Raiders Sweep Bay Shore in Doubleheader

Just as the heavy rains came in Bay Shore on Wednesday, the Patchogue-Medford Raiders were wrapping up a doubleheader sweep of the Marauders in the summer high school baseball league.

The Patchogue-Medford pitching was dominant, as the Raiders won the first game 2-1 in extra innings and then 4-0 in game two.

The first game turned out to be a pitcher's duel between Dan D'Onofrio of Patchogue-Medford and Justin Borders of Bay Shore. After three scoreless innings, Bay Shore struck first in the bottom of the fourth.

Borders led off with a single and after D'Onofrio fielded a bunt, he threw the ball into the outfield in an attempt to force Borders out at second. Borders would score when D'Onofrio fielded a ground ball back to the mound to start a double play.

With Bay Shore taking a 1-0 lead into the top of the seventh, and the Raiders down to their final three outs, Tyler Moston, who was Patchogue-Medford's starting pitcher in the second game, led off the inning by getting hit with a pitch.

After Moston stole second, first baseman Tom Rubinstein grounded to first, moving him over to third. Outfielder Cash Mahoney then hit a fly ball to center field that Bay Shore center fielder Andrew Acuri ran in and dove for, making the catch as he hit the ground. Moston tagged up as Acuri fired to the plate. The ball beat Moston at home but he made a nifty move to avoid the catcher's tag and score the tying run.

Bay Shore failed to score in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game into extra innings. In the top of the eighth, left-handed hitting catcher Tom Palmese led off with a double, deep into the right-center-field gap. Outfielder Matt Gajewski bunted him over to third. Third baseman Dan Tierney then hit a ground ball to the third and when the third baseman threw to first for the out, Palmese broke for home, scoring the go-ahead run.

Matt Vogel, who came in to pitch in relief in the bottom of the sixth, retired the Marauders as Patchogue-Medford came away with the win. Vogel was dominant in relief, striking out seven hitters in only three innings of work. 

In the second game, the Raider pitching was just as good. This time, Patchogue-Medford would jump out to an early lead as Moston doubled home Chris Vaneron to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead.

Moston was sailing along on the mound, striking out six batters in 3 1/3 innings, but got into trouble in the bottom of the fourth after a double and two walks loaded the bases with one out. Raiders coach Tony Frascogna didn't have many options as Patchogue-Medford only had nine players for the second game. Vaneron got the call to relieve Moston.

"I was trying to keep it low and get a groundball," Vaneron said.

That is exactly what the Raiders got as shortstop Frank Capraro started the 6-4-3 double play to get Patchogue-Medford out of trouble.

The Raiders would add to their lead in the top of the sixth as hits by Gajewski, left fielder Peter Link and Capraro would lead to three runs.

Like Vogel in the first game, Vaneron was dominant on the mound. In 3 2/3 innings, he allowed only one walk while striking out seven, mixing in an effective curveball with his fastball.

"I was trying to keep them off balance," he said.

The Raiders have now won the last five games they have played and six overall, including a forfeit win over Deer Park on Monday. Pat-Med plays William Floyd on Thursday at 6 p.m. at home.