After beating the Bayside A squad a week before – the team’s biggest win of the season – the Forest Hills Bombers tried to duplicate their quality performance against the undefeated DePhillip Athletic Club (DAC) Marksmen at Ulmer Street Field on Thursday, July 29. Though the Bombers never stopped fighting, the powerful Marksmen bats and pitching prowess was too much for Forest Hills as they lost, 14-5.
The Marksmen opened up the scoring during a two-out rally in the first with a bases clearing double by Anthony Sameala.
“I went down one-two in the count and I picked out a pitch on the outside corner. I knew I had to get to second base,” said Sameala.
The Bombers got right back in the game in the top of the second by stringing together singles coupled with smart base running. Juan Vela hit an RBI single through the left side to bring the bombers within one-run of tying the game at four.
The game was broken wide open in the bottom of the second as the Marksmen (7-0) put on a hitting clinic and batted around their line-up. They racked up a seven-run cushion for pitcher Anthony Zullo, who had four strikeouts and one earned run in three innings of work.
“My curveball was working today,” said Zullo. “I like to mix up my speeds.”
Key hits came from Mike Mendez, Alex Soriano and Matt “The Hitman” Walsh, who finished the day with four RBI.
The Bombers (3-6) never quit and tried to fight their way back into the game, scoring runs on key hits by Andrew Preus and Junior Arbaiza, but at the end of seven innings of a picture perfect day for baseball, the Marksmen had secured the victory. It was the second time the DAC Marksmen had defeated the Bombers this season.
Wins and losses aside, coaches Sean Crowley of the Bombers and John Zullo of the Marksmen kept their players motivated throughout the entire game.
“He’s one of a kind,” said Chris Yzatuire, who has played for five years under Zullo. “He always lifts our spirits.”
“I love my guys. There’s not one bad attitude on this team,” said Crowley while coaching third base.
While stepping up to the plate in the seventh inning, Bomber Junior Arbaiza proved he knew what was important about participating in sports.
“I always have fun, win or lose,” he said.
