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October 10, 2022 - L'Abbate, Balkan, Colavita & Contini, L.L.P. wins 2022 Long Island Lawyers' Softball League Championship
Congratulations to our hard working team on this well-earned conclusion to an epic season!
Following a two-month hiatus, L’Abbate Balkan defeated rival Jackson Lewis 17-16, clinching its first championship since joining the league. Aside from just one regular-season loss, L’Abbate had a perfect season, capped by an exciting 9th inning walk-off win on a long awaited chilly October evening at Plainview-Old Bethpage Community Park.
L’Abbate was rusty early. Jackson Lewis jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning and added single runs in each of the next three. L’Abbate did not score until the bottom of the third, on a base hit by outfielder Brian Mitchell. In the bottom of the fourth inning, L’Abbate inched closer on an RBI triple. After four innings, Jackson Lewis led 5-2.
Jackson Lewis would tack on three runs in the top of the fifth and open their lead to 8-2. But L’Abbate would not let the game get away, responding with four runs in the bottom of the fifth, pitching a shutout in the top of the sixth, and tying the game at 8-8 with a two-run bottom of the sixth.
With its season on the line, Jackson Lewis scored four more runs in the top of the seventh, and held L’Abbate to just two runs in the bottom of the inning. Trailing 12-10 after seven innings, L’Abbate held Jackson Lewis scoreless in the top of the eighth and picked up a run in the bottom of the inning. Going to the ninth, Jackson Lewis held a tenuous 12-11 lead.
L’Abbate got into trouble in the top of the ninth, surrendering a slew of hits and making some uncharacteristic overthrows in the field. Jackson Lewis scored four runs in the inning. L’Abbate trailed 16-11 with just three outs remaining.
Then came the bottom of the ninth. L’Abbate opened the inning with four straight hits. After a groundball out, John McKenna delivered a key base hit, and, in the most important at-bat of the season, Jillian Smith drew a walk. With Jackson Lewis on the ropes, LBCC team member Ryan Blumenthal blasted a towering shot down the right field line, scoring Stacey Sacket (pinch-running for Jillian) with the winning run.
L’Abbate’s ninth-inning comeback was nothing short of epic, but it was not surprising. The lineup was strong for most of the night, and there were no easy outs. The good guys prevailed when it really mattered.
Tonight’s crowd was by far L’Abbate’s largest and included Denise Mitchell (who has stuck with the team through thick and thin), Pat Schneider, Ilene Samuel, Meredith Belkin, and many Sackets.
Thank you to all of the partners and associates whose participation contributed to our winning team this season, and of course a big thank you to our die-hard LBC&C fans for their exuberant support at every game!
