Oceanside's playoff run ends

Oceanside’s remarkable playoff run came to a halt as the No. 10 Sailors fell to No. 6 Massapequa 5-3 in game two of the best-of-three Nassau Class AA baseball championship series at Farmingdale State College on May 29. The Chiefs won the opening game the previous day, 3-2.  

The loss ended an incredible march through the postseason, which saw Oceanside win five straight contests, yielding one or fewer runs in each of the five games. Massapequa, which won its 11th county title, and second straight, advanced to the Long Island championship game, where it will meet Suffolk champion West Islip.

The Sailors trailed 3-0 early on, but they fought back and came excruciatingly close to tying the game up in their final at bat. With two on and two out in the bottom of the seventh, senior Chris Hood crushed a fastball that seemed destined to touch down in the left center field gap.

Enter Phil Michel. The senior leftfielder got a terrific jump on the ball, and reached out and back, while on a full sprint, to end the game and clinch the title for the Chiefs. 

Oceanside head coach Mike Postilio thought Hood’s drive was going to extend the game. “Off the bat, I thought for sure it was down, and that we were going to tie the score,” Postilio said. “He hit it really well. It wouldn’t have been out at our place. I have to give the kid credit. It was a tremendous catch. He had to go along way to get it.” 

After Massapequa scored three times in top of the third, Kyle Martin put the Sailors on the board in the bottom of the inning, delivering a line-drive single to center with two outs to score a pair of runs. 

Each team scored a run in the fourth, with Oceanside’s run coming on single by Hood. Senior Bobby Honeymoon’s sacrifice fly to center gave the Chiefs an insurance run and a 5-3 lead. 

Sophomore Nick Vlahakis led off the bottom of the seventh with single, prompting the Chiefs to call on reliever Zach Zimardo. Tom Pallatto walked to put the tying run on base, but Michel’s running grab ended the rally and Oceanside’s season. The Sailors finished with a record of 14-10-1.

Martin picked up All-County honors in his second season with the varsity. The sophomore shortstop hit .425, with 23 hits, four home runs, 13 RBI, and 18 runs scored. 

Senior Jake Santamaria, who beat Massapequa 5-0 during the regular season, finished with a 3-2 record and a 2.27 earned run average. Santamaria, who earned All-Conference recognition, struck out 49 batters over 37 innings.

Senior second baseman Brian Boschert, an All-League selection, hit .405 with 15 hits and 12 runs scored. All-League junior catcher John Condon hit .347 and was solid behind the plate. Pat Broder, who threw 3 2/3 innings of scoreless to eliminate No. 5 Plainview in the semifinals, had an outstanding senior season for Oceanside.