Dua Lipa claims that one kiss is all it takes. Rye Baseball proved on Sunday night that two hits is all it takes.
The #1 Garnets forged a 7th-inning comeback to clinch their second straight sectional championship on Sunday, May 31, scoring four times to beat #2 Mahopac 5-2. Playing in Class AA – as compared to last year in Class A – did not bother Rye, who have successfully defended their title and extended their season.
Jackson Pineault delivered the clutch hit with two outs in the final inning, clearing the bases with a three-run double to left-center field. Prior to his at-bat, Michael Talbott reached on an error, Nolan Hutson walked, Jamie Morris received an intentional free pass, and Lucas London was hit by a pitch. London tied the game with his RBI HBP before Pineault put Rye in front for good. All of those events happened with two outs. Rye truly came back from the dead to steal victory when their win probability dipped towards 1%.
The Garnets first scored in the third inning thanks to an RBI double from Morris. His and Pineault’s doubles were the only two hits of the game for Rye. They collectively drove in four runs. That is textbook opportunism.
London earned the win in relief on the mound, striking out three and allowing just one walk in 1.2 innings. Clayton McCarthy limited the damage in his 5.1 inning outing, working around six walks and three hits and ceding only two runs. Together, Rye and Mahopac batters combined for just five hits and 15 walks.
Prior to this winner-take-all contest, the Wolf Pac defeated Rye 12-0 (5 innings) on Saturday to push the championship round to Sunday. The Garnets recorded just one run on two hits across their first 11 innings of the finals before Pineault’s heroics.
For as good as Rye has been this season (19-6 record, 4-1 postseason), they have not flourished in games immediately following a loss this season, with a 2-3 record in the regular season in those circumstances. They completely erased that narrative with their remarkable victory in the sectional championship.
The win extends Rye’s season to the regional tournament. Last year, the Garnets won their region, although the task is a bit taller now in Class AA.
