RECAP: Bayside, Midwood, Win PSAL Championships at Yankee Stadium

It was an eventful Monday night at Yankee Stadium for high school baseball. The PSAL Championships were underway and provided fans with two nail biting games back to back.

The Eleanor Roosevelt Huskies and the Bayside Commodores kicked off the PSAL Class AA title Monday night. Bayside was able to claim PSAL Class AA victory 3-2 over Eleanor Roosevelt.

Bayside’s starter Dimitri Papazoglou earned the win after pitching six solid innings. Bayside’s defense on the other hand committed four defensive errors. Luckily, the Commodores offense was able to rack in the early runs in the game. It started for Bayside in the first inning when they were able to force in an early run with a bases loaded walk. First baseman Jesse Spellman was able to add a two-out RBI single to the board as well for Bayside. During the seventh inning it almost looked as if Eleanor Roosevelt was going to pull off a rally after Bayside’s Papazoglou walked the lead off hitter. The Commodores were able to maintain their lead, and claim the PSAL Class AA title.

Pat Torney spoke about his 2016 team saying, “I knew we had a talented bunch.” This title was 29 years in the making for the head coach, “29 years and our first championship, I waited a long time for this.”

Later that evening the stage cleared for the PSAL Championships AAA Division between the Tottenville Pirates and Midwood Hornets. Tottenville was the favorable pick for the title since this was their third time returning, they were prepared with experienced players for the title game, and they were also undefeated all season. This did not prevent the Hornets from capturing its first PSAL AAA Championship.

The freshmen starting pitcher for Midwood, Gregory Dorfman was able to give his team 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Midwood was able to provide serious damage control three separate times after finding themselves in a bases loaded situation. The first inning was rough for Pirates Vincent Juliano was threw 32 pitches and found himself forcing in a run with the bases loaded. He was able to settle down in the second inning, making it a quick 1-2-3 but senior Michael Gonzalez was able to secure the Hornets advantage in the top of the third after ripping the first pitch for a two-run single.

The team that was the most unlikely contender was able to claim AAA division victory. Midwood came alive during playoffs and after a 9-7 record for their regular season was able to prove the doubters wrong. The heartbreak Tottenville suffered after being handed their third championship loss was visible after the game, but the heart both teams made for a great division battle.