Slow start for South Side baseball

The temperature soared to a record-high 90 on April 7, but Bethpage pitcher Kyle Tracy made sure South Side’s bats stayed cold.

Tracy allowed just three hits, one an Andrew Talbot home run, and struck out 12 to lead the Golden Eagles to a 5-2 home victory in a Conference A-I baseball game. Joey Schulteis had a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth and Rob Cafeiro picked up his second save in as many days for Bethpage, which won the series opener at Barasch Field, 2-1. 

“They had good performances by their pitchers, but we didn’t make the necessary adjustments,” Cyclones coach Keith Lessuk said. “I’m not overly concerned about our offense. We have a solid lineup and there’s no reason to get down on ourselves after two games.”

Kevin Mulcahy and Ben Akerman pitched well in defeat, yielding only three earned runs between them. Mulcahy, who worked predominantly in relief during South Side’s 14-win 2009 campaign, started the series opener and was saddled with the loss when Anthony Imparato drove in the decisive run in the top of the sixth. Akerman, meanwhile, was the victim of sloppy defense in the second game. “The first game was a case of them getting one more clutch hit than we did,” Lessuk said. “In the game Ben pitched, we just didn’t make plays behind him. We made five errors.”

With seniors Mulcahy, Akerman and Brett Cohen comprising the starting staff, the Cyclones are well-equipped to hold their own against the best competition the county has to offer. The schedule calls for two-game sets against each of nine conference rivals, including defending Long Island Class A champion Clarke. “We’re playing a playoff-caliber team every time we step on the field,” Lessuk said.

Cohen, a returning All-Conference selection, won four games a year ago and compiled a 1.99 ERA with 36 strikeouts. Akerman was a starter last spring as well. “We’re strong in the pitching department with three experienced seniors,” Lessuk said. “They all throw well.”

Working with an All-County catcher like senior Max Rosing doesn’t hurt, either. Rosing, who drove in South Side’s lone run in the first loss to Bethpage with a triple, is rock-solid defensively and swings a powerful bat. “Max’s experience with the pitchers is an advantage,” Lessuk said. “He has a good grasp of the game and calls a portion of the pitches.”

Outfield is expected to be another area of strength, but the group got off to a slow start in the Bethpage series from a defensive standpoint. Senior Tim Coleman returned to center field, senior Will Bermel is a third-year starter in right, and junior James Howard has gotten the nod in left. In the infield, the Cyclones feature senior Tim Leck at second base, Talbot, a junior, at shortstop, junior Joe Geraci at third, and either Mulcahy or freshman Lou Matarazzo at first.

South Side (0-4) travels to New Hyde Park on Thursday. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.