Sports

Cyclones Seventh-Inning Rally Stuns New Hyde Park, 7-6

South Side scores six runs in the final frame for its second win of the season.

In Thursday's game against New Hyde Park, the Cyclones simply couldn't figure out starting pitcher Rob Scatorchio. After racking up 17 hits in their on Wednesday against Garden City, South Side mustered only two hits and a run against Scatorchio through six innings. 

Gladiators coach Doug Robins pulled Scatorchio after the sixth inning and inserted reliever Nicholas Perrone to get the final three outs with a 6-1 lead. South Side (2-3) promptly batted around the order against the sophomore reliever, pounding six hits and scoring six times with one out to complete the improbable comeback and stun New Hyde Park, 7-6.

"It was awesome to be a part of," said Head Coach Keith Lessuk."It was exactly what we needed. It's a good lesson to teach the kids that you're in any game. You just have to stay focused and stay together."

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Catcher Matt Sollin started the bottom of the seventh with a walk. After right fielder James Howard grounded out, designated hitter Louis Matarazzo crushed an RBI triple to left center to cut New Hyde Park's lead to 6-2. After shortstop Joe Geraci took first on a hit by pitch, third baseman Casey Cameron — making his first start of the season at third base — laced a two-RBI, line-drive triple down the right field line to slice the Gladiators lead to two.

Down 6-4, South Side players could sense that the momentum had finally shifted their way.

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Evan Singer, who came in to replace Dylan Leary at second base in the sixth, smashed a double to right-center that popped out of the glove of a diving Guillermo Dilone, scoring Cameron to make it 6-5. First baseman Matt Leach then reached on a throwing error by shortstop Kevin Towey, which scored Singer who had stolen third base earlier in Leach's at bat.

David Hawley and Thomas Kane hit back-to-back singles to load the bases, and Matt Sollin, who started the inning with a walk, stepped up to the plate with a chance to deliver the game-winning hit. On a 1-1 pitch, Sollin ripped a fastball down the right field line, scoring the sixth run of the inning to complete the comeback victory.

South Side stormed the field, piling atop Sollin and each other in jubilation.

"This is definitely a confidence booster," Lessuk said. "Now they've gone out there and know they can overcome a five-run deficit in the last at bat."

South Side plays New Hyde Park again on Monday at New Hyde Park at 4:30 p.m.

BOX SCORE

AB H RBI BB K SB RS David Hawley 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 Thomas Kane 4 1 0 1 1 1 0 Matt Sollin 3 1 1 2 1 1 1 James Howard 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 Louis Matarazzo 4 2 2 0 1 0 1 Joe Geraci 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 Casey Cameron 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 Dylan Leary 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 Evan Singer 2 1 1 0 1 1 1 Matt Leach 3 1 0 1 0 0 1



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