Sports
Sachem North Outlasts Smithtown West in Third Round of Baseball Playoffs
Pitcher Mike Vitale shuts down Bulls, Sachem wins, 2-0.
The Flaming Arrows bounced back quickly after a heartbreaking defeat Thursday at the hands of Longwood and prevailed over Smithtown West, 2-0, Tuesday in the third round of the loser's bracket playoff, behind a stellar pitching performance by Mike Vitale.
Vitale, a junior at No. 7 Sachem North, gave up two hits and struck out five in a complete game shutout of the Bulls.
Flaming Arrows head coach Tom Gambino summed up Vitale's day, saying simply "It was a great performance."
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"The way we lost yesterday was hard to forget," said Gambino, "and the easiest way to forget is to win [today]. We knew they'd be tough."
The Arrows bats didn't come alive much, but the way Vitale pitched, one run was enough.
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North got that run in the top of the second inning. Mike Scarlato reached on a throwing error by West pitcher James English, and reached second before the ball got back into the infield. Two batters later, second baseman Justin Carlo hit a line drive up the middle, scoring Scarlato, giving the Arrows a one run lead.
In the bottom of third, left fielder Tom Klingel played a line drive perfectly off the bat, and was able to get a Smithtown base runner out at the plate by a few feet, making it easily the play of the game.
The game settled down after that, until English lost command in the top half of the sixth inning. He walked the first three hitters he faced, before getting pulled for right-fielder Nick Zitto, who was able to escape without giving up any runs.
Vitale got some insurance in the top half of the seventh inning, when catcher Brendan Garry lined a single to right field, giving the Arrows a 2-0 lead.
Vitale was dominant in the bottom half, but Smithtown still had life after a walk and an error by Scarlato. He battled back and got Tyler Rynig to ground out to end the game.
All of Sachem's starters reached base, with six having a hit. Leadoff man and DH Alec Sole went two for three with two singles and a walk.
Sachem hosts No. 8 Ward Melville Wednesday at 4 p.m.
