Golden Flashes Honor Vets, Come From Behind in Extras

Ben Gudesblatt's swinging bunt in the bottom of the eighth scored Mike Rahn as the Golden Flashes won a wild extra-inning affair over East Hampton on "Support Our Troops Day" Wednesday afternoon at "The Swamp" at , 8-7.

With the corner infielders playing extremely shallow, Rahn, who tied the game at seven with a two-run double just a few moments before, beat the relay throw to the plate to give Sayville (9-2 in League VI, 10-2 overall) the victory.

"I got a curveball and just sat back and hit it to right-center," said Rahn. "I was pretty amped up, it was a big game with the troops today and everything, we were really glad to get the win."

The junior shortstop went 3-for-4 on the day with three RBI, including a home run in the bottom of the sixth inning that briefly gave Sayville a 5-4 lead.

"Rahn couldn’t be more clutch right now," said Sayville head coach Ryan Cox. "He’s starting to swing the bat much better lately over the last couple of games. He was absolutely humongous today. He was Mr. Clutch today, there’s no question."

Before the game, the Sayville baseball team, along with the high school, honored local Veterans with a presentation at home plate. Both teams also wore camouflage styled jerseys in their honor.

Ryan Aloise started the game and battled through four and two-thirds innings. He allowed four runs on four hits and struck out seven, but avoided further damage in the fourth inning after allowing a three-run home run to Deilyn Guzman. With one out and the go-ahead run on third, Aloise struck out the next two batters to escape the jam.

"He’s our bulldog and that’s why he’s out there," said Cox. "That’s why we chose him for this game."

Aloise also worked out of trouble in the third, picking off a runner at third base with no outs. He then got a pop up and a strike out to end the frame.

Sayville picked off two East Hampton runners, and first baseman Kyle Van Duyne made a stellar play off a sacrifice bunt attempt, forcing a runner at third for the first out of the sixth inning.

"Pickoffs are something we work on all the time," said Cox. "I tell the kids all the time, we might use this once the whole season, but it might get us an out in a key situation. I’ve got to be real happy with my defense right there. That was a great job. Those are key situations and they’re getting the job done."

Sayville traded leads with the Bonackers (4-4, 5-5) early on. Michael Abreu's first-inning home run opened the scoring for East Hampton. Abreu, however, suffered an apparent shoulder injury laying out for a sinking line drive off the bat of Van Duyne in the bottom of the third. Two runners scored on the play, which pushed Sayville's lead to 4-1.

Nick Petrella, who went 3-for-3 on the day, got the Golden Flashes on the board with a two-run home run to the deepest part of the ballpark in left center field in the bottom of the second inning.

Matt Seeba relieved Aloise in the fifth inning and wiggled out of a jam thanks to a great diving catch by Rich Millwater in left field. He worked a scoreless sixth before giving up the tying run in the top of the seventh. Sophomore Matt Hess came on for Eric McNamara after he allowed two runs in the top of the eighth and held the deficit at 7-5, leaving a chance for the comeback.