15 Photos
The East Hampton Minors All-Stars race to their dugout just prior to their game on July 6. DREW BUDD
The East Hampton All-Stars are pumped up after taking a five-run lead to start last week's game. DREW BUDD
Scott Abran started on the mound for East Hampton on July 6 against Riverhead. DREW BUDD
Scott Abran takes a cut at a pitch. DREW BUDD
East Hampton's second baseman is ready in the field. DREW BUDD
Southampton Breaker Connor Schildt was a volunteer umpire at last week's game. DREW BUDD
East Hampton's Jackson Cook runs down a Riverhead player. DREW BUDD
East Hampton's Jackson Cook runs down a Riverhead player. DREW BUDD
Players gather in the infield during a pitching change. DREW BUDD
It's Skittles time! DREW BUDD
Scott Abran talks with his son, also named Scott, after he allowed just one run through four innings, putting his team in a good position to win the game. DREW BUDD
on the mound. DREW BUDD
East Hampton's Alex Bobeck rounds second base. DREW BUDD
East Hampton's second baseman Owen Diamond throws to first base for an out. DREW BUDD
East Hampton's Alex Bobeck takes over on the mound for starting pitcher Scotty Abran. DREW BUDD
After outlasting Riverhead, 7-5, in a nine-inning affair on July 6, it seemed as though a district title was certainly in the cards for the East Hampton Minors baseball All-Stars. But North Shore Little League had another idea.
The East Hampton 8-, 9-, and 10-year-old All-Stars stood toe-to-toe with the powerhouse that North Shore is this past Sunday in the District 36 Championship, but ultimately lost, 6-3, at North Shore’s home complex in Rocky Point. East Hampton’s only losses throughout the whole tournament came to the same North Shore National team, the first being an 8-2 loss on June 28 in pool play, then this past Sunday in the district final.
“North Shore went undefeated throughout the tournament. They were the only team we lost to previously, but it was a well played game,” East Hampton manager Chris Carney said. “We were right there — we couldn’t quite close it out. But I’m really proud of the boys.”
East Hampton led North Shore on Sunday, 3-2, after three innings. Casey Carney had gotten things going with a triple in the second and he was brought in by Scotty Abran, who started on the mound. Jackson Cook was the only other pitcher used in the game by East Hampton. Chris Carney said Kix Bock and Alex Bobeck also played well on Sunday.
East Hampton and Riverhead, last year’s district champion, battled it out at Stotzky Park on July 6 to see which team would advance to the district championship. East Hampton led, 5-0, after the first inning, and even when Riverhead scratched across a run in the middle of the game, it seemed East Hampton had the game in hand. But Riverhead scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game and send it into extra innings.
After two more scoreless innings, the international tiebreaker came into effect, so teams started the following innings with a runner on second base. East Hampton took full advantage, scoring a pair of runs to take a 7-5 lead in the top of the ninth inning, but Riverhead had its final chance to respond. With its runner on second base, Riverhead sent three balls into the outfield, all of which were caught, as East Hampton held onto the 7-5 victory.
Chris Carney called the victory “epic.”
“After they had that big sixth inning where they came back and tied it, they had all of the momentum going into the seventh inning. But I’m really proud of the boys and how they weathered that storm, putting up two scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth before taking the lead in the ninth, and then holding onto the win.”
Scotty Abran, William Babinski, Ryan Balnis, James Balnis, Alex Bobeck, Kix Bock, Walker Bohnsack, Casey Carney, Conner Cashin, Jackson Cook, Owen Diamond, Baron Hildreth, Griffin Page and Dylane Sheades all made up this year’s Minors baseball team. Chris Carney was the manager of the team assisted by Scott Abran and Chris Diamond.
