Sachem Beats Commack in Class AA Championship

Sachem North beat Commack, 8-0, in the Suffolk County Class AA championship Wednesday afternoon.

No. 8 Commack (21-7), who cruised through the loser's bracket of the post-season and won its last six ball games, went through three pitchers and fell to Sachem's overpowering lineup.

Sachem (21-4) will play Carey (19-6), Nassau’s Class AA champion, Sunday in the New York State Regionals at Farmingdale State College at 7:30 p.m. This is Sachem’s third county baseball title in school history with the others coming in 1979 and .

Alec Sole, pitching on his 18th birthday, threw seven shutout innings and struck out seven batters en route to the victory.

“This is probably one of the greatest feelings in my life,” he said. “As we got to the post-season we started winning games and started believing. Once you start believing it’s bound to happen.”

Sachem wasted no time giving him a cushion. The Flaming Arrows, who recorded 11 hits and had a leadoff hitter on base in four of six offensive innings, opened the game with three consecutive singles from Sole, Justin Carlo and Brendan Garry. Nick Teta also hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first and Sachem led, 2-0.

In the bottom of the second, Carlo hit a two-out two-run double, and Teta drove him in two batters later, making it 5-0. Commack (21-7) starting pitcher Rob Rose, one of three Cougar pitchers to take the mound in the game, only lasted 1 2/3 innings.

“They hit the ball well," said Commack coach Ed Ball. "We made it this far, no excuses. Sole had a great day and they hit the ball hard. The kids had a great year and a lot of them are coming back and we’re hoping to get back here again next year."

Winning Pitcher: Alec Sole ... 7 INP, 7K, 0BB, 4H

Losing Pitcher: Rob Rose ... 1 2/3 INP, 3K, 4BB, 5H

Sachem: Alec Sole (2-2, 2B, 2BB), Justin Carlo (3-4, 2B), Brendan Garry (2-3, BB), Nick Teta (1-4), Brian Hennelly (1-3, BB), Nick Santangelo (0-4), Mike Scarlato (2-3, BB), Steve Kowalski (0-3), Mike Vitale (0-3)

Commack: Greg Andrews (0-3), Rocco Pepe (1-3), Charles Galiano (0-3), Chris Baotera (1-3), Mike Sparachio (2-3), Paul Maline (0-3), Matt Guaglione (0-3), Jesse Mistretta (0-2), Keith Andrews (0-1, HBP)