PLAYOFFS: Division Sweeps Plainedge with Late Rally

After beating the previously undefeated Plainedge Red Devils 2-1 on Monday, Division Avenue High School's men in blue rallied in the bottom of the sixth for a series-ending 9-1 victory.

Plainedge took a 1-0 lead in the first, starting on a strong note with two singles, a walk and a stolen base. John Cruz retaliated in the bottom of the first, leading off with a single, but he was thrown out attempting to steal second. The next two Blue Dragons up to bat popped out and struck out.

Both teams' pitchers showed great control for the next few innings, until Division came back in the bottom of the fourth.

J.J. Kissane led off with a single, but was then thrown out trying to take third on an overthrow of Matt Santorufo's bunt. Santorufo scored the tying run off a hard-hit triple by Rob McNamara, who was driven home on a single by Matt Roestenberg to give the Blue Dragons a 2-1 lead.

Things quieted down until the bottom of the sixth. Once the Blue Dragons started breathing fire, there was no turning back.

Starting off with a walk and two successful bunts, Division had the bases loaded when Roestenberg hit a two run single. Plainedge relieved their pitcher with runners on first and third, but two RBI singles followed. After a pop-out Division hit another two singles, ending the inning up 9-1.

Division's Sean Abbate pitched a complete game, allowing only five hits. The Red Devils were unable to come back in their final at bat, and Division is now headed to their fourth county final in six years.

"We faced a very tough pitcher; we did a great job the first five or six innings," Division Head Coach Tom Tuttle said. "Then we had a couple of key hits and a couple sac bunts; we were fortunate enough to get guys on base and to get hits with guys on base."

The Blue Dragons will play either cross-town rivals Island Trees or Garden City on Monday at SUNY Farmingdale.

Tuttle is confident in his players after sweeping an undefeated team in the semifinals.

"We knew we were a good team," Tuttle said. "They had a great year Plainedge, they're well coached, and we knew our kids were good and we played well. We can play with anybody."