As the early innings came to a close on Tuesday, everything looked good for Riverhead, playing in front of a wholesome home crowd. Up against first-place Half Hollow Hills West, they tacked on a run an inning, played phenomenal defense, and after giving up a first-inning run, pitcher John Wendt put up a few scoreless innings.
Riverhead (7-6 League IV) was playing every bit like the ball club that just churned out four consecutive victories, including a sweep of Newfield.
Then came the ground ball to first, a horrible hop at third and a twisting fly ball to left.
The score was 4-1 entering the top of the sixth inning. Entering the the bottom half, Riverhead’s lead had disintegrated as the Colts racked up four runs as a result of a few key errors. Though the Blue Waves fought until the end, another three runs (two unearned) in the top of the seventh put the game away and Half Hollow Hills West (8-2 League IV) walked away winners, 8-6.
“Take one error away and we win the game,” head coach Rob Maccone said. “It’s tough to say but if we make the play in the sixth inning, they don’t score four runs, they score one and the score would have been just 4-2.”
There was more where that came from in the seventh. Errors ultimately lost them the game.
“If we make one of those plays in the seventh inning, they don’t score any,” Maccone said.
It was an uncharacteristic finish for a Blue Waves team that has been solid defensively all year long.
“We gave it away,” Maccone said. “We didn’t play the defense we were capable of playing and against a team like Hills West, when they get an opportunity because we give it to them they’re going to take advantage.”
Two games remain in the series and a three-game set against North Babylon follows. The Blue Waves need two wins to get into the playoffs.
“We’ve got to bounce back,” Maccone said. “It’s not the end all, be all. We come back tomorrow and play the game we’re capable of playing and we win tomorrow and then we clinch on Friday.”
Joe Cunningham, Nick Herzog and John Wendt all had an RBI single. Wendt had an bases-loaded RBI walk in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie it up at 5-5. Herzog finished the day 3-for-3.
Kenny Simco takes the hill tomorrow for the Blue Waves.
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Courtney Blasl
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