run through six innings.

Daddino started off the seventh by striking out Sullivan. After Kass was hit by a pitch, the large crowd was treated to an epic match up between Daddino and Calhoun’s top hitter, Jake Thomas. The junior right hander reached back for a little extra, and blew a fastball past Thomas for the second out. Daddino finished with 13 strikeouts. 

Robbie Rosen drove a double down the right-field line to put two runners in scoring position for the Colts, leaving it up to sophomore Frank Trimarco. It appeared that Daddino was set to celebrate a complete-game victory, but a foul pop was dropped, the second defensive mishap of the inning, and Calhoun was given another life. On a 3-2 pitch, Trimarco drove the ball up the middle to bring home two runs to tie it. The Colts loaded the bases, but DeMeo, who had come on in relief after Trimarco’s hit, was able to induce a ground out.

With one out in the top of the eighth, Sullivan drove a bullet up the middle off DeMeo. The ball was played into a triple, setting the stage for Kass. The Seahawks went quietly in the bottom of the inning.

In the series opener, the potent Calhoun offense, which one rival coach called the best offensive attack in 10 years, put on a show in a 15-9 victory. Sullivan had two hits, including a grand slam home run, Thomas went 3-for-4 with four RBI, and Trimarco (2-for-3, three RBI) and fellow sophomore Zach Goldstien both had a pair of hits. Sophomore Harry Smith and senior Mike Marino both homered for the Seahawks. 

Despite a season of ups and downs, the Seahawks picked up some individual accolades. Daddino (3-0, 1.20 ERA), Marino and DeMeo all were named All-County recipients. DeMeo hit .444 and knocked in 28 runs. Junior Ron Licciardi picked up All-Conference honors, and senior Al Gentile was an All-League honoree. Juniors Anthony Licata and Anthony Zeppieri earned All-League Honorable Mention.