Playoff win highlights Mepham's year

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A second-half resurgence for Mepham baseball reached its dramatic climax in a play-in game on May 14, when senior Gianni Macchio stepped to the plate with the opportunity to earn his team an improbable victory over three-time defending Long Island Class A champion Wantagh.

Trailing one run with runners on first and second and one out, Macchio crushed a ball into the left-center field gap to clear the bases and deliver Mepham a walk-off victory to send them into the postseason.

“It was bedlam,” said Mepham coach Eric Passman, recounting his team’s emotional celebration. “The team ran on the field, dog-piling Gianni.”

It was a situation that was almost impossible to envision four weeks earlier, when the Pirates began conference play with a 1-5 record. Knowing that nine wins is typically required to make the playoffs in Nassau County, and with 10 games left to play, Passman saw the writing on the wall: they needed to be nearly perfect the rest of the way.

Sparked by the return of their senior catcher Joe Thomas, Mepham revived their season, ripping off eight straight wins to put them in a position to play Wantagh for a winner-takes-all game to make the playoffs.

‘Every game was a playoff game for us,” said Passman, adding that he was particularly impressed by his team’s three game-sweep over conference rival MacArthur earlier this month.

Thomas was one of three catchers who were unable to play for the season’s first three weeks, forcing Passman to put players there early on who were not used to the position.

The senior, who hadn’t played for more than a year due to shoulder and foot injuries, provided an instant lift for his team. “He came back, limping and hardly able to throw,” Passman said. “The commitment and the courage this kid showed … the kids just rallied around him.”

The bottom half of the seventh inning against Wantagh began with a ground ball off the bat of junior Rocco Law that resulted in a two-base error. Initially contemplating a bunt to play for the tie, Passman said with his sophomore starter Tyler O’Neil having thrown 100 pitches while allowing just two runs (one earned) on two hits, he knew his team had to win right then and there. After senior Nicholas Cuccinella drew a walk, it set the stage for Macchio.

The victory propelled Mepham to a four-team playoff bracket with Clarke, North Shore and Manhasset. The Pirates fell to Clarke on May 15, and were beaten by North Shore the following day, ending their season.

“I’ve been coaching for four and a half decades,” said Passman. “This is easily one of the most satisfying and rewarding seasons because of what we were up against.”

While Mepham will lose some seniors, they will be returning O’Neil – their ace – their entire starting infield and two-thirds of their starting outfield, while adding promising talent from junior varsity.

Coming off their second-half run, Passman said, “They’re energized and they can’t wait to get it going again. The future looks bright.”