Ron Bauer gets plenty of run support in Hicksville win
Hicksville starting pitcher #2 Ronnie Bauer delivers a pitch during the bottom of the sixth inning of a Nassau baseball game against host Plainview JFK. (April 8, 2013) Credit: James Escher
The Nassau Class AA baseball title usually rolls through places like Massapequa, Oceanside or Levittown, where MacArthur has been a mainstay in the finals.
Sometimes the title run will go through a talented team like Calhoun or Carey. But the road has only gone through Hicksville in 1994 -- the only year the Comets won a county title.
Senior righty Ron Bauer said he hopes to go down that championship road again in 2013.
"This is the 'Ville's year," Bauer said. "We have a lot of experience and a lot of talent. I know there's teams out there that can play but we're definitely in this thing."
Bauer continued to impress as he scattered five hits, struck out five, walked one and allowed an earned run in six innings in Hicksville's 13-3 Nassau Conference AA win over Plainview JFK Monday.
Mike Reilly went 4-for-5 with three runs as Hicksville improved to 7-0.
"I felt I had command of all of my pitches, but my changeup was especially sharp," said Bauer, who is 3-0. "I was hitting my spots and the defense was playing well."
With Bauer in control on the mound, Hicksville used a nine-run sixth inning to extend a 4-2 lead and put the game out of reach. Catcher Anthony Salomone singled to start the rally, his third hit of the game, and after an infield error, Sean Bragg put down a neat sacrifice bunt that was misplayed, allowing the first run to score.
"We executed the bunt and then took advantage of a few mistakes," Bragg said.
Hicksville had back-to-back run-scoring singles from sophomore Andrew Purcell and Justin Franco before Nick Schoen added an RBI single and Kyle Cashman lifted a two-run double to key the big inning. The Comets sent 15 batters to the plate in a 38-minute half inning.
Plainview JFK starter Dan Brennan battled through five innings and struck out five but was touched for three runs in the second inning when Salomone drilled a run-scoring double and Bragg added an RBI single for a 3-0 lead.
Plainview answered with a run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double by Dylan Schmidt.
"We feel good about the way we're playing," Reilly said. "We believe this is our year."
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