On Friday, the baseball team notched its first varsity win in three years (they were a JV team last season) in an exciting 11-9 victory over Southold. It was a gratifying win not only because it ended their eight-game losing streak to start the season, but because it came against a quality opponent who had defeated them 22-5 over the previous two days.

Donnie Liotine and Ryan Haas were masterful on the mound and in the batter’s box for the Brook. Liotine notched 4 RBIs, including a 3-run home run in the 4th inning, and recorded the save while Haas was the winning pitcher alongside going 4-for-5 at the plate with 3 RBIs. Matt Schneider, a late addition to the lineup, had the most peculiar statistic of the day as he reached base five times without the benefit of a hit, walking three times, being hit by a pitch, and reaching on an error. He came around to score three big runs for the Bears.

It was the largest output of the season for an offense that scored 26 combined runs in their previous eight games (3.25 runs per game), but it remained to be seen whether it would be enough to hold off the Settlers who loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 7th. With the potential first win of the season hanging in the balance, Liotine struck out the last two batters to end the threat and give the Bears a well deserved triumph.

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