Somers Moves to Finals of Easter Tournament with 6-0 Win over Lakeland

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On Friday April 18 in the Hudson Easter Tournament at Panas High School, Tyler Venturini spent a good deal of the day getting familiar with third base. The last time in the seventh inning when the sun was no help to the right fielder, the junior wasn’t looking for charity from the scorekeeper. “No, that was an era,” he assured. But there was no discrepancy in regards to the third inning smash that got the Tuskers started.

“That slider, it hung to the right,” he said. “I just went with it,” and the home run sparked Somers to the finals with a 6-0 victory over Lakeland

Striking out the side to start the game, the Panas starter was still no slouch, according to Venturini. (Anthony) Frobose is really good,” he said. “I can see him in the big leagues.”

Even so, Somers had no problem settling for Andrew Kapica. First he struck out his counterpart and then delivered with some pretty nifty reflexives. On a shot right back at him by Louie Vernagallo, the starter swung his arm behind his back and got a piece. He chased down to the third base side and fired to first for the out.

Just barely, Alex Hoffman did the rest. On Ramei Done’s tailing line drive to right, Hoffman tracked and made a running one handed catch.

However, the next helping hand came on the Somers base paths. When Lorenzo D’Ambrosio slapped a single to left, the fielder lost his footing and the Somers first baseman cruised into third. Unfortunately, he was called out on the appeal at second, and Frobose proceeded to notch two more strikeouts.

Not impressed, Kapica flashed his tool chest again. After opening the second with another strikeout, he showed that the previous back of the hand was no fluke. This time John Sibiski hit back to the box, and the wave of the pitcher’s backhand put another stop. Kapica chased down without his glove and got the out with plenty of time to spare.

Panas wasn’t done with Kapica either. Vinny Fusco hit a high bouncer to the right of the elephant and the pitcher skied high on his hind leg for the snare.

An easy out at first, Frobose seemed up to the duel after opening with two more strikeouts and putting Venturini in an 0-2 hole. The centerfielder remained locked in nonetheless, and working to a 3-2 count left the batter’s eyes wide open. “His slider,” said Venturini, “I was seeing it.”

A pitch later, no one else was, and the Tuskers led 1-0.

Kapica took the small cushion, added two more strikeouts and did so by playing with the full deck he always carries. “He mixes up speeds really well, and his slider goes well with his fastball,” said Venturini.

Frobose remained on point anyway. Three batters and three strikeouts, the pressure switched back to Kapica, and the Tusker answered with more change of pace. Three baffled batters sat down, and in tandem with Frobose, the crowd was definitely enjoying some pitcher’s delight.

Until they weren’t, Frobose lost control in the fifth. He opened with a walk to Ryan McAuley, and after Kapica lined a single and Thomas reached on an infield hit, Venturini and Hoffman drew on their patience. “We stuck to our approach and capitalized,” said Hoffman after consecutive free passes made it 3-0.

Kapica had no problem dealing with prosperity either. A fly ball and two groundouts put Somers six outs away but defense almost undid the masterpiece.

After Kapica got Frobose for the second strikeout of the sixth, Mikey Santoiemma was caught way off first, and a good throw would have ended the inning. Instead, Dwyer was high to first, and Lakeland had a runner 90 feet away.

Sorry, Kapica didn’t miss a beat. He dealt, and Hoffman made easy work of a fly ball to right.

Dwyer did get a chance to make amends, though. He led the seventh off with a walk, and Venturini’s sun ball sent the catcher home. Two more runs worth of insurance on the way, and no matter how the finals go, this team is down, according to Hoffman. “We got grit,” he concluded.