Baldwin rallies for first win

A four-run rally in the top of the seventh inning propelled Baldwin to a 9-5 victory over East Meadow in the Conference AA-I baseball opener for both teams on April 6.

The Bruins, who last spring dropped a best-of-three Class AA quarterfinal playoff series to the Jets, got run-scoring singles from Mike DeVito, Louie Aponte and Dan Capone to make a winner of relief pitcher Tim Ennis, who recorded the final four outs.

“It’s always nice to get that first one under your belt,” Baldwin coach Frank Esposito said. “We’re a pretty young team with a lot to prove, but we have a lot to be excited about. Our pitchers should keep us competitive against everyone.”

Jake Cleva led off the seventh with a single and advanced to second when Tom Kelleher walked. DeVito singled home Cleva with the eventual game-winning run and scored on Capone’s hit for an 8-5 lead. “It was nice to see the fight in them,” Esposito said. 

Pitcher/shortstop Nick LoBello, coming off an All-League campaign, went 5 2/3 innings and impressed at times. “Nick’s only a junior but he’s been with us since eighth grade and he’s a leader out there,” Esposito said. “His fastball has more pop and he’s always thrown a nice breaking ball.”

Senior Brian Haab, who was masterful in last year’s first-round playoff win at Syosset and earned All-Conference honors, had a solid first outing of 2010 but came up on the losing end of a 4-2 decision against East Meadow on April 7. “Brian has excellent control and a heck of a breaking ball,” Esposito said. “He keeps batters off-balance.”

Kelleher, a junior, is trying to secure the third spot in the rotation after working in relief a year ago. He also brings a strong arm to right field. In his first start, April 8 at home versus Mepham, he was on the winning side of an 8-5 decision. Ennis, a junior, is also a candidate to start but is more likely to spearhead the bullpen, Esposito said. DeVito, a junior, handles the catching duties and erased three East Meadow runners in the opening series.

Offensively, the Bruins boast one of the best hitters in Nassau in senior third baseman Eddie Murer. The four-year varsity performer and leadoff hitter led the team in batting average (.517), stolen bases (34) and runs (22) in 2009 on the way to picking up All-County hardware. “He makes defensive plays that shouldn’t be made and has unbelievable speed,” Esposito said. “If he walks or singles, he’s in scoring position. Even when teams pitch out, he steals second.”

Senior second baseman Anthony Salsone, an All-Conference choice, is Murer’s hit-and-run partner. Salsone, who batted .382, has great bat control and a reliable glove. Senior first baseman/outfielder Jeremy Vasquez bats fourth, while Aponte, a junior, came out swinging with seven hits in 10 at-bats against East Meadow pitching.