Fall Seahawk 2009 Game Highlights

BRIARCLIFFE WINS 2 VS GLOBE, 4-3, 10-5

The Briarcliffe baseball team evened their record at 3-3 with a doubleheader sweep of NJCAA Division I Globe on Sunday. The Seahawks used solid team offense combined with terrific pitching and defense to win game 1. After staking Globe to a 2-0 lead, Briarcliffe bounced back to tie the game. With outstanding pitching from Vin Aprano and eventual winner Kurt Stettner, the pitchers limited Globe to 4 hits in the opening game. The Seahawks twice bunted runners over from second base with no out late in the game. Both times Briarcliffe capitalized and scored, eventually leading 4-2. Gabe Ermmarino came on to give up one run in the seventh, but preserved the win. Ermmarino was also the hitting star, driving in two runs and scoring another.

In game 2, the Seahawks had a very productive second inning, scoring four times for an early 5-1 lead which would never be headed. Chris Brezinski set the tone in the first three innings, allowing a run in the top of the first without the benefit of a base hit. Rafael Perez followed, allowing two runs in two innings (one earned) before yielding to Jeff DeLuca, who pitched a six pitch inning. Dan Harty finished up for Briarcliffe. The final in game 2 was 10-5. The next game, NOT ON THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULE, is set for WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7 at CW Post at 3:30 pm.

SEAHAWKS BATS SILENT IN DH LOSS, 4-1, 4-2

The Briarcliffe baseball team continued to show outstanding pitching and defense on Saturday, but the Seahawk bats left a lot to be desired as Briarcliffe fell 4-1 and 4-2. The team seemed to have runners on base nearly every inning, but failed to produce key hits in key spots. Anthony Mele and Sam Braverman each drove in a run but the team failed to capitalize on a bases loaded one out situation in game one and a second and third one out situation in the nightcap. Coach Puccio expressed disappointment in the lack of offense. "It is only one day, but it seems we don't go up to the plate with a solid plan of what we are trying to do. Our situational hitting has to improve and improve dramatically if we are going to beat the good teams." One offensive highlight was Eric Weiner, who reached base with 3 walks and a bunt single.

The pitching continues to be a major highlight for Briarcliffe. In game 2, the score was a 0-0 tie heading into the fifth inning, following outstanding performances once again by Rick Doht and Chris Brezinski. The key play of game 2 was a one out, second and third situation in the fifth inning. With the Seahawk infield playing in, a single up the middle lead to two runs scoring and poor defense on the play set up the third run as well. Briarcliffe responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth on the Anthony Mele RBI, but left runners at the corners. The team will play Nassau on Sunday.

FALL OPENER A SHARP ONE AS SEAHAWKS WIN, 5-1

Briarcliffe College opened their 2009 fall campaign with an impressive 5-1 win over the Longhorns of Suffolk West. The Seahawks were solid in every aspect of the game, combining good pitching with solid defense and consistent offense. Rick Doht set the tone for the pitchers, recording a 1-2-3 first inning. In fact, the Seahawks would continue that 1-2-3 combo until the sixth inning, when an error allowed Suffolk their first baserunner. The Longhorns managed only 2 singles and 2 hit batsmen through the first nine innings, finally breaking through in the tenth with a home run for their lone run. The Seahawk pitching combined for one walk and 14 strikeouts in the ten innings, highlighted by Kurt Stettner's strong 2nd inning and Chris Brezinski's 3 strikeout performance in the sixth. Along the way, Rafael Perez, Rich Ireland, Dan Harty, Jeff DeLuca, Lee Ranta and Vin Aprano pitched scoreless innings. Centerfielder Tim Coglietta threw out a runner trying to score for the final play of the afternoon.

Offensively, the team struck early as newcomer Kevin Licul drove home the first run of the season with a two out double. Sam Braverman delivered a run scoring single in the third, and Joe Solomeno completed the scoring with the Seahawk's only sacrifice fly of the game, driving home the fifth run. The Seahawks used six sacrifice bunts throughout the course of the game. Newcomers Anthony Mele, Manny Padilla and the aforementioned Joe Solomeno each had two hits in the contest.

Head Coach Gary Puccio called the performance "a great sign of great things to come. I felt we didn't do a great job with runners in scoring position, and need to improve there. Everything else I would take as is all season long." The Seahawks will play again on Saturday September 26 at noon at the PAL COMPLEX.