NCN Girls’ Basketball/Baseball Blog

Last season Somers’ Dan Zlotnick threw a three-hit shutout in a 3-0 win over Pelham in the Section 1 Class A title game, giving the Tuskers their second consecutive sectional title.

One year later he would further cement his legend.

The Tusker senior ace tossed a no-hitter, striking out 11 in a 3-0 victory over No. 1-seeded Lakeland in the Class A championship game, giving the No. 2-seeded Tuskers their third straight sectional title.

“It’s just unbelievable to win the section three times in a row,” said Zlotnick, who received MVP honors for the second straight year. “We just pulled it all together. We know how to win.”

In the biggest of games, the Marist-bound Zlotnick thrives. He didn’t allow one ball to leave the infield and only needed 86 pitches to finish off the Hornets.

After just tossing an 88-pitch complete-game shutout Monday in the quarterfinal win over Eastchester, the Tuskers were uncertain how much Zlotnick would be able to pitch in the championship game on two days rest.

But when Head Coach Joe Wootten told Zlotnick he was going to start, Zlotnick’s face lit up. He was ready to go.

“It’s the rare player who you have, who steps up in the pressure situations,” Wootten said. “We happen to have him on our team. He’s just an unbelievable, talented ballplayer.”

Lakeland Head Coach Dennis Robinson was impressed by Zlotnick, citing that his pitching pattern threw them off at the plate.

“He was legit,” said Robinson, who said Zlotnick was throwing 3-1 changeups and cutters. “That’s the best we’ve seen.”

Senior Zack Bird came through with the big hit, a three-RBI double with two outs and a 1-2 count in the top of the fifth inning. None other than Zlotnick (2 for 4, one run scored) got the inning started with a single to move senior Rob Raniolo to third with one out.

The Tuskers (18-4) receive a bye into the state regional finals and will play the winner of Section 4’s Maine Endwell and Section 9 (Red Hook or Cornwall) Tuesday at a site to be determined (either at Section 4 or 9).

I’ll have more later, including photos. Look for a photo slideshow on the game soon at ncnlocal.com

Somers’ Dan Zlotnick threw a no-hitter (yes, you read that right) and the Tuskers won their third straight Class A sectional title in what was one of the most (probably the most) dominating performances I’ve ever seen. He had the Hornets’ batters baffled all game long and they didn’t hit a ball out of the infield.

Zack Bird came through with the big-hit, a bases clearing double in the top of the fifth with two outs.

And in a shocker, Kennedy Catholic, last season’s Class B state champs, have been dethroned. They fell 8-4 to Dobbs Ferry.

I’ll be back with much, much more later.

Class A

No. 2 Somers at No. 1 Lakeland

The game we’ve all been waiting for. Lakeland will try to dethrone the two-time Class A sectional champions. The Tuskers most likely send Dan Zlotnick to the hill on two days rest after he shutout Eastchester in the quarterfinals Monday. Will he be able to go the whole way? I’m not sure. I was told he threw around 85 pitches Monday so asking him to go the distance could be a bit of a stretch.

Lakeland has also burned up its aces in Jon De Marte and Joe Arena. De Marte pitched Monday, but I’m guessing he comes back here. I’m betting you may see Lakeland’s Mike Schoen and Somers’ Henry Ruhlandt/Jack Pasalides in relief.

The Tuskers are coming off an emotional big-time comeback win over Beacon in the semifinals. That momentum will most certainly carry over. They’re a gritty team and they have players that have been here before.

Lakeland on the other hand doesn’t. The young squad, who only returns two starters, hasn’t experienced a big game like this. Last season they lost in the quarterfinals. So the experience edge goes to Somers.

If the game goes into the bullpen early on I think the edge goes to Somers because I feel they have a stronger lineup. But something tells me both Zlotnick and De Marte will go longer than many expect.

And with Zlotnick on the hill in a big game, it’s hard to bet against the Tuskers.

Prediction: Somers 4, Lakeland 2

Class B

No. 2 Dobbs Ferry at No. 1 Kennedy Catholic

Somehow Kennedy ace Nick Modico has only thrown two innings up to this point. But I think it was a smart move, although it almost came back to bite them against Pleasantville. Rich Lennox is basically like a 1A, and Kennedy Coach Bob Fletcher showed plenty of confidence in No. 3 Tom Baroni, who took down Rye Neck in the semifinals.

Now Modico is fresh for the finals. Translation: Dobbs is in trouble. The Ferry used up its ace Zach Avalos in the semis. No. 2 Sean LaFaye will get the call after going six innings Monday in their quarterfinal win over Albertus Magnus.

Will he be able to handle the stacked Kennedy lineup? I don’t think so. I actually think the Gaels lucked out by not having to face Nanuet’s Dan Diaz.

The game time has been moved up from 4:30 to 4 due to Kennedy’s prom. Why they scheduled the prom the same day as the sectional final is beyond me. Didn’t they expect to be here?

Kennedy will be partying the night away after they win their second straight sectional title.

Prediction: Kennedy 7, Dobbs Ferry 2

I thought yesterday’s dramatic quarterfinal game between Yorktown and Fox Lane couldn’t be topped for a while. It took less than 24 hours to prove me wrong.

