Seaford Baseball Playoff Run Ended by Plainedge

One of the most successful Seaford baseball seasons in program history came to an end Tuesday but not before the Viking bats nearly produced a dramatic comeback.

After falling behind 5-0 in game two of its best-of-three Nassau County Class A series at Plainedge, ninth-seeded Seaford rallied to take a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning. However, Seaford’s neighbors from nearby North Massapequa recovered in the next two innings to produce the game’s final three runs in a 9-7 victory.

The loss ends Seaford’s first semifinal appearance since 2008 while 13th-seeded Plainedge will now have a chance to defend its Class A title next week in the county finals at Farmingdale State against third-seeded Clarke.

“We put ourselves in  a big hole early on the road,” said Seaford head coach Mike Milano referring to Plainedge taking a 5-0 lead after just two innings. “Even though we got back into it, they made the big play and we didn’t.”

Seaford was faced with a must-win situation Tuesday after falling in game one of the semifinal series at home Monday, 4-0. A win Tuesday would have forced a third and deciding game Thursday at Seaford. The Vikings advanced to the semifinal stage with a quarterfinal sweep against Garden City last week after winning two elimination games against New Hyde Park and Division.

Plainedge took the lead for good on a Jimmy Mendyk RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning off Seaford pitcher Nick Gunder. The Red Devils knotted the score at 7-7 earlier in the inning on a GianFranco Soriente run-scoring double.“

They are a heck of a team and deserve to be in the finals,” said Milano of Plainedge, which also swept Seaford in the 2011 Class A quarterfinals. “They are very well coached.”

Seaford comeback from a 5-0 deficit included a two-run homer from Chris Sano in the sixth inning that tied the score at 6-6. Danny Colantonio gave the Vikings 7-6 lead later in the inning with a sacrifice fly.

Despite falling just short of reaching Seaford’s baseball finals, Milano said he is proud of his team’s season and is excited for the future of the program. 

“Seaford baseball is back in a position where they know they can be in the running for a deep playoff run if not a county championship for the next couple years,” he said. “We’re going to reload and put a very tough team out there next year.”