Dunkirk ends South's section title repeat bid
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville South's Frank Pieri catches a throw at first base just as Lewiston-Porter Mark Flatley reaches during the Billies' 6-3 Section VI Class A quarterfinal win on Tuesday, May 29. South went on to lose 13-4 against Dunkirk in a semifinal game played on Thursday, May 31. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Dunkirk may have been a 12th seed but they were the best team in the Section VI Class A playoffs. Just ask Williamsville South.

The Billies, seeded eighth, lost 13-4 to the Marauders in a semifinal home game on Thursday, May 31. Dunkirk went on to defeat West Seneca East, 3-2 on Saturday, June 2 for the section title.

"Out of the teams that were left, they were clearly the best," said South coach Dave Delisanti. "Their defense and pitching are good enough to win games and their hitting is outstanding."

Trailing 2-1 in the third inning, South allowed seven Dunkirk runs with two outs to go ahead 9-1. Dunkirk's third-inning onslaught started after a South defensive miscue. Tommy Roque was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and was caught in a rundown while teammate Matt Eaker was at bat. Roque eluded the pickoff attempt and made it back safely to first. After the play, Dunkirk's bats came alive, which included a two-run home run by Nick Rollins.

"It was a huge play that we needed to execute," said Delisanti of the rundown.

In the sixth, South, losing 11-1, scored three times. Pieri hit a ground ball that scored Alex Walkowski and Scott Steimer had a two-out base hit that plated Tom LiSacchi and Dan Lynch. Dunkirk added two runs in the seventh.

Walkowski scored in the first after a Pieri sacrifice fly.

South finished with six hits. Dunkirk had 14 hits but Pieri, Lynch, and Steimer combined for 13 strikeouts.

South played Dunkirk after defeating 16th-seed Lewiston-Porter, 6-3, in a quarterfinal game on Tuesday, May 29.

Lynch was outstanding on the mound (6.1 innings, five strikeouts, seven hits, three earned runs) and at the plate (1 for 4, three RBIs, scored a run).

"He was the MVP of the game and really took on a leadership role without saying it," said Delisanti.

Pieri pitched the final two-thirds of the seventh for the save.

Down 3-2, South tied the game in the fifth when Pieri hit a ground ball to second to score Walkowski. The Billies took the lead for good in the sixth when Lynch hit a bases-clearing double to drive in Nick Needham and Andy Esposito, pinch-running for Chris Couche and Steve McDermott. LiSacchi also scored on the play.

South's defense also stepped up. With a runner on first in the seventh, Lew-Port's Jared Flock hit a rocket to the 345-feet sign in right field that was caught by Needham.

"If he doesn't catch the ball, it's easily a triple and a run scores and changes the complexion of the last inning," said Delisanti.

Shane Hurley had a two-out base hit in the first inning, scoring LiSacchi and Lynch.

South finishes 10-10 and loses 11 seniors. Walkowski (second), Matt Minervini (infield), LiSacchi (left field), and Esposito (center field) are the only starters returning.

In league games, LiSacchi, a JV call-up, led the team with a .400 batting average. Hurley hit .342 with seven RBIs. Lynch hit .324 and scored seven runs. Walkowski (seven RBIs, nine runs) and Reed (seven runs) also contributed. Including playoffs, Pieri went 4-3, Lynch finished 4-1, and Steimer had a 1-1 record.

"The future looks bright," said Delisanti. "We'll get some kids from a good JV program. The keys for next year are pitching, hitting, and maturity."

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com