For the 11th consecutive year, the Madison Knights are the undisputed Brooklyn “A” East Division champions after a home-and-home sweep over the Sheepshead Bay Sharks. Coach Vincent Caiazza’s team finished the regular season with an untouched 16-0 record, which secured them a top five seeding in the postseason bracket. Other Brooklyn teams to make it to the playoffs are: Telecommunications Yellow Jackets (15-1), New Utrecht Utes (10-6), Brooklyn Tech Engineers (9-7), Sheepshead Bay Sharks (9-7), and Midwood Hornets (8-8). (All stats and records are as of press time.)
Saturday, May 17
A five run-fifth inning for the Knights solidified a 8-2 victory over Sheepshead Bay to guarantee the Knights, a top five seeding in the playoffs. Leading the Knights was pitcher James Wong (5-0). The hurler tossed six innings, allowing one earned run on four hits while fanning four to capture his fifth victory of the season.
At the plate, Wong helped his own cause by going 3-for-4 with three singles and driving home three runs. Right behind Wong was left fielder Chris Dantuono and catcher Eric Gutierrez, who each drove home two apiece. With the victory, Madison improved to a perfect 16-0 while Sheepshead Bay fell to 9-7 to cap their 2008 season.
After taking the reigns of the Brooklyn Tech baseball program in 2007, Coach George Zanotto has taken the Engineers to their first playoff appearance in as many years with a 4-1 victory over Midwood.
Leading the Engineers’ plot was pitcher Matthew Gibson (4-0). The senior hurler went the distance by tossing seven innings, allowing nothing across the board to pick up his fourth victory of the season. With the win, Tech is guaranteed a playoff spot with a 9-7 record while Midwood fell to 8-8 but will get a postseason berth with the .500 record, as mandated by PSAL rules.
Thursday, May 15
In the regular season capper for both teams, New Utrecht’s Giovanni Cucuzza and Lincoln’s Gabriel Vivas were locked up in a pitcher’s duel, but it was Cucuzza’s Utes that got the best of Lincoln, 4-2.
Cucuzza (3-2) tossed seven complete frames while surrendering one earned run on three hits and striking out eight to pick-up his third win of the season. Offensively, left fielder Joshua Pachtman had two singles and two R.B.I.
As for Vivas (0-1), he was the hard-luck loser as he also went the distance, by pitching seven innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits while fanning four. ‘
The win for New Utrecht improved their record to 10-6 while Lincoln capped their 2008 campaign with a 6-10 finish.
Wednesday, May 14
The Telecommunications Yellow Jackets scored 10 runs in the third inning, and that was all the scoring that they would need as they beat neighborhood rival Fort Hamilton 10-0 in five innings.
Shortstop Elddy Fernandez and Designated Hitter Jon Pierre Garcia, each drove home two scores. The pitching combination of Daniel Perri and Anthony Lumia tossed five shutout frames while allowing nothing but one single.
In an offensive showcase, the New Utrecht Utes received three R.B.I. each from right fielder Joseph Pallero and third baseman Joshua Pachtman to beat Lincoln, 8-2. On the hill, Utes ace pitcher Xavier Alvarado (5-1) tossed seven innings of two run, three hit ball to win his fifth contest of the season.
In his most dominant performance of the season, Midwood hurler Zachary Ross tossed seven complete innings of one-run ball en route to a 6-1 victory over Brooklyn Tech. Ross (4-1) got his fourth victory of the season by striking out four. Offensively, left fielder John Fleming went 2-for-4, with three R.B.I. and scored a run. Second baseman Joshua Cossuto added two R.B.I. on two singles in a 2-for-3 afternoon.
Backed by a solid performance from Madison’s Jonathan Farina, the Knights were able to slice the Sharks, 8-0. Farina (3-0) tossed five shutout innings to pick-up his third victory of the season. At the plate, third baseman Christopher Salles and designated hitter Edward Lenahan each drove in two runs to solidify the Madison offense.
