Some sizzling storylines in New York high school baseball in April

The cold air mass that has lingered through the end of April has resulted in rather unspringlike weather. But that hasn't prevented plenty of players and teams from heating things up on baseball diamonds across New York state.

Here's a look at some of those success stories.

Patriots near perfect
Ward Melville (East Setauket) has been a model of consistency, rolling through its Section 11 schedule with 10 wins in 11 games while allowing just three runs in its current four-game win streak. That's what makes the score of Ward Melville's one loss all the more surprising. It came on April 15 to a Commack team with a record that is hovering around the .500 mark – and it came by the score of 12-1. The Cougars won it on a three-hitter by 5-foot-8, 170-pound junior righty Lorenzo Russo.

Ward Melville has been led by both the pitching and hitting of senior Joseph Flynn. Two seasons ago, Flynn had two homers, including a grand slam, and seven RBIs as the Patriots beat Connetquot to win the Suffolk Class A title for the first time.



Pitching in for Mamaroneck
As the ace of the Mamaroneck pitching staff, Kumar Nambiar has had some outstanding outings in helping the Tigers climb the state rankings.

But perhaps his most noteworthy one came against Sound Shore rival New Rochelle. Nambiar prevailed in a classic pitcher's duel with New Rochelle's Josiah Gray, 2-1 in nine innings, a game in which all the scoring occurred in the final frame.

Nambiar, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound senior righthander, went eight innings, allowing two hits and one walk and striking out 14. Gray, also a senior righty, went 8 1/3 innings, allowing both runs, while striking out 10 with no walks and giving up eight hits.

It's bottom's up for West Genesee
West Genesee (Camillus) showed its offensive depth in striking for four runs in the top of the seventh inning to stay unbeaten and defeating Syracuse 7-4. The Wildcats' bottom of the lineup – its No. 6 through No. 9 hitters -- started the rally with consecutive hits.

The Wildcats went ahead 4-3 in that big seventh inning on a double by Anthony Carrodeguas. Joey Vetter scored two runs and had two RBIs. Ryan Greco also scored two runs.

Dolgeville at home on the road
Dolgeville has enjoyed an unbeaten start despite the fact it had yet to play or practice on its home field through its first five games.The Blue Devils have exhibited both a powerful offense and strong pitching staff in their strong start.



Dolgeville struck for 14 runs in the final four innings in a wild 15-13 win over West Canada Valley before following that up with a 2-0 win over Waterville. Dan Fox, who tossed a four-hitter with 16 strikeouts against Waterville, is no stranger to success. He was a key member of the Dolgeville football team that won the Section 3 Class C title last fall.

Runs hard to come by out east
A matchup of two of the state's top-ranked Class A teams wound up being a well-played classic, as Smithtown East outlasted Suffolk County rival Half Hollow Hills East (Dix Hills) 1-0. The winning pitcher, senior lefthander Greg Maitles, allowed just one hit and two walks in 6 2/3 innings, and striking out 12. Marist College commit Brandon Bonomo, a 6-foot-4 senior righty, allowed just two hits and three walks in eight scoreless innings, striking out six. The Bulls won it on James Myers' walkoff single.

Multimedia news and sports editor and producer Joe Lombardi is director of media initiatives and managing editor of the DailyVoice.com, as well as the primary author of the most recent edition of "Lacrosse for Dummies." Follow Joe on Twitter @Joe_Lombardi or e-mail jlombardi@dailyvoice.com.