Pierson Baseball Struggles, Drops Series At Port Jefferson

It’s back to the basics for Pierson baseball after the team gave up the most runs it has all season in a 17-2 defeat at the hands of Port Jefferson Saturday.

“At times we were lazy, unfocused and undisciplined. It was extremely disappointing for a team with so much talent and potential,” head coach Jonathan Schwartz said. “The large deficit was a combination of those things, and the decision I made to pull out some starters. This week we will get back to fundamentals, focus on the little things and make sure we come to the field every day mentally focused and prepared to get better.”

It was the Whalers’ most lopsided loss of the year, having been on the winning side of several uneven victories earlier in the season, like a 20-0 win over Shelter Island April 1, 22-3 win over Greenport April 8 and 26-7 win over Southold April 13. The team also gave up the series, having topped the Royals in the first contest, 3-0, at home on April 25, before falling 4-0 on the road April 26.

Pierson (10-6 overall, 10-5 in League VIII) was in a 6-1 hole by the top of the third on Saturday but made the necessary plays to keep hope alive. The Whalers threatened in the top of the fourth with freshman Max Krotman on third after a walk, a steal of second and a Royals balk, but Charles Schaefer was caught attempting to steal second after his own walk to end the inning.

“Max has been excellent. Since the first game I put him into the lineup he has impressed,” Schwartz said, also touting the play of freshmen Lucas Iulo and Paul Rosel, who pitched in relief April 30. “I have liked how the younger players have stepped right into the fire — ready to contribute — and how the older guys have accepted the younger players with open arms. It’s always nice to see, and necessary for this combination of players to work.”

But things went from bad to worse for Pierson when multiple errors led to an 11-run fifth inning for Port Jeff. Overthrows to first, attempts to catch Royals stealing bases and walks led to the bases loaded with no outs. A walk scored the first run of the inning, a ball over Krotman’s head at centerfield drove in two more and a bases-clearing double on a hit to left center gave Port Jeff an 11-1 advantage. The Royals led 17-1 by the end of the inning.

“The team is a very close group of kids who are still learning what it means to buy into the ‘team concept,’” Schwartz said, “with the understanding that the road to greatness is not easy, nor given out for simply showing up.”

With the top of the order up and two outs in the top of the sixth, Krotman doubled to left and stole third before senior Dan Labrozzi brought him in with a single to center.

“Going forward, we really need to polish up our game to go into the playoffs having played the game the right way — with maximum effort, especially defensively,” Schwartz said.

With the experience that still remains on this team, the head coach said his Whalers should be able to rebound from the loss. Pierson hosts Southampton in a nonleague contest on May 7 at 4 p.m. at Mashashimuet Park, and caps off the season with a series against Bridgehampton/Ross, which begins at home May 10 at 4:30 p.m.

“We have enough veteran guys to turn the page and leave the last games behind us,” Schwartz said. “If we pitch and play defense like we know we can, anything is possible this season.”