Sag Harbor Little League's Minors Baseball All-Stars Fall to North Patchogue-Medford in District 36 Championship

For the first time in recent memory, and possibly ever, Sag Harbor Little League had one of its teams advance to the Division 36 Championships.

The Sag Harbor 10-and-under All-Stars squared off against North Patchogue-Medford on July 11 at that team’s Sipp Avenue Complex in Medford, with a large gathering of spectators from both sides. The first pitch was thrown out by 17-year-old and recent Patchogue-Medford graduate and pitcher Josh Knoth, who was the 33rd overall pick of the Milwaukee Brewers of the Major League Baseball draft just two days prior on July 9.

Last week’s contest was the second time North Patchogue-Medford and Sag Harbor played each other in a matter of days, after what amounted to a pitcher’s duel in the final game of pool play of the District 36 Tournament on July 8, with a scoreless game into the sixth and final inning. Sag Harbor ultimately lost, 5-2, but it proved it could play with North Patchogue-Medford.

After a scoreless first inning, North Patchogue-Medford scored five runs in the bottom of the second, with Sag Harbor getting out of the inning thanks to some strong relief pitching from Henry Gregor and assists in the field from shortstop Frank Sokowlowski and second baseman Van Chiarello. Sag Harbor got itself on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth, when Gregor’s fly ball to center field brought in Enzo Mazzeo, then the game in the sixth. After Jace Birdsall’s double scored Sokowlowski, Rowan Dodds drove in both Birdsall and Mazzeo on a triple to left field, then Dodds scored himself to tie the game, 5-5.

In the bottom of the sixth, the game appeared poised for extra innings after a double play, with Gregor catching a fly ball in center field, then throwing to first base to get the runner there. But with two outs and a 2-2 count, a North Patchogue-Medford batter hit a deep drive to right field and was able to score the game-winning run for the walk-off 6-5 victory.

After the game, Sag Harbor manager Ben Gregor had nothing but praise for his team, noting it could have gone either way, unfortunately the other team made one more play than his team did.

“It was a pleasure and honor to coach this group of boys. The success that this team had is a direct result of their ability to be coached and play as a true team. There was not one ego on this team. They all accepted their role and grew leaps and bounds over the three weeks.”

Sag Harbor-Bridgehampton Little League President Beth Gregor added, “we couldn’t be more proud of this team and all our All-Star teams in how they represented our community in this tournament. Not only did they continue to build on their skills within each game, but they supported one another until the end. The future looks real bright for baseball and softball in Sag Harbor and Bridgehampton.”

This year’s 10U All-Stars included: Jace Birdsall, Van Chiarello, Grady Craig, Rowan Dodds, Evan Goldstein, Henry Gregor, Ryder Hoffman, Reece Keller, Enzo Mazzeo, Frank Sokolowski, Brandon Yepez Cordova and J.B. Ziglar. The team was coached by Ben Gregor, Ike Birdsall and Mike Chiarello.