Squad rides four-game winning streak entering playoffs
Plainview Kennedy played like a baseball team motivated to earn a high playoff seed on May 10. Or, in the words of the late football executive Al Davis, “Just win, baby!” The Hawks, battling East Meadow for the top spot in Nassau Conference AA-II, downed host Hicksville 7-2.
“We’ll be third seed if we win [the conference], seventh or eighth if we don’t,” said Plainview coach John Givargidze, referencing the May 12 baseball seeding meeting.
As it turned out, East Meadow won the conference with a 12-3 record while Plainview finished 11-4 (12-6 overall). The Hawks had taken two-of-three from the conference champs in the regular season.
“We had high expectations,” said Givargidze of this season. “Our number one and number two pitchers—Mark Faello and Tyler Marinaccio—are both sophomores. We’ve relied mostly on pitching and defense. They’ve been our strength, but we got the hits when we had to.”
Givargidze went on to note that he had five seniors who plan to play college baseball: Center fielder Jake Saltzman (Molloy), right fielder Mike Levine (RPI), left fielder Jake Supran and catcher Kyle Supran (both Ursinus, Pa.) and designated hitter Joe Galasso (Mount St. Mary).
Last Tuesday, the Hawks got a complete-game effort from Marinaccio, who yielded five hits.
(Photos by Frank Rizzo)
They wasted no time against Hicksville starter Robert Schulz, plating four runners in their first at bat. They came via RBI singles by Matt Butigian and Bryan Frazier, a sac fly by Brian Maloney, and a bloop single by Zach Stromberg. In the third Stromberg’s RBI and an error led to three more runs. Stromberg went 3-for-3.
On Wednesday, Plainview completed the sweep of the three-game series with a 3-1 victory over Hicksville. Justin Kimmel earned the win as Bryan Safer and Jake Supran blasted round-trippers in support.
