League rival Hendrick Hudson could still tie
By Skip Pearlman
The Beacon High School baseball team clinched at least a share of the league title this week with an 11-1 win Wednesday (May 1) over Peekskill, two days after beating Our Lady of Lourdes, 3-2, in a nail-biter .
Hendrick Hudson could still catch the Bulldogs (10-5-1; 5-1 league) to force a shared title.
Against Peekskill, Ty Long (3-1) picked up the win for Beacon, limiting Peekskill to one run on two hits in three innings of work. At the plate, Joe DeCandia doubled and drove in a run, and Andrew Schneider and Sean Lise each contributed an RBI.
“We knew we had to put pressure on them on the bases, and we did that right away,” said Manager Bob Atwell. “Ty threw strikes, he challenged hitters and pitched a good game. And we played errorless ball.”
Atwell said that along with the league title, his squad earned state academic honors.
“It’s always one of our goals to win the league — and to make the All-State Academic Team,” he said. “We’re proud of both.”
Against Lourdes, Matt Monzoeillo picked up the win, pitching six and two-thirds innings and striking out 10. Monzoeillo also drove in a run with a bunt single.
DeCandia picked up his first save of the season, and Besim Dika had a double and an RBI.
The previous week, Beacon defeated Peekskill, 14–3. Long pitched a complete game, scattering two hits and striking out six.
The Bulldogs have four games left before the playoffs. “We’ve won four in a row, so I think we’ve been coming around a bit,” Atwell said. “Our pitching has been dynamite all year. We’re getting better defense, and our offense is underrated. We went through a tough stretch earlier, so I hope we’re playing our best at the right time.”
Beacon is scheduled to play Yonkers today (May 3) at 7 p.m. at Dutchess Stadium and will honor its seniors. The team will take on Lakeland at 4 p.m. on May 6, also at Dutchess Stadium.
