With the playoffs right around the corner, baseball in Brooklyn is heating up as teams vie for coveted playoff spots. But there is only one team that has been able to clinch their division title and that is the Telecommunications Yellow Jackets (13-1). On May 5, the Yellow Jackets, with an 11-0 shutout win over New Utrecht, were able to wrap up their third title in four years. But the title only proves that they are the king bees of the “A” West division as they are a perfect 8-0 against divisional opponents. All stats are as of press time.
Saturday, May 10
Behind three runs driven-in by Madison shortstop James Wong, the Knights slugged past Transit Tech, 10-0 in five innings. Wong had a near perfect afternoon, as he went 3-for-4 with three singles and a run scored. On the mound, Carlos Guerrero (1-0) opened the contest by pitching four shutout innings and allowed just one single while fanning five to pick up his first victory of the season. Reliever Vincent Raco tossed a scoreless fifth inning to ensure the victory.
Thursday, May 8
With Brooklyn Studio up 2-1 heading into the bottom half of the seventh inning, the Tigers plated three runs to win 4-2. Leading Fort Hamilton was left fielder Juan Al Lopez, who had two doubles that translated to three runs driven in. On the mound, Tigers hurler Franciel Campusano (1-0) earned his first victory of the season by going the distance, pitching all seven innings, surrendering one earned run on two hits while striking out 13 hitters.
Sheepshead Bay catcher Roberto Feliz brought home three huge runs in a 8-5 win over Transit Tech. Feliz went a perfect 3-for-3 with three singles and a walk. Right behind the backstop was shortstop/pitcher Nestor Martinez, who went 2-for-4 with two doubles that produced two scores.
After wrapping up the “A” West Division title, with a win over New Utrecht earlier in the week, the Telecommunications Yellow Jackets swept the “home-and-home” series in a 6-1 thumping of the Utes. Leading the Jackets was shortstop Elddy Fernandez, who tripled in two scores, while third baseman Chris Thompson, second baseman Hermes Grullon, and right fielder Stan Simmons, each drove-in a run to complete the Jacket onslaught.
Lincoln shortstop Charlie Lugo returned back to his true form by driving in three runs on two singles to lead the ‘Splitters to an 11-4 win. Right behind Lugo was leftfielder Jeremy Ramos, who singled in two scores to cap the Lincoln offense. On the hill, pitcher Daniel Lopresti (3-0) earned his third win of the season by tossing all seven innings, allowing three earned runs on nine hits while fanning nine.
Despite allowing four Canarsie scores in the third inning, Midwood was able to plate the fifth and final run in the bottom of the seventh inning, which proved to be the difference in a 5-4 win over the Chiefs. Third Baseman Adeel Bhutta, right fielder Collin Hannay, designated hitter Daniel Cox, and center fielder Matthew Whelehan each drove in a run to cap Midwood’s stinging offense. Unfortunately, the defeat for Chiefs officially eliminated them from playoff contention.
Behind a team-leading two R.B.I. from catcher Eric Gutierrez, the Madison Knights glided to a 5-0 victory over surging Brooklyn Tech. On the mound, pitcher Jonathan Farina (2-0) earned his second victory of the season by pitching five shutout innings while striking out seven.
