Player of the Game

Player of the Game
2009 Second Round Class AA Playoff Game

East Islip vs Bay Shore May 26, 2009

Bay Shore's

Kelsey Fischer:
2 for 3, Home run, double, 1 rbi and 2 runs scored.

See Box Scores Here

Game Rundown:

In terms of match ups, today's contest features the old days of the Red Sox (East Islip) vs. the Yankees (Bay Shore). Over the years these two programs have become heated rivals with Bay Shore usually coming out on top. East Islip Head Coach Stephanie Nardone once played for Coach McGowan but since she's left for East Islip it seems like the curse of the Bambino has followed her. East Islip is always loaded as it has one of the best little league farm systems on Long Island. Bay Shore on the other hand has had a deteriorating little league as poor management and Lacrosse have decimated the Bay Shore LL program.

Fortunately for Bay Shore they are led by one of Suffolk's top athletes in pitcher Liz Weber and if she gets in trouble Coach McGowan can always turn to his # 2 Taylor McGowan. Taylor is a great fallback option as she would be the number one on most teams.

Bad blood has brewed over the last couple of years between these two top teams. On paper it seems like East Islip should come out on top but we have seen this before as Bay Shore finds a way to get by. Will East Islip finally remove the curse? They may never have as good a chance as this to get the job done.

East Islip led off the game with a walk but Weber struck out two of the next three hitters to end the inning. In the bottom of the first Bay Shore's Kelsey Fischer Hit a bomb off EI's Megan Sweezy over the right fielders head for a home run and a 1-0 Bay Shore lead.

The game stayed that way into the 4th when East Islip had a chance to change the course of the game but some very questionable coaching decisions turned out to be the turning point of the game. Lead off hitter Danielle Groneman hit a blooper over the third baseman's head for an infield single, the first of the game. That was followed by a one hopper hit back to the mound that would normally be a double play with Weber fielding the position but she bobbled the ball and her throw was mishandled for an error and EI had first and second with no out. This is when things got a little strange for East Islip. With the number 4 hitter coming up and no outs everyone in the place was expecting the bunt and why not this is not baseball where you let the 4 hitter hit. This is softball where 999 times out of 1000 you bunt the runners over with no outs in the 4th inning and the tying runner on second in a game where you haven't hit the ball out of the infield. However, Coach Nardone decided to let her 4 hitter hit and unfortunately it didn't work out and Bay Shore recorded the first out with a strike out. Then things got a little crazier as The next batter squared around to bunt in an attempt to protect the runners attempting a double steal, but Groneman trying to steal third was out in a play that was not even close for the second out of the inning, Weber got the batter to strike out and East Islip's only threat was torn to pieces by a couple of bad coaching decisions.

In the bottom of the sixth Nikki Surkes led off with a single and was followed by Kelsey Fischer who doubled down the left field line to give Bay Shore 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Weber walked to load the bases which brought up Cat Franzone. Cat hit a shot to the right of 2nd baseman Danielle Groneman with the infield drawn in and Groneman dove up the middle to make a great play. Danielle got to her knees and fired home and appeared to get the force at the plate but the call went Bay Shores way and BS had their second run of the game and still had the bases loaded with no outs. Up stepped Rookie of the year candidate 8th grader Courtney Syrett who hit a sac fly to right to drive in the 3rd BS run. The throw back to the infield got away and another run scored to make it 4-0 Bay Shore.

Colleen Smith led off the 7th with a single up the middle which was only the second hit of the game and only the second ball out of the infield for East Islip. Weber retired the next 3 hitters to put Bay Shore in the championship game vs. Brentwood. The game will be played this Thursday, 4pm at Bay Shore in the first game in a 2 out of 3 match up.

The curse of the bambino may be done in the real world of baseball but here on Long Island when it comes to Bay Shore and East Islip the curse lives on.

Final Score: East Islip 0, Bay Shore 4

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Player of the Game 2009 Second Round Class AA Playoff Game East Islip vs Bay Shore May 26, 2009 Bay Shore's Kelsey Fischer: 2 for 3, Home run, double, 1 rbi and 2 runs scored. See Box Scores Here Game Rundown: In terms of match ups, today's contest features the old days of the Red Sox (East Islip) vs. the Yankees (Bay Shore). Over the years these two programs have become heated rivals with Bay Shore usually coming out on top. East Islip Head Coach Stephanie Nardone once played for Coach McGowan but since she's left for East Islip it seems like the curse of the Bambino has followed her. East Islip is always loaded as it has one of the best little league farm systems on Long Island. Bay Shore on the other hand has had a deteriorating little league as poor management and Lacrosse have decimated the Bay Shore LL program. Fortunately for Bay Shore they are led by one of Suffolk's top athletes in pitcher Liz Weber and if she gets in trouble Coach McGowan can always turn to his # 2 Taylor McGowan. Taylor is a great fallback option as she would be the number one on most teams. Bad blood has brewed over the last couple of years between these two top teams. On paper it seems like East Islip should come out on top but we have seen this before as Bay Shore finds a way to get by. Will East Islip finally remove the curse? They may never have as good a chance as this to get the job done. East Islip led off the game with a walk but Weber struck out two of the next three hitters to end the inning. In the bottom of the first Bay Shore's Kelsey Fischer Hit a bomb off EI's Megan Sweezy over the right fielders head for a home run and a 1-0 Bay Shore lead. The game stayed that way into the 4th when East Islip had a chance to change the course of the game but some very questionable coaching decisions turned out to be the turning point of the game. Lead off hitter Danielle Groneman hit a blooper over the third baseman's head for an infield single, the first of the game. That was followed by a one hopper hit back to the mound that would normally be a double play with Weber fielding the position but she bobbled the ball and her throw was mishandled for an error and EI had first and second with no out. This is when things got a little strange for East Islip. With the number 4 hitter coming up and no outs everyone in the place was expecting the bunt and why not this is not baseball where you let the 4 hitter hit. This is softball where 999 times out of 1000 you bunt the runners over with no outs in the 4th inning and the tying runner on second in a game where you haven't hit the ball out of the infield. However, Coach Nardone decided to let her 4 hitter hit and unfortunately it didn't work out and Bay Shore recorded the first out with a strike out. Then things got a little crazier as The next batter squared around to bunt in an attempt to protect the runners attempting a double steal, but Groneman trying to steal third was out in a play that was not even close for the second out of the inning, Weber got the batter to strike out and East Islip's only threat was torn to pieces by a couple of bad coaching decisions. In the bottom of the sixth Nikki Surkes led off with a single and was followed by Kelsey Fischer who doubled down the left field line to give Bay Shore 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Weber walked to load the bases which brought up Cat Franzone. Cat hit a shot to the right of 2nd baseman Danielle Groneman with the infield drawn in and Groneman dove up the middle to make a great play. Danielle got to her knees and fired home and appeared to get the force at the plate but the call went Bay Shores way and BS had their second run of the game and still had the bases loaded with no outs. Up stepped Rookie of the year candidate 8th grader Courtney Syrett who hit a sac fly to right to drive in the 3rd BS run. The throw back to the infield got away and another run scored to make it 4-0 Bay Shore. Colleen Smith led off the 7th with a single up the middle which was only the second hit of the game and only the second ball out of the infield for East Islip. Weber retired the next 3 hitters to put Bay Shore in the championship game vs. Brentwood. The game will be played this Thursday, 4pm at Bay Shore in the first game in a 2 out of 3 match up. The curse of the bambino may be done in the real world of baseball but here on Long Island when it comes to Bay Shore and East Islip the curse lives on. Final Score: East Islip 0, Bay Shore 4