Matthew Carrera, Mount Sinai baseball use seven-run second inning in win over Miller Place
Mt. Sinai's Matthew Carrera blasts a triple to deep centerfield against Island Trees, in the Long Island Conference V championships, Sunday, June 20, 2021 at St. Joseph's Athletic Complex Credit: George A Faella
The rain was coming down and the Mount Sinai baseball team wasn’t trying to do too much. The Mustangs, with an experienced lineup and championship pedigree, took what was given to them.
And in the second inning, the slick ball led to a bevy of walks as Mount Sinai scored seven runs in the frame en route to a 10-5 victory over host Miller Place in Suffolk League VI baseball.
“I have a lot of experienced ballplayers,” coach Eric Reichenbach said. “My lineup is entirely back from last year’s Long Island championship team so they know what a strike is, they know fastball command — they are pretty polished baseball players. Being in that position, nothing really phases them much.”
Mount Sinai (11-4) scored seven runs in the second inning without an extra-base hit, including drawing four walks with four singles.
“I feel once we get base runners, we just go,” said Matthew Carrera, who went 2-for-5 with two runs. “We have so much energy on the bench and it translates into the batter’s box. One guy gets a hit, gets on base, we roll with that and we just go from there.”
The Mustangs led 8-1 after the second inning and added two runs in the fourth inning on Lani Bohne’s two-run double to drive in Joe Valenti and Benny Franquiz to take a 10-1 advantage.
Miller Place (9-6) scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, including RBI singles by Justin Klein, Tyler Hodella and Thomas Pranzo.
Eight of nine starters scored runs for the Mustangs. Franquiz went 2-for-4, JT Caruso reached base all four at-bats with three walks and a single, Matt Galli reached base three times with three walks, Kyle Salvati went 2-for-4 and Valenti went 2-for-4 with two runs as the Mustangs swept Miller Place this week.
Caruso also struck out six batters in four innings for his third win of the year.
Mount Sinai won the Long Island Conference V championship last season. But with a state tournament this spring, the Mustangs believe they can go on an extended playoff run.
“It’s motivation because we didn’t have a state championship last year,” Reichenbach said. “I think we had a team that could win it all so our goal this year is one thing — win a state championship.”
“I think we are good enough to win that,” Carrera said. “And I think we can be the best team in New York.”
