Garden City takes Game 1 over Calhoun

The Nassau County League 2 finals got underway today with #1 seed, the Calhoun Colts taking on #2 Garden City Trojans in Merrick. The best of three series will pit the hard hitting Colts against the strong pitching and defense of the Trojans.

Garden City came into the game knowing that they would need to get their bats going a lot more than they did in handling MacArthur in the semi-final series as Calhoun had a lineup that can hit from one through nine. The first inning went according to plan, as GC got two runners on base ahead of the hot hitting Joe Frandina and he didn’t let the visiting fans down as he drilled a single to right, took second on an error by the right fielder and then third on a throw to home as two runs crossed the plate. Patrick Heber followed Frandina’s two run hit with a rocket off the right field fence for a very long run scoring single to put GC up 3-0.

Frank Santeramo was on the mound for the Trojans and after a first inning double he was able to get through the first three innings keeping the hard hitting Colts off the scoreboard.

Calhoun was able to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth as they strung together four singles and a run scoring fielders choice to tie the game at three.

In the fifth, Santeramo lined a long double off the fence in left but was stranded for Garden City. While Calhoun had first and third with no outs only to come up empty as third baseman Gabe Elmokian cut down a runner at home, Santeramo struck out the next batter and Joey Wood made a nice play in the hole to end the inning keeping the score even at 3.

The Trojans took the lead back in the top of the sixth as they scored three times on two well executed squeeze plays and a run scoring single. Back on the mound Santeramo had an easy bottom of the inning with a strikeout and two more fine defensive plays from third baseman Elmokian.

Up 6-3 in the seventh the Trojans looked to tack on some runs, and that they did, scoring four times in the seventh to go up 10-3. The inning was highlighted by run scoring hits from Heber, Francisco Ingrassia and Peter Hallorhan.

Calhoun did get two runs back on a double and a long home run in the bottom of the seventh but manager Dave Izzo called on freshman Gabe Beschloss to come on in relief to close out the game with three straight outs.

Game 2 is at GCHS at 4:00 on Thursday.