Mineola Defeats West Hemsptead 7-3

The Mineola Minors All-Star team went up against West Hempstead in the first game of their District 29 Tournament at Elmont Road Park on Saturday, July 6.

West Hempstead struck first, putting three runs on the board in the first two innings. Mineola threatened with a long fly ball to right by Brendan Maloney in the first, but it was run down and caught. JohnCarlo Clancy walked in the second and Jack Clarke singled him to third, but again the defense held Mineola scoreless.

In the third, Mineola came back with hits by Joseph Calabro, T.J. Winters, Tom McKeever and Matt Manteria in succession. After Clancy reached first in the same frame, Nick Conte continued the rally with a single and Mineola was ahead for good.

JohnCarlo pitched four strong innings and was helped in the fourth when a sly tag play by Nicky Franzini erased a West Hempstead runner at second base. Tom McKeever pitched the last two innings, allowing no more scoring by West Hempstead while more hits from Franzini, Anthony Fabrico, Mike Cardillo, McKeever and Manteria added to the tally in the fourth and fifth innings.

Things got tense with two outs in the last frame when a West Hempstead batter drove a pitch to right. James Pastoressa, who had just replaced Brendan Maloney in right as Sal Massa went into left, tried to make the catch, but it fell. Scooped up by Winters in center, the runner was nailed at third as Jack Clarke applied the tag for the final out.