2 weeks Ago By Jacob Steinberg
Long Reach baseball has its home run celebration down pat. As a baseball soars over the fence, the Lightning collectively make their way out of the dugout and wait just past home plate. After the hitter touches home, the rest jump up into an excited mob of teammates and everyone collectively yells “Boom.
”That’s how Tuesday afternoon’s game against No. 13 Howard ended.RJ Samuels ripped a ball to left-center field that bounced off the top of the fence and over for a three-run home run, which sent the Lightning into euphoria and closed out an 11-1 win in six innings.
Samuels, who struck out in his previous two plate appearances, jogged around the bases before being greeted by a thunderous “Boom” and a bottled water shower. “I was hype. I was excited just to see my whole team there, they were all hype too,” Samuels said.
“They had all water, helmets and they all dapped me up. I have amazing teammates and I’m grateful for them every single day.”Samuels’ homer capped off a thunderous final three innings for the Lightning (8-4, 3-2 Sierra Division) where they scored seven runs.
Long Reach senior Seth Rosenfeld led that effort with three RBIs and a pair of extra-base hits, including a solo home run. Rosenfeld, a four-year starter, has emerged into a force in the lineup at the No. 2 spot.
The veteran hits in front of three-time first team All-County performer and NC State commit Aidan West. West and his talent garner a lot of notoriety, but Rosenfeld, a Washington & Jefferson College commit, is proving he’s also a force to be reckoned with.“I play with a chip on my shoulder that wants me to kill every ball that I see,” Rosenfeld said.
“I want to shut up anyone that’s ever disrespected me or put me down. Playing with Aidan, it’s been a blast. It helps me because they don’t really know me.
They know him and once they see what I can really do, they finally respect me. That’s all I wanted all four years.”Although Rosenfeld plays with that mindset, he constantly reminds his teammates to stay within themselves.
Rosenfeld also heeds his own advice, which allows him to remain settled at the plate. While Long Reach’s offense erupted in the late innings, senior starter Noah Murdock kept the Lions’ offense at bay throughout, allowing just one run in five innings of work.Murdock pitched out of tough situations early on as Howard had at least one runner on base in each of the first three innings.
Catcher Suhaan Stewart helped mitigate a first-inning threat as he threw out a pair of Lions trying to steal.Murdock delivered his most critical out in the top of the third with Long Reach holding a narrow 1-0 lead. Howard (6-3, 2-2 Sierra) had runners on second and third with No.
2 hitter Brennan Giangrasso at the plate and two outs. In a full count, Murdock painted the outside corner with a fastball to get out of the inning unscathed.“I love those at bats, I’m always competitive,” Murdock said.
“I’m always ready to get that last out to get out of the inning. Even in the long inning, with that one 14-pitch at-bat, I was ready. I was throwing strikes; I love those type of at-bats.
”Howard pitcher Brennan Giangrasso delivers to a Long Reach batter batter during a baseball game at Long Reach High School on Tuesday. (Brian Krista/Staff)Long Reach's Aidan West sends dirt flying as he slides head first into second, beating a tag by Howard's Dominic Alves during a baseball game at Long Reach High School on Tuesday. (Brian Krista/Staff)Long Reach's Logan Restivo rounds third on his way to scoring a run against Howard during a baseball game at Long Reach High School on Tuesday.
(Brian Krista/Staff)Long Reach's Jacob McFarling scores a run against Howard during Tuesday's game. (Brian Krista/Staff)Long Reach's Bobby Yates #3 safely steals second, beating a throw to Howard's Dominic Alves during a baseball game at Long Reach High School on Tuesday. (Brian Krista/Staff)Howard's JD Kim makes a play on an infield popup during a baseball game at Long Reach High School on Tuesday.
(Brian Krista/Staff)Long Reach's Seth Rosenfeld stumbles as he fails to tag out Howard's Dominic Alves on a play at third base during a baseball game at Long Reach High School on Tuesday. (Brian Krista/Staff)Howard's Dylan Abrahams slides safely into third with a triple during a baseball game at Long Reach High School on Tuesday. (Brian Krista/Staff)Long Reach pitcher Noah Murdock delivers to a Howard batter during a baseball game at Long Reach High School on Tuesday.
(Brian Krista/Staff)Howard's Dylan Abrahams #17 is tagged by Long Reach's Aidan West on a rundown at third base during a baseball game at Long Reach High School on Tuesday. (Brian Krista/Staff)Long Reach's Nathan Smith catches the ball before tagging out Howard's Brady Sawyer on a stolen base attempt during a baseball game at Long Reach High School on Tuesday. (Brian Krista/Staff)Long Reach's Aidan West celebrates hitting a double against Howard during a baseball game at Long Reach High School on Tuesday.
(Brian Krista/Staff)Show Caption1 of 12Howard pitcher Brennan Giangrasso delivers to a Long Reach batter batter during a baseball game at Long Reach High School on Tuesday. (Brian Krista/Staff)ExpandRelated ArticlesNo. 1 Spalding boys lacrosse soundly beats No.
3 Calvert Hall, 11-6Severn girls lacrosse battles for needed win against rival St. Mary’sHigh school sports roundup (April 22)The Aegis high school sports players of the week for April 14-20Reservoir baseball’s Matt Russell and Gavin Metrick form dominant rotationLong Reach’s strong late-inning offense is a testament to its approach. Coach Anthony Lyon and the Lightning have been working on bucket drills in recent practices, focusing on not swinging at pitches below the bucket.
It’s paid dividends as Long Reach has now won three consecutive games heading into the back half of the regular season.A veteran group, the Lightning are aiming to get past the regional semifinals, where they’ve been eliminated each of the past three years. To make it happen, Long Reach is preaching the value of collective energy.
“I’m really proud of them,” Lyon said. “This is our chance to kind of steamroll through here and get hot going into the playoffs. We’ve been trying to get past that second round.
They’re trying to get over the hump. It’s a special team. These are my guys.
These guys were freshmen my first year. So, this is a special season for me and for these guys. I just really enjoy watching them succeed because all the hard work that they’ve put in, you’re really starting to see the fruits of it.
”Ho- 000 001 – 1LR- 012 143 – 11WP: Noah Murdock; LP: Austin Proescher.2B: LR: Aidan West (2), Seth Rosenfeld, Noah Murdock. 3B: Ho: Dylan Abrahams; HR: LR: Seth Rosenfeld and RJ Samuels.
Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Steinberg at [email protected], 443-442-9445 and x.com/jacobstein23.
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