Lindenhurst Defeats Calhoun for LI Baseball Title

Trailing by three runs heading into the bottom of the seventh, the stage was set for Calhoun to make one more miraculous comeback.

After Zach Goldstein hit an RBI single to right field to cut the deficit to 4-2 and put the tying runs on base, the blue and white faithful in attendance last night were beginning to believe.

However, Jon Eyerman then hit into a fielder's choice for the second out, and Dan Sullivan made the final out with a fly out to center field to end the game.

It would have made for a storybook ending for Calhoun, who overcame a seven run deficit against MacArthur on Wednesday to propel themselves into the Class AA Long Island Championship game.

But the fairy tale season came to a close yesterday, as the Colts lost to Lindenhurst 4-2 at SUNY-Farmingdale, and will have to settle for the consolation prize as county champs.

"It was a great year," Calhoun coach Mike Marino said. "The kids played hard all year and came one win away from going to the state championship, which would have been a nice experience for them. But Lindenhurst played really well and they deserve to go represent Long Island."

Joe Christopher pitched a terrific game for the Colts, allowing just one earned run over six innings while striking out four batters. However, he was outdueled by Lindenhurst's Rich Vrana, who allowed two runs on four hits while striking out six over seven innings.

"They have a lot of tough hitters on that team," Vrana said. "And I had to battle the entire time. It means a lot for this team to win, it's our school's first Long Island championship for baseball in about 45 years. It's a great experience."

The two teams went scoreless over the first three innings, and Calhoun was the first to draw blood as Ryan Kass led off the fourth with a double. After advancing to third on sacrifice fly by Jake Thomas, he came around to score on a wild pitch.

"We've all been playing together since little league and we've had a knack for winning games," Kass said. "This season wasn't only successful, but it was fun having such great teammates."

Lindenhurst wasted no time evening the score, as they tied it in the top of the fifth off an RBI single by Vinny Valela.

Lindenhurst added one more in the sixth off an RBI single by Jimmy Briggs, and then expanded their lead to 4-1 in the seventh. Ryan Manning scored on a wild pitch and Briggs hit another RBI single.

The Colts, who have the flair for the dramatic, faced a three-run deficit heading into the bottom of the seventh.

After a leadoff walk by Frank Trimarco, Alex Ras hit a soft liner that looked light it might land in short center field, but shortstop Steve Skon made a sensational leaping catch and held on despite nearly colliding with his second baseman Ken Gentile.

Tom Viverito followed with an infield single, and Goldstein drove a single into a right field to plate Trimarco. Just when you thought the Colts had one more comeback up their sleeve, Vrana settled down and completed the game by retiring Eyerman and Sullivan for the final outs.

Overall, though, it was a splendid season for the Colts, who finished 20-6 overall and captured their first county title since 2002.

The Colts will return nearly the same squad for next season, as they graduate only five seniors: Kass, Tyler Thornton, Jon Mekelburg, Joey Saladino and Mike Simon.

"We had an unbelievable year," Robbie Rosen said. "We played with heart every game and never gave up until the end. We'll just pick up where we left off next year. We have a young team, and we're really going to be great."

Someone should tell Rosen they already are.

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