Seaford Baseball Sweeps Garden City to Reach Semifinals

A busy week for the Seaford High School baseball team came to a triumphant conclusion Friday.

The ninth-seeded Vikings (15-7-1) capped off four straight playoff victories including two must-win games with a come-from-behind 2-1 home victory against Garden City in game two of its best-of-three Nassau County Class A quarterfinal series. The two-game sweep over eighth-seeded Garden City (15-7) sends Seaford to its first semifinal series since 2008 Monday.

Seaford’s magical run on the diamond began last Saturday when the Vikings rallied from a 2-0 deficit to eke out a 3-2 win against 16th-seeded New Hyde Park in an opening round elimination game. Seaford was then victorious in another win-or-go home game at Division, 4-3, on Tuesday and in game one of its quarterfinal series at Garden City Wednesday, the Vikings came back from a late 6-4 deficit to post four runs in the sixth inning for an 8-6 victory.  

On Friday before a large crowd at the Vikings’ home field of Seaford Middle School, it was another come-from-behind effort. Trailing 1-0 against Garden City ace Cory Fallon entering the bottom of the sixth inning, the Vikings scratched across two runs. Danny Colantonio hit a clutch sacrifice fly that scored Austin Carozza with the winning run. An infield single by Steven Schaeffner scored Nick Fischetti with the tying run.

“Once we won those first two games we started to believe in ourselves big time,” said Fischetti, who had two hits in Friday’s win. “We have come together in big spots.”

Also stepping up large for Seaford was sophomore pitcher Lucas Hall, who after giving up a solo home run to Kyle Ritchie in the second inning, allowed just two hits in a complete-game effort. In the top of the seventh after giving up a  leadoff walk to Tom Zwicke, Hall snagged a line drive hit by Christian Capozzi and was able to double up the runner at first base. Hall then induced a pop up by Garden City captain Kyle Ritchie that clinched Seaford’s semifinal spot.

“You have to try and keep a positive attitude and know your team is going to score runs,” said Hall of his approach on the mound after the early homer.

Seaford is scheduled to begin its best-of-three semifinal series this Monday but the exact opponent will not be determined until the conclusion of all quarterfinal games. Seaford head coach Mike Milano said after an intense week beating four good teams he is happy his team will get the weekend to regroup before Monday.

“New Hyde Park, Division and two games against Garden City, that’s as tough as it gets,” Milano said. “To win all four is a testament to the way these guys play.”