Mepham collects three playoff wins

Playing five playoff games in six days eventually took a toll on Mepham’s baseball team.

The 12th-seeded Pirates, after winning three do-or-die games in the Nassau Class A double-elimination tournament, saw their 2017 campaign end May 20 with a 7-4 defeat at No. 4 Garden City. 

“We staved off elimination three times and fought our way all the way back to the final game of the quarterfinals,” said Mepham coach Bill Murphy, whose team dropped the playoff opener 2-0 at Lynbrook on May 15. “We played so many close games during the regular season, I knew the kids could thrive in the playoffs under pressure,” he added. “They really did a great job. Playing five times in six days is tough. We could’ve used another rainout along the way.”

Garden City managed to beat Mepham’s senior All-County pitcher Brian Porricelli, who was forced to make his third postseason appearance and second start in less than a week. Porricelli went 6-1 with one save, 62 strikeouts and a 1.39 ERA this spring in addition to batting .362 with a team-leading 29 hits and 20 runs scored. “Brian gave us everything he had,” Murphy said. “He had a big year.”

The same goes for junior hurler Mike Proios, who was on the short end of a pitcher’s duel in the playoff opener. He allowed only two hits to the Owls, but one was a two-run homer off the bat of Nick Tuzzio in the first inning that accounted for all of the scoring. Proios was an All-Conference selection after striking out 43 in only 23 innings while posting a 1.18 ERA.

After Lynbrook’s Paul Scibelli tossed a shutout gem, the Pirates (15-8-1 overall) scored 22 runs over three games. 

Senior All-League selections Matt Conry and Kevin Chaimowitz led a big offensive attack in an 11-2 victory over Valley Stream North in the second round of the playoffs. Conry (.308 average, 14 RBIs) hit a three-run homer and Chaimowitz (.328, four homers) added a two-run blast to back the mound work of Porricelli. A big early lead allowed Murphy to pull Porricelli (two hits, one walk, eight strikeouts, no earned runs) after four innings. 

“Our bats came alive and we were able to limit Porricelli’s pitch count,” Murphy said.

The coach said Mepham’s 3-2 nine-inning decision over Lynbrook in an elimination game on May 18 was the highlight of the playoffs. Senior Nick Valeriano tossed seven strong innings, striking out seven without issuing a walk, and Porricelli worked the eighth and ninth to get the win in relief. Senior Mike Valentino tripled to lead off the top of the ninth and was still on third when senior Matt Nilsen singled him home with the eventual winning run. “Matt had clutch hits all season,” Murphy said. “He was down to his last strike and came through.”

The Pirates had a dozen seniors and will look to Proios and junior shortstop Billy McAdam (.375 average in 12 games) to lead the way next season.