Mineola 12U intramural opens with 7-6 win over E. Williston

The Island Now

The Mineola 12U intramural team opened their summer season on Monday, July 7 against the East Williston Wildcats at the Willis Avenue field complex in Mineola. 

East Williston jumped out to an early 3-0 lead due to some Mineola miscues and timely hitting. Mineola starting pitcher Kenny Solosky was strong, allowing only two hits with four strikeouts and a walk. 

Mineola began their push back when Zach Buongiovanni crushed a solo home run onto the LIRR tracks, just missing a passing train. Kenny Solosky, Jordan Sandler, Phil LaPierre, Kieran O’Gara, Patrick Solosky, Zach Buongiovanni (two RBIs) and Vin Othman all contributed an RBI in a balanced hitting attack. 

Andrew Geagher made a nice defensive play in the shortstop hole at short throwing out the runner by a step. Matt Pardo also made a nice grab off the center field wall, holding the East Williston player to a double. 

Jordan Sandler pitched strong relief, allowing no runs, and had five strikeouts. Winning pitcher Zach Buongiovanni finished the game allowing no hits and had two strikeouts.

The game ended in dramatic walk-off fashion. After surrendering a few runs to East Williston in the top of the sixth inning, knotting it at 6-6, the Mineola “boys of summer” were determined to plate a run and put a victory in the books. 

Christian Duarte started the attack with a single to center. Kenny Solosky hit a sharp single down the right field line advancing Duarte to third. After Kenny Solosky stole second to put runners on second and third, Jordan Sandler smashed a sharp single down the third base line, scoring Duarte for the walk-off 7-6 win.

The Mineola 12U Intramural baseball team is a developmental team that stresses fun and learning. Players are assigned to different positions and challenged to try pitching and catching. The players periodically go to the “batting cage” to develop their hitting skills.

The team has weekly clinics with guest instructors that develop their pitching, hitting and fielding skills. The clinics have featured a unique, “catcher’s station” at which an older travel team catcher works with the boys on this unique position. They also feature “guest instructors” that focus on a particular aspect of the game. 

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