Eastport-South Manor baseball's Logan Walsh, Ralph Betner no-hit Half Hollow Hills West
Starting pitcher Logan Walsh of Eastport South Manor pitching against Half Hollow Hills West during ESM’s 5-0 win on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. Credit: Jonathan Singh
Brady McGowan gathered the two-hop grounder at shortstop and fired to first for the final out. As soon as first baseman Mason Gatchalian secured the throw the celebration was on.
The defensive play punctuated an Eastport-South Manor combined no-hit performance from starter Logan Walsh and reliever Ralph Betner. The Sharks rode a five-run first inning and defeated host Half Hollow Hills West, 5-0, in a Suffolk League V baseball game in Dix Hills.
“I stayed down on the ball and knew the batter was quick,” McGowan said. “I needed a quick release on the throw.”
McGowan’s throw got there in plenty of time to get Aman Aery, the Colts speedy leadoff man.
Walsh went 5 1/3 innings, allowing five walks and a hit batsman while striking out eight. Betner came on with one out and one on in the sixth after Walsh hit the pitch limit at 108. Betner retired five consecutive hitters for the save.
“I guess it was good that I didn’t know he was throwing a no-hitter,” Betner laughed. “I come in and throw strikes. And we have a good defense that takes care of the rest.”
The Sharks (9-0) batted around to open a 5-0 first inning lead. McGowan led off with a line drive single and after a walk and a fielder’s choice loaded the bases Gatchalian lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. Memphis Lanier would add an RBI-single, Nick Lawrence drew a bases-loaded walk, Walsh added a sacrifice fly and Lanier scored on a double steal.
“We had a bad first inning but after that we settled down and kept it close enough to come back,” Half Hollow Hills West coach Tom Migliozzi said. “We weren’t aggressive in the hitters counts and missed some opportunities.” Starter Gavin Hock allowed three hits, four walks and one earned run, striking out four. He threw four scoreless innings a disastrous first.
Walsh was the beneficiary of two outstanding defensive plays in the first two innings. He loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batsman in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs and a 2-2 count on Tyler D’Amico, Eastport-South Manor third baseman Matt Beardsley tracked a pop up down the leftfield line where he made an over the shoulder diving catch in foul territory for the final out.
Hills West (7-5) threatened again in the second inning. With two outs and runners at first and second, Alex Casey lined the hardest hit ball of the game down the rightfield line where a sprinting C.J. Spatz made the catch, keeping the no-hit bid intact.
“We can pitch and play great defense,” Eastport-South Manor coach Jim McGowan said. “We made the plays.”
“I didn’t have a great feel for all my pitches today,” Walsh said. “But I have so much trust in our defense.”
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
