Calhoun one step from title

Senior Ryan Kass crushed a double to left field to bring home Dan Sullivan with the eventual winning run in the top of the eighth inning to give No. 2 Calhoun a 4-3 victory over No. 3 Carey on May 25, and a sweep of their best-of-three Nassau Class AA baseball semifinal series.

With the victory, the Colts advanced to the county championship series against No. 1 MacArthur. Senior Joe Saladino pitched two innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win.

Calhoun coach Joe Corea is proud of the team’s never-say-die approach. “We’ve been winning games like this all season long,” Corea said. “It seems like it’s been somebody different coming up big every game. The boys never feel like they’re out of it. It’s a great attitude to have.”

Calhoun, which improved to 18-5, needed a miracle comeback to win. Carey (14-10) appeared to have the game in hand, as junior ace John Daddino took the mound in the seventh with a 3-1 lead. The Colts scored just one unearned run through six innings.

Daddino started the seventh by striking out Sullivan. After Kass was hit by a pitch, the large crowd was treated to an epic match up between Daddino and Calhoun’s top hitter Jake Thomas. Daddino reached back and got a little extra on his fastball, striking out Thomas for the second out.

Robbie Rosen drove a double down the right field line to put two runners in scoring position for the Colts, leaving it to sophomore Frank Trimarco. It appeared that Daddino was set to celebrate a complete game victory, but a foul pop was dropped, and Calhoun had another life. On a 3-2 pitch, Trimarco drove the ball up the middle to bring home the tying runs.

With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Sullivan drove a bullet up the middle off reliever Kyle DeMeo. The ball was played into a triple, setting the stage for Kass. Saladino was brilliant in relief of Trimarco.  

In the series opener, the potent Calhoun offense, which one rival coach called the best offensive attack in the county in 10 years, put on a show in a 15-9 victory. Sullivan had two hits, including a grand slam home run, Thomas went 3-for-4 with four RBI, and Trimarco (2-for-3, three RBI) and fellow sophomore Zach Goldstein both had a pair of hits. Harry Smith and Mike Marino both homered for the Seahawks. Senior Mike Simon won the game in relief.

Corea is excited about facing MacArthur, which boasts one of the richest baseball traditions of any high school in the state. The Generals swept Calhoun 1-0 and 6-2 when the teams met in April. “They’re an outstanding team, so we’re going to have to play very well to win,” Corea said. “They likely have the top two pitchers in the county. They’re very tough to hit against. We’re a young team, but we’ve grown a great deal since April. We’re looking forward to it.”