Seaford goes down fighting

A Seaford baseball season filled with promise came to a sudden end last week.

After winning their opening playoff game at fifth-seeded Floral Park 9-7 on May 16, the Vikings were eliminated from the double elimination Nassau County Class A tournament with back-to-back losses. Seaford fell 4-0 to 13th-seeded Manhasset on May 18 and then dropped a 10-3 rematch to Floral Park the next day. The Vikings (12-10) had reached the semifinals the last two years and three of the last four seasons.

“They gave it everything they had,” Seaford coach Mike Milano said. “I’m proud of the guys.”

The Vikings’ bats awoke in the opening playoff game with sophomore A.J. Cain drilling a two-run homer in the first inning to kick off a 3-for-5 day at the plate.  Senior catcher Jake Doyle also went 3-for-5 with two RBIs to help provide enough run support for starting pitcher Lucas Halls’ nine strikeouts.

Seaford’s offense was unable to maintain the momentum however with Manhasset breaking open a scoreless game in the fifth inning of last Monday’s critical second playoff game en route to a 4-0 victory. Floral Park then jumped out to a 9-0 lead in Seaford’s must-win game on May 19.

“They just didn’t have the consistency on offense to keep up,” Milano said. “They just didn’t get in a great groove offensively throughout the season.”

Seaford’s major strength in 2015 was the pitching led by Hall, who will be taking the mound at Columbia next year. Hall was brought up to varsity as a freshman and earned All-County honors as a senior after capturing five wins.

“He won us a lot of games for us the last four years,” Milano said of Hall, considered one of the top hurlers in Class A. “He has great size and arm strength.”

Seaford also graduates pitcher Mike Scully, who won three games in his senior campaign. Cain added to Seaford’s deep pitching staff along with junior Matt Pugliese, who Milano expects to be the No. 1 starter in 2016.

Seaford will return most of its position players next year, but does lose catcher Jake Doyle, who earned All-Conference honors and will play on the collegiate level at Vassar College. “I’m very confident that Vassar College is getting a very polished player,” said Milano of Doyle.

Adding power at the plate to go along with his pitching contributions was Cain, who smacked four home runs and earned All-Conference accolades. Milano is also excited about the return of first baseman Anthony Pristera, who hit three homers and received All-League honors, and Keith McHugh, who led the Vikings in hits. Second baseman Michael Tito will also be back and Milano was impressed by his toughness and ability to play multiple positions.

Despite a disappointing finish, Milano said he will look back fondly at 2015 and his core seniors and younger players bonded together.

“It was a team that enjoyed their time together,” Milano said. “They came to play every day.”