Back-to-back wins for VSC

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Strong outings from starting pitchers Elijah Tavarez and Dan Egan helped lead the Valley Stream Central baseball team to a pair of impressive wins over Long Beach last week.
The Eagles came away with a 2-1 road victory on April 6, and then followed it up with a 7-2 win over the Marines the next day at Firemen’s Field

“Overall I think we won those two games, because we had great pitching and strong defense,” VSC coach Frank Alesia said. “We didn’t commit one error, and we also had some timely hitting.”

In Central’s first matchup against Long Beach, Tavarez was on his game. He only gave up one run over seven innings, and finished with seven strikeouts and no walks. All of the Eagles’ offense for the day came in the third inning. Mike Cuillo drove in two runs on a double to give his team an early advantage.

In the bottom of the seventh Tavarez found himself in a bit of trouble for the first time. The Marines, down by just a run, were able to get runners on second and third with only one out.

“We were in control the entire day, and now with one hit we would have to go into extras or could lose the game,” Alesia said. “In the past stuff like that has happened to us, where (opposing teams) have come through and got that hit.”

But Tavarez would not allow this one to slip away, and was able to finish off the inning with two consecutive strikeouts. After Tavarez escaped the jam there was plenty of excitement from the Eagles, according to the team’s coach. “It was a very intense, momentum building type win,” Alesia said.

The next win came a bit easier for Central, as it jumped out to an early lead, and continued to build on it as the game went on.

One day after carrying his team to a win on the mound, Tavarez went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored a pair of runs. Cuillo also came up large for a second straight day, providing another two-run double in the third inning. The Eagles’ dangerous No. 3 hitter, All-County catcher Vito Friscia, also added two hits and a pair of RBIs.

The offensive production would be enough for Egan, who went five strong innings to pick up his first varsity win. Egan walked four batters, but was able to overcome some erratic pitching to still earn the victory.

“He’s got a weird wind-up where it’s tough for the kids to pick him up and hard to hit him,” Alesia said. “So he only gave up three hits.”

Alesia has been pleased with his team’s start to the season, and perhaps is even more thrilled about the overall attitude he has seen from his players in the early going.

“The biggest thing I’m happy about is that everybody is playing for everyone,” Alesia said. “A little bit less of me and little bit more of we is what we’re trying to strive for, and I think everybody has bought in.”