Port Jefferson Baseball, Softball Still on Top

Both the girls softball and boys baseball teams win and retain their positions at the top of their respective divisions.

Baseball Team Stays Atop Standings

The Royals baseball team continued its dominance over their League VIII opponents last week, winning a two game series against Stony Brook in convincing fashion. Port Jefferson, which currently sits in first place in Suffolk’s League VIII, defeated the Stony Brook Bears 18-8 on April 18 in an away game and completed the two-game sweep with a 14-0 shutout victory at the Royals home field on April 20.

Port Jefferson, which recently began the portion of its non-league schedule, is currently 7-2 in league play and will clinch a playoff spot with just one more win. In their 18-8 victory over the Bears, the Royals offense was powered by Drew Crovello, a senior, who had two hits, walked three times and drove in a career-high six RBI. Crovello also scored three runs and infielder Billy Crowe continued to hit the ball well, going 3-for-5, driving home three runs and scoