Jets ousted by Oceanside

Nick Iadevaio’s two-run double highlighted a seven-run fifth inning as No. 8 Oceanside came from behind to beat No. 9 East Meadow 9-6 in the opening round of the Nassau Class AA playoffs. Mike Connell went 3-for-4 and knocked in four runs for the Sailors.

East Meadow finished the season with a disappointing 5-14-1 record. Long-time coach Ken Sicoli didn’t have a difficult time summing up his team’s shortcomings. “We really didn’t score runs all season,” Sicoli said. “We got out to a nice lead, but didn’t capitalize on a few key opportunities. After the first inning, their guy did a nice job on the mound.”

The Jets couldn’t have asked for a better start to the game. They quickly loaded the bases against Oceanside southpaw Dan Frisch. With one out, Kyle Berger stepped up to the plate. The junior first baseman, and team’s leading hitter, blasted a drive to deep right field which easily cleared the fence for a grand slam.

Unfortunately for the Jets, it would be all the offense they could muster for the first six innings. Frisch, who would surrender only two hits over the next five innings, settled down and kept batters off balance for much of the day.

The Jets sent senior ace Max Schoenfeld, a seven-game winner in 2009, to the mound against the Sailors. Schoenfeld pitched a complete game shutout when the Jets blanked Oceanside, 1-0, in April. 

For the first four innings, Schoenfeld looked like he’d be tough to beat. Mixing his fastball with off speed pitches, the right hander had the Sailors frustrated and off balance. When Oceanside did threaten, Berger bailed out his pitcher with a couple of brilliant defensive plays.

The Jets took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth. Joe Totino, Chris Flynn and Mike Hertling all reached safely to load the bases for the Sailors. Joe Gallub singled to bring home Totino, setting the stage for Iadevaio. After Iadevaio put the Sailors ahead, Connell and Totino both followed with clutch two-RBI singles for Oceanside.

East Meadow threatened in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with no outs. But Erik Kondak was able to put out the fire. Oceanside turned a 5-4-3 double play, and then Kondak got Berger to pop out to second for the final out. 

Sicoli, whose teams have averaged 18 wins per season over his long career at East Meadow, looks to right the ship in 2011. “We have a lot of work to do to get better,” Sicoli said. “This season was a humbling one; a reality check. We’re going to do more as a team over the summer, and get this thing right. The guys played hard. They gave everything they had. We just never got the bats going.”