Fourth Inning Dooms Raiders

Patchogue-Medford was coasting Thursday evening against William Floyd, but the Raiders blew a seven-run lead to the Colonials and lost their first game since a one-run loss to East Islip on June 21.

Lefty P.J. Martino, who will only be entering his freshman year, started for Pat-Med and pitched well, but everything unraveled after he was relieved in the fourth inning. 

The Colonials got on the board in the top of the first when William Floyd's power-hitting third baseman Mike Rachun doubled home a run. Patchogue-Medford would answer in the bottom of the first with a run, but could have scored more. 

With first and third, Dan D'Onofrio would get caught between first and second. As William Floyd recorded the out, Matthew Vogel, who was the runner at third base, ran home with the tying run. With nobody on base and two out, Tom Rubinstein, the Raiders' power-hitting first baseman, drove a double to right and was stranded at second.

The Raiders added three runs in the second inning without hitting the ball out of the infield. The Raiders were helped by three William Floyd errors and Colonial starting pitcher Mike Brass hit both Matt Gajewski and Nick Stumpo with pitches. 

In the third, the Raiders would add four more runs. Gajewski singled home Cash Mahoney. Second baseman Brian Cioffi hit a squib in front of the pitcher that turned out to be just as good as a bunt. Brass threw the ball wild to first and Gajewski scored. Cioffi would come home to score on an infield hit by Stumpo. Martino would also score in the inning.

With the Raiders leading 8-1, it looked as though Patchogue-Medford was on its way to an easy win. The Raiders defeated William Floyd at William Floyd 14-3  a little over a week ago.

In the top of the fourth, Kevin Waszmer replaced Martino, who allowed one run and struck out five in his three innings of work. Waszmer struggled with his control, walking three in the inning and giving up two doubles. With two outs, Stumpo, who has seen a lot of work on the mound this summer, relieved Waszmer and surrendered a two-run home run to Brass in a seven-run fourth inning for the Colonials that tied the game. 

After the Raiders couldn't respond in the bottom of the fourth, William Floyd scored the go-ahead run in the top of the fifth. 

In the bottom of the sixth, D'Onofrio walked with one out and Rubinstein walked with two outs, but the Raiders failed to plate the tying run. The game was then called because an inning cannot begin after 8 p.m.

The Raiders are 9-5-1. Their next game is July 20 at 6 p.m. against Half Hollow Hills East at Patchogue-Medford High School.