Oceanside at 4-2 after series sweep

Two-run blasts over the fence in left-center by seniors Joe Totino and Joe Gallub in the top of the second inning helped Oceanside build an eight-run lead on its way to a 10-6 victory at Freeport in a Conference AA-I baseball game on April 15.

It was the first two homers of the season for the Sailors, who won for the fourth time in six games and sit alone in second place in the 10-team conference, one game behind MacArthur. Working in relief of starting pitcher Mike Curti, Herman Hernandez recorded the final out with the tying run at the plate to earn the save.

“The standings are pretty tight and it’s going to make for great playoffs once we get there,” Oceanside coach Andy Morris said. “We beat Massapequa and Freeport twice, Carey beat us twice but lost twice to Freeport. Massapequa swept Freeport and split with Carey. It looks like one of those years where anyone can beat anyone.”

Curti, a junior making his second start of the season, scattered eight hits and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings. Half of the six runs he allowed were unearned. “They’ve got a good hitting team and did some damage with the middle of the lineup,” Morris said. “Mike did a nice job with everyone else.”

The Red Devils were due for some runs after senior left-hander Dan Frisch blanked them on five hits in the series opener on April 13. Frisch struck out eight and walked three in the 8-0 blowout and got offensive support from juniors Nick Iadevaio (three-run triple) and Chris Flynn (2-for-2, two runs). “Dan really stepped up and pitched the best varsity game of his career,” Morris said of Frisch. “He had command of his change-up and didn’t overthrow his fastball. He struck out the last two batters, which showed he still had a lot left in the tank.”

Pitching wasn’t a strong point for the Sailors against Carey, which won games by scores of 7-5 and 10-3, but junior Erik Kondak turned heads with his season-opening four-hitter in a 4-1 win over Massapequa.

“It was as good as we could’ve hoped for,” Morris said of Kondak’s outstanding performance on April 6. “Erik gave up just four singles. He pitched with confidence. Carey hit him well in his next start, but we’ll look to get him back on track against East Meadow.”

Frisch gave the Sailors all he had in the series finale against Massapequa, throwing well over 100 pitches and lasting into the seventh inning of an 8-7 victory. After the Chiefs scored twice in the top of the seventh to take the lead, Oceanside rallied with two runs in the bottom of the inning to win it in thrilling fashion. With two out, senior catcher Mike Hertling doubled home Flynn (.500 batting average through six games) and then scored the winning run on Iadevaio’s single.