Massapequa and Connetquot Clash for Long Island Baseball Title
The stage is set for a thrilling showdown. The Massapequa Chiefs (18-8) will face the Connetquot Thunderbirds (23-4) Saturday night in a decisive game for the Long Island baseball championship, rekindling memories of their 2019 title clash, which Massapequa narrowly won 8-7.
“I remember being at that game vividly,” said Thunderbirds senior pitcher Dylan Wilkinson, who is slated to start at Farmingdale State College. “It was bases loaded, two outs… someone hit a ball to right field, and Massapequa made a diving catch.”
Wilkinson, alongside senior center fielder Andrew Amarando, aims to change the narrative this time around. “It was cool just watching it and wishing I could be on that stage, and now it’s time,” Amarando remarked, highlighting his impressive season with 23 stolen bases.
Connetquot’s journey to the LIC has been nothing short of exhilarating, marked by a grand town escort and parade upon their arrival at Middle Country Athletic Complex. The team secured six walk-off victories during the regular season but faced a setback against Sachem North in the double-elimination playoffs. They rebounded to win the finals 3-2.
“Nothing fazes this team,” stated Robert Burger, Connetquot’s manager since 2019. “They’ve been through this before, and now we’re ready to make the jump,” he added, referring to the mutual respect shared between the rival teams.
However, Massapequa is not to be underestimated. The Chiefs demonstrated resilience throughout their playoff run, overcoming a tough start in the Nassau title series against archrival Farmingdale after losing the first game 1-0 due to an extra-inning balk.
“We didn’t let it get in our heads,” junior pitcher Jack Scannapieco said, reflecting on their comeback in Game 2 with a decisive 10-4 victory. They followed up with a commanding 12-0 shutout to clinch the championship, reinforcing their determination ahead of this critical matchup.
“We’ve had four elimination games recently, so I think we’re ready,” junior shortstop John Neary noted, emphasizing his growth from batting ninth to leading off this season.
Manager Tom Sheedy aims to keep the focus grounded as Massapequa navigates recent challenges, including a state ruling regarding their Chiefs name. “It’s one game; it’s already big enough, you don’t need to build it up,” he said. “The kids know what’s at stake; they’re proud to represent the school and the community.”
In other local sports action, the Wantagh Warriors (15-4) will compete against Somers (16-3) of Westchester for the Class C boys lacrosse southeast final at Yorktown High School at 10 a.m. Saturday. Later in the day, Garden City (17-2) faces Chappaqua’s Horace Greely High School (16-3) at 5:30 p.m. for the boys Class B southeast final.
