Seaford Ends Garden City Baseball Season in Quarterfinals

A 2013 season for Garden City baseball that included an 12-game winning streak and knocking off previously unbeaten Wantagh in the playoffs came to a heartbreaking conclusion Friday.

With the eighth-seeded Trojans six outs from forcing a decisive third game in its best-of-three Class A quarterfinal series against Seaford, the Vikings were able to rally with two sixth inning runs against Garden City ace Cory Fallon. Seaford sophomore pitcher Lucas Hall then finished off his complete game two-hitter to send the Vikings to their first county semifinals since 2008 and end Garden City’s postseason run.

“We just didn’t generate offense,” said Garden City head coach Rich Smith. “We didn’t deliver when we had to and that is why we are folding up our uniforms today.” 

Seaford put themselves in position to clinch a semifinal spot after rallying for four sixth inning runs in an 8-6 victory at Garden City on Wednesday. A win by the Trojans Friday would have forced a third and deciding game Saturday morning in Garden City.

Seaford’s come-from-behind sixth inning rally was culminated with a a Danny Colantonio sacrifice fly that scored Austin Carozza with the winning run. An infield single by Steven Schaeffner scored Nick Fischetti with the tying run.

In the top of the seventh after giving up a leadoff walk to Tom Zwicke, Hall snagged a line drive hit by Christian Capozzi and was able to double up the runner at first base. Hall then induced a pop up by Garden City captain Kyle Ritchie that officially ended Garden City’s season. Ritchie had earlier given Garden City a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a solo home run over the left field fence.  

“You have to try and keep a positive attitude and know your team is going to score runs,” said Hall of his approach on the mound after giving up he early homer to Ritchie.  

“They had good at bats in that sixth inning to score those two runs,” Coach Smith said.

Garden City (15-7) reached the quarterfinal stage with a 4-0 first round upset of top-seeded Wantagh last Saturday. The Warriors finished the regular season had undefeated an swept Garden City in three games to close the regular season.

Seaford’s quarterfinals sweep of Garden City capped off a week that saw the Vikings go 4-0 including winning elimination games against New Hyde Park and Division.

“New Hyde Park, Division and two games against Garden City, that’s as tough as it gets,” said Seaford head coach Mike Milano. “To win all four is a testament to the way these guys play.”