Bethpage Steamrolls Over Lawrence, 19-2

By Scott P. Moore
Standard Staff Reporter

Lawrence shortstop/relief pitcher Joe Capobianco takes a swing at a pitch that ended up in the dirt. Capobianco ended up 1-for-3 on the day with a run scored and a scoreless inning pitched. Photo by Scott P. Moore.

The Bethpage Golden Eagles took it to the Lawrence Golden Tornadoes in the first game of a three game series on Tuesday afternoon, embarrassing the home team by a score of 19-2.

Bethpage took advantage of the cold and blustery weather that caused any ball in the air to wobble and change direction by lifting most hits up. Lawrence starting pitcher Mike Pappalardo had little stuff out on the mound, keeping most of his pitches high enough in the zone for the Bethpage hitters to take advantage of.

“It was a throwaway game,” said Lawrence Head Coach Dennis Leonard. “Credit Bethpage – they brought out the whoopin’ sticks and put it all over us.” Leonard said the team did not hit well, only scoring two runs through the seven innings, but did not blame the defense, which had to contend with a strong, blustering wind all day.

The Golden Eagles jumped all over Pappalardo’s pitches during the first and third innings, scoring three and four runs in those innings and giving Bethpage a 7-0 lead. During the fourth inning though, Bethpage broke the game wide open scoring their eighth run which led to Coach Leonard pulling Pappalardo. The bullpen brought little relief though, giving up another 10 runs in the inning before it was all said and done. Bethpage held a 18-0 lead after their third out.

“[Bethpage] brought their best out there,” said Leonard, who added the next two games would be different.

The Lawrence offense, down a man (without starting first baseman Anthony Montilli at the game due to personal reasons), had little to show but put together a few runs during the bottom half of the fourth with two runners coming in to pull within 18-2, but Bethpage tacked on another run in the fifth for a 19-2 lead, which ended up being the final score.

Coach Leonard said he still thinks Lawrence, standing at 2-9 with seven games left, still has a chance turn the season around. Sweeping the rest of the season’s games would improve the team to 9-9 and give them a shot at making the playoffs. Lawrence also lost the second game of the series at Bethpage 1-0 in a down-to-the-wire pitching duel.

“If this is going to happen, it’s got to happen [this week],” said Leonard. “You blink and suddenly you’re in the last week. If it’s one thing you could see – this game did not knock anyone off their heels. All the guys stayed lively and stayed in it and that’s exactly how you have to play a game like this.”

Lawrence will play three games against Plainedge next week at home on April 30th and May 3rd, starting at 4:30 p.m. and one away game on May 1st at 4:30 p.m.

Lawrence Box Score – 4/24