Sports

Preview: Suffolk County Class AA Baseball Championship

No. 7 Sachem will host No. 8 Commack in title game at 4 p.m.

At the beginning of the season, Sachem coach Tom Gambino wasn't sure what kind of team he had. Always a modest skipper, Gambino only spoke to the strengths that could appear at some point.

Fortunately for him and his club, Sachem's pitching staff is hurling gems and its lineup is cranking out timely hitting at the most apropos time. 

“We don’t score a lot of runs, so we have to play great defensively and pitch great ...,” Gambino said after his team beat No. 5 Eastport-South Manor in the Class AA winner's bracket final Monday.

Find out what's happening in Sachemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Wednesday will be Sachem's first appearance in a Suffolk County baseball championship since 1987 when the Arrows beat East Islip, 3-0, in Game 3 of a three-game series to win just the second title in program history. The first came in 1979.

While Sachem competes in League II, Commack was one of the better teams in League I this season. The Cougars were knocked to the loser's bracket of the playoffs after an opening round loss to No. 9 Hills West, but have battled back with strong pitching and clutch hitting and won six straight. 

Find out what's happening in Sachemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Match-up: No. 7 Sachem (20-4) vs. No. 8 Commack (21-6)

Where and when: Sachem High School North, Wednesday, June 1 at 4 p.m.

Projected weather: At game time, Weather.com says it will be 80 degrees and sunny with a 50 percent chance of thundershowers close to 6 p.m.

Projected starter for Sachem: Alec Sole

How they got here?

Sachem

Commack

  • 3-0 loss to No. 9 Hills West in first round
  • 14-8 win over No. 1 Lindenhurst in loser's bracket
  • 10-9 win over No. 15 Northport in loser's bracket
  • 7-6 win over No. 11 North Babylon in loser's bracket
  • 2-1 win over No. 16 Deer Park in loser's bracket
  • 2-1 win over No. 10 West Islip in loser's bracket
  • 6-3 win over No. 5 Eastport-South Manor in loser's bracket

What's next? With a win Wednesday, Sachem will clinch a spot in the New York State Class AA Regionals against Nassau's Carey (19-6), which will be played Sunday, June 5 at Farmingdale State College at 7:30 p.m. With a loss, Sachem will play Commack in a decisive second game in the county finals Thursday at 4 p.m.

Coverage: Of course, check Sachem Patch after the game Wednesday for a game story, photo gallery and video highlight of the action. Also, look on the site today for a story recapping the action from the magical 1987 championship season.


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