Somers trailed 7-5 in the bottom of the eighth, but Kyle Woltersdorf blasted a two-run home run on a 1-2 pitch to tie it up with one out. Beacon would then proceed to load the bases and Henry Ruhlandt came through with the game-winning RBI.

In the top half of the eighth, a rocket shot got by Woltersdorf, allowing two runs to score. It was only fitting that he answered at the plate. The power-hitting first baseman was also 0 for 4 going into his final at bat with three fly outs.

And talk about resiliency. The Tuskers just find ways to win. Early on the bats were silent as they trailed 4-0 after an Anthony Cervone grand slam in the third inning. Many teams would have laid down against a solid Beacon team, but not Somers.

The offense woke up in the fifth inning with a two-RBI double off the bat of Kevin Watson after Dan Zlotnick led off the inning with a single, followed by a Chase Levi double. James O’Hare then brought Watson home with an RBI single to make it 4-3.

Beacon would tack on a run in the top of the sixth, but the Tuskers answered right back in the bottom of the inning. Chase Levi laced a shot to right field with Zlotnick on first base. The right fielder came up with the ball and fired into the infield, but the ball sailed out of play, allowing both Zlotnick and Levi to score, tieing the game at 5-5.

Levi started on the hill, and went six innings, before giving way to Ruhlandt. Outside of the third inning, Levi was solid.

But what impressed me today about Levi was how much he raked at the plate. He went 4 for 5. He’s a contact hitter with speed, which is just what you want out of the two slot.

Coach Joe Wootten made a great call by bringing in the hard throwing right-hander Ruhlandt in the seventh to face Cervone. Levi was tiring and Cervone seemed to have the southpaw’s number. The switch worked, Ruhlandt struck out Cervone on what was quite the ugly swing. Ruhlandt would go the rest of the way.

Now the Tuskers advance to the Class A sectional finals where they will travel to No. 1 Lakeland for an opportunity to become three-time sectional champs.

Other results:

Lakeland 6, Ardsley 1

Kennedy Catholic 9, Rye Neck 4

I’ll be back later with predictions and thoughts on the championship game.

We’re down to the nitty gritty now. Five North County teams were knocked off in the quarterfinals, and three are left standing. Here’s some quick predictions.

Class A

No. 1 Lakeland vs. No. 4 Ardsley

Rematch anyone? Ardsley pulled off a big upset over Lakeland in the quarterfinals last season in a 2-1 pitchers duel. Don’t think for a second this isn’t on the Hornets’ mind. Jon De Marte was a stud in Lakeland’s 4-2 quarterfinal win over Pearl River. He struck out 11  and socked two home runs. Joe Arena gets the ball in this one and he’s been just as unhittable as his sophomore counterpart. The Hornets get their revenge and move into the finals.

Prediction: Lakeland 3, Ardsley 2

No. 2 Somers vs. No. 6 Beacon

Dan Zlotnick went the distance in the Tuskers 5-0 quarterfinal win over Eastchester. Does Zlotnick really seem to turn up the dial come sectional time or what? I’m thinking Chase Levi gets the call here, although it could possibly be Henry Ruhlandt. Either way, I think the Tuskers pull this one out. Beacon isn’t nearly the same team without ace Anthony Cervone on the hill, who pitched in the win over Hen Hud. Then again, you could say the same about Somers and Zlotnick. But in the end, the team with the superior lineup and pitching depth takes it.

Prediction: Somers 7, Beacon 4

Class B

No. 1 Kennedy Catholic vs. No. 4 Rye Neck

I was shocked when I was told that Pleasantville gave the Gaels a scare. Kennedy trailed heading into their final two at bats. But the bats responded, capped off by a walkoff single by Mark Palmer. I don’t think the Gaels let something like this happen again. Not in the near future at least. And without Ryan Pennell on the hill, let’s face it, Rye Neck is just a middle of the road team.

Prediction: Kennedy 8, Rye Neck 2

Four hours, 11 innings, two coaches tirades, six pieces of paper, and 24 walks later, this one is finally in the books.

Hands down, it had to be one of the wildest, most exciting games I’ve ever seen.

It’s one of those games where it almost feels like both teams won the game, but obviously only one team can move on. Yorktown has improved dramatically, and that’s an understatement. From the first time I saw them back in the Sorrentino Game against Lakeland to now, is like night and day. They look like a completely new team. Plenty of credit has to be given to Head Coach Sean Kennedy for turning this team into a contender.

Anyway, I’ll be back later with more thoughts. Have to get some writing done.

Here’s the rest of the results from quite a day of baseball. I’ll throw up semifinal predictions next.

Class AA

Mamaroneck 9, John Jay 0

Arlington 12, Carmel 4

Ketcham 5, North Rockland 2

Class A

Lakeland 4, Pearl River 2

Somers 5, Eastchester 0

Beacon 8, Hen Hud 6

Ardsley 6, Brewster 5

Class B

Kennedy 5, Pleasantville 4 (I heard Kennedy trailed late in this one and won on a Mark Palmer walkoff hit)

Nanuet 5, Briarcliff 1

Rye Neck 3, Hastings 0

Dobbs Ferry 14, Albertus Magnus 0