Kyle Erickson's RBI single keys nine-run inning to keep Port Jefferson alive in Suffolk Class C baseball tournament
Port Jefferson's Kyle Erickson lines a single through the Babylon infield in the Suffolk Class B baseball finals on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at Middle Country Sports Complex. Credit: George A Faella
The Port Jefferson baseball team is never out of a game. The Royals seem comfortable when the pressure is on and the end seems near.
In 2022 and 2023, Port Jefferson worked their way through the losers bracket in the Suffolk Class C tournament and eventually won the Long Island championship.
This season they are in a familiar position – one game away from playoff elimination. The Royals fought off that elimination on Monday and continued to battle through the Suffolk Class B losers bracket Wednesday night at the Middle Country Athletic Complex.
“This is who we are,” said Port Jefferson shortstop Kyle Erickson. “We’re never done. We can come back against anyone.”
Erickson keyed a nine-run fifth inning and Port Jefferson wiped out a four-run deficit to come back for a 12-7 win over Babylon in the Suffolk Class B championships. The win forced a Port Jefferson (13-6) versus Babylon (14-8) winner-take-all matchup Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Middle Country Athletic Complex in the double elimination tournament.
“We fell behind early and battled back,” Port Jefferson coach Jesse Rosen said. “We have such positive energy and a great vibe in our dugout. [Leadoff hitter] Natti [Mullen] and the guys are always picking each other up and have such an uplifting attitude.”
Babylon built a 4-0 lead after four innings. Tobin Gold keyed a two-run second with a run-scoring single and Charlie Murphy added a one-out RBI single in the fourth to make it 4-0. At that point, the Panthers threatened to blow the game open. But Port Jefferson starting pitcher Ruairi Rago had other plans.
Rago made big pitches in a tough spot and escaped the one-out bases loaded jam when he struck out one batter and induced an infield pop out to end the threat.
“I’ve been able to execute my pitches in big spots,” Rago said. “And it kept us close and allowed us to come back. We were patient at the plate and worked our way on base. And then our hitters had some timely hits.”
Babylon starter Gavin McDonnell allowed one hit, three walks, struck out three and cruised through the first four innings. He lost the strike zone in the fifth and Port Jefferson took advantage. He hit Ben Amadio with a pitch to open the inning and walked the next three batters, forcing home the Royals' first run.
Babylon coach Mike Birnbaum brought in reliever Joe Cavallo and Rago lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2. Sam Matvya walked to reload the bases and Erickson drilled a run-scoring single – the second of his three hits. Evan Raymond and Derek Wonderland added two-run singles and Chris Diot lined an RBI single. When the 23-minute half inning ended, Port Jefferson poured in nine runs on five walks, four hits and a hit batter to open a 9-4 lead.
“The job is not done,” Erickson said. “We have one more win to go – for the three-peat.”
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
