Mamaroneck Beats Scarsdale 8-5 in Baseball

Coming off a complete game two-hit shutout in his last start against Rye Neck, expectations were high for Scarsdale ace Henry Hirsch. On April 14, he faced the toughest test any Section 1 pitcher can experience: two-time defending state champion Mamaroneck.

Hirsch kept Scarsdale in the game, but ultimately Mamaroneck proved too formidable a foe for Scarsdale, winning 8-5 for its fifth straight win.

"We knew we could hang with them," Scarsdale's Andrew Crean said. "But they're a great team."

Scarsdale did stay close throughout, but like Mamaroneck often does, it got some clutch hits when it needed them most. Hirsch was removed from the game – and received roaring applause from Scarsdale's fans -- after allowing an infield hit to start the seventh and was replaced by Tyler Foote.

Two more singles, one by Dean Chiapparelli and one by Matt Mezansky, loaded the bases for Mamaroneck captain Sam Gruppo. He came through with a bases-loaded single that gave Mamaroneck the lead for good.

"We knew we had to bear down to help out Tyler," second basemen Anthony Cugini said. "He wasn't perfect but he gave us a chance to win."

But there were no seventh-inning heroics for Scarsdale in its last chance at bat. The Raiders couldn't get much going off Mamaroneck reliever Bobby Gross, who sealed the victory with a scoreless seventh.

Scarsdale's best chance to win came in the sixth. Jesse Nathanson, who had two hits in the game, came up with runners on first and third, but Gross threw a 3-2 fastball by him to escape the jam.

The two teams are sure to have another close game when they square off in Mamaroneck on May 6th.