Walk-off win for Lawrence

Lawrence’s offense looked as if it was sleepwalking through most of Monday morning’s Countywide league baseball matchup against Elmont, registering just two hits through the game’s first six innings. But in the bottom of the seventh, down two runs, an internal alarm clock seemed to go off for the Golden Tornadoes. The home team saw six different batters reach base in the frame, and came away with a 4-3 come-from-behind victory, capped off by a bases loaded walk-off hit by Chris Rincon.

After giving his team seven strong innings on the mound, Rincon made sure his gutsy pitching performance was not wasted. The senior won the game with a bloop single into shallow right field that scored teammate Shane Kelly.

“I was just trying to deliver for my team. Get a single at least,” Rincon said. “When I saw it in the air I thought it might end up being a sac fly opportunity, but then it dropped. I got lucky I guess.”

Luck seemed to be on Lawrence’s side during its late rally. Senior Frank Tortorici led off the bottom of the seventh, by reaching on an infield single. Then senior Felix Taveras hit a fly ball to left-center, which found the outfield grass for a double. After pinch-hitter Kelly was awarded first base on a catcher’s interference call, sophomore Carlos Duran took advantage of his team’s good fortune, by coming through with a game-tying two-run single.

“We were able to find our balance at the plate, and stay back on a couple of at-bats,” Golden Tornadoes head coach Dennis Leonard said. “We also certainly were able to hit them where they ain’t. Sometimes that works too.”

The Lawrence offense came alive late, after the team’s bats were rather dormant for most of the game. The Golden Tornadoes struck out 13 times against the Spartans’ Eddie Peguro, putting pressure on Rincon to keep Elmont off the scoreboard. 

Rincon gave up a pair of runs in the first, but rebounded strongly. He did not allow a run from the second through sixth inning. 

“My curveball really helped me build up my confidence,” Rincon said. “That pitch was really working today, and that just helped my fastball be more effective.” 

“He was just purely dominant,” Leonard added, “He did a great job of keeping his composure throughout the day.”

It was Lawrence’s third straight victory. The comeback win gave a boost to the team’s playoff standing, and to its moral as well.

“This series is probably looming large for both teams,” Leonard said. “To be down in the dumps, to be very quiet early, and comeback. That’s probably as good as it gets right there.”

Perhaps no one was feeling better after the comeback win than Rincon. After an injury plagued 2015 season, games like Monday’s feel extra special for the first time walk-off hero.

“I didn’t really get a lot of at-bats last season, so it feels good to finally start hitting again,” Rincon said. “This was a great win, and we’re on the road to the playoffs.”