Calhoun Baseball Opens Playoffs With Dominant Win Against Syosset

It was a cool rainy day for game one of the AA baseball quarterfinal series between Calhoun and Syosset.

For the latter, it's unfortunate there wasn't a rainout, as the Colts routed the Braves 15-0, making it do or die tomorrow in Game 2 for Syosset.

The Colts did most of their damage in the first two innings. Jake Thomas and Thomas Viverito started what would be a huge day for the four and five hitters in the Calhoun lineup. Thomas hit a run scoring double, and Viverito drove in two with one of his own. Zach Goldstein got his second hit in the inning, driving in two more, and it was 6-0 after one.

That was all for Syosset starter Matt Burrei, as it was a short, rough outing for the senior righty.

"He was elevating his fastball a little bit," Pat Fitzgerald, Syosset coach said. "He was throwing his curveball as well as he has all year, he just got a couple fastballs up, [Calhoun] got a lead, at that point you're trying to play catch up the whole game."

Adam Luftig came in for Syosset, but there would be no relief, as Calhoun plated five more in the second, as Thomas Viverito hit a two-run home run to make it 8-0.

"I was just looking to see where the pitch was, [Luftig] put it right on the corner, and I took it the other way," Viverito said.

Colts starter Frank Trimarco laced a two run double later in the inning, giving himself even more run support. Trimarco scattered four hits over seven innings, walking two and striking out 11 in the win.

The power display continued for Calhoun, as Alex Ras hit a solo shot off Zach Greenspan in the fifth, and Thomas capped off the scoring with a three run blast in the sixth off Steven Setzer.

Calhoun coach, Joe Corea, said that despite the dominating performance, his club won't take game two for granted.

"We'll see how we match up, it's baseball, anything can happen on any given day," Corea said.

Hero: Make that two, in Calhoun catcher Jake Thomas and outfielder Thomas Viverito, who each homered, and went three for four with four RBI's.

Turning Point: Syosset had a chance to take an early lead after Joe Morris and James Cohan singled to put two men on in the first. Trimarco then struck out John Tsiolis and Matt Taurisani to end the threat, and the rout would soon begin.

Quotable: "We're here too for a reason and we'll come out tomorrow, we've got a good pitcher coming out and we swing the same bats they do," said Syosset coach Pat Fitzgerald on trying to rebound from the blowout loss.

Bottom Line: Calhoun showed why they are ranked #1 in Class AA, and dominated Syosset in all facets from the first inning on.

Key Stat: Four, as in four pitchers used by Syosset. Fitzgerald says he is undecided on Tuesday's starter, and that they are "going by committee a little bit" on the mound.

Who's Next:The teams continue their best of three series Tuesday afternoon at Syosset.

Box Score: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7

Syosset        0  0  0  0  0  0  0 -- 0

Calhoun      6  5  0  0  1  3  x -- 15

WP- Trimarco

LP - Burrei

Home Runs: Calhoun -- Viverito, Ras, Thomas