Commack Clinches Berth in Class AA Finals

Day to day, game to game. That's the approach Commack's Ed Boll adopted after the Cougars dropped their postseason opener to Half Hollow Hills West on May 24.

Since then, his team has reeled off six consecutive wins, the latest a 7-3 victory over Eastport-South Manor (20-5) Tuesday afternoon to earn a spot in the Class AA finals.

Commack will need to beat Sachem North twice in consecutive days on Wednesday and Thursday to be crowned Class AA champions. If they can manage two more victories, it will cap an improbable stretch of eight wins in nine days, which started with a resounding 14-8 thrashing of defending state champion Lindenhurst on May 25.

"It’s a day-to-day road for us," said Boll. "We’ve been doing this for over a week now. We’re having fun with it. We’re going to go give it our best shot, and try to come out with a W again. That’s the plan."

The Cougars (21-6) blasted three home runs, including a three run shot by Matt Guaglione with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning that broke a scoreless tie, and jumped out to a 6-0 lead heading to the bottom of the sixth.

"They opened up, started to be more aggressive at the plate and were hitting the long ball today," said Boll. "Lately we’ve been hitting balls really hard."

Sophomore pitcher Cameron Kitt, who was spinning a gem through five innings, ran into trouble in the sixth. With two men out, Dave Griffith hit a routine grounder to second base, which was misplayed, allowing the inning to continue. Kitt then allowed a single, a walk and another single, and the Sharks had cut the deficit to 6-2 and had loaded the bases.

Kitt pitched five and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs, though none earned, on four hits. He also struck out four.

"He had a great game," Boll said of Kitt. "And these guys came in and closed it down for them. We’ve been playing team baseball all year."

Boll brought on fellow sophomore Cody Olsen, who walked the first batter he saw, forcing in a run, before finally inducing a ground ball to Rocco Pepe at short to end the frame.

"They just started stringing some hits together," said Boll of the Sharks' rally. "[They were] starting to gain a little momentum so we changed things."

If there was any doubt in the Commack dugout as they began the top of the seventh, Chris Baltera's towering home run to left field quickly erased it. Baltera's homer made it 7-3,

Olsen also walked the leadoff batter in the seventh, forcing Boll to go to his bullpen again. He brought on junior Matt Fick, who promptly induced two ground outs, including a 6-4-3 double play salvaged by a fantastic scoop by Baltera at first base.

"He came in, pumped the glove, got ground balls when he needed and got the last three outs," said Boll of his closer.