Elmont sweeps to 11th win

A little magic on the baseball diamond at Elmont High School this spring has captured the imagination of the community. After a three-game sweep of intra-district rival Sewanhaka last week, the Spartans have an 11-1 record in Nassau’s Countywide Conference, and are in good position to reach their goal of clinching a berth in the conference title game.

Junior Michael Braun and sophomore Malik Todd each went 3-for-4, and Braun pitched the final two innings in relief of starter and winner Alvaro Pimentel as Elmont took the final game of the series on April 26, 10-7. Todd was 9-for-11 in the series and slammed his first career home run.

Coach Robert Gates couldn’t be happier with the way his team played in the series. “We told them to approach each game like a playoff game, and they responded,” Gates said. “The energy is great and everyone is so positive. The support the players get from teammates, parents, and their fellow students is incredible. The players have bought in 100 percent. The program is coming along very well.”

The Spartans took the opening game of the series on April 24, 12-8. Todd, who is hitting over .400, was 4-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Catcher Kevin Peguero added two hits and three RBI for Elmont. Winning pitcher Ricardo Tross improved to 4-0. 

Runs were a little harder to come by in the middle game of the series the following day as Sewanhaka’s Tommy Genova and Elmont’s Danny Aguilo were matched up. Aguilo came into the game having thrown 22 consecutive innings without yielding an earned run. Todd and Braun were the offensive stars in a 6-3 Elmont win before an energetic home crowd.

The Indians ended Aguilo’s streak when they pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. The Spartans answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame to take the lead. Senior Enrique Sanchez had a two-run single in the inning.

Aquilo, who had a little difficulty finding his rhythm in the opening two innings, settled in nicely and retired the side in order in the top of the third. Todd extended the Elmont lead to 5-2 when he sent a Genova fastball sailing over the fence in left center. Aguilo (4-0) went the distance giving up four hits while striking out six. Braun, who is hitting over .400, was 8-for-12 for the series. The team’s catalyst has 20 stolen bases.

Alvaro Pimentel also has an average north of .400. Sebastian Pimentel has provided the Spartans with some power; hitting homers in back-to-back games to lead Elmont to a three-game sweep of Roosevelt.

Elmont doesn’t expect to fall short. “The goal is definitely to get to the title game,” Gates said. “We were in position last season, but needed a win in the last series and never got it. We’ve been talking about finishing since day one. These guys want a shot at a championship.”

The Spartans host Great Neck South (8-1) on Thursday at 4:15 pm.