Despite 2015 being a rebuilding season, May 8 was a terrific day for Hicksville. Sophomore Austin Mars threw a three-hit shutout with nine strikeouts while senior Andrew Purcell collected his 99th and 100th career hit in a 7-0 shutout of Bethpage.
“He had impeccable control,” said head coach Frank Ciaramitaro. “He used a four-seam fastball with consistency while overpowering many of the Bethpage hitters along with mixing in his curveball and knuckleball. He has a bright future with our program.”
Mars worked quickly and efficiently. He didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning. Until then, he had compiled five strikeouts during the first time through the lineup.
The Comets took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning primarily due to the lack of command by the starting pitcher. After Purcell reached on a catcher’s interference to begin the game, he walked three of the next four hitters, with one coming with the bases loaded.
After a quick top of the second, the Comets’ patience continued to pay off. After a bunt single to lead off the inning was erased on a pick off, Purcell came to the plate with a runner on and smacked a single past the first baseman for his historic hit.
“Getting 100 hits speaks volumes about his consistency and work ethic over his high school career,” said Ciaramitaro. “He has certainly left his mark here at HHS and has been a major contributor and asset to our program…coach Casale, coach Cardoza and I are very proud of his accomplishments,” he added.
Purcell came around to score on an RBI single, and the Comets broke it open with three more runs thanks to some wicked hops on the infield that led to a run and a wild pitch that scored another.
Shortstop Joe Sarni collected two hits for the Comets.
“Sarni has been a staple for us batting third in our lineup for a good portion of the season,” he said.
With the victory, Hicksville improved to 5-11 on the season.
With their core group of young players, the Comets figure to be right back in the mix next season—where they had been in 2012 through 2014.
Last season, they were defeated in the quarterfinals by Massaepqua, 2-0—they ultimately won the Nassau County Championship. In 2013, they were even better—finishing with a 17-4 record. The Comets entered the postseason as the No. 2 seed,
but lost two of three games to No. 7 Syosset in the quarterfinals. The deciding game took eight innings to be completed.
Fortunately, the Comets have been able to send some players on to the collegiate level where they have thrived. Currently, Ron Bauer and Kevin Cashman are two of those players continuing to play ball.
Time will tell whether Mars will be the next in the line of successful Hicksville graduates. All signs are indicating that he will be.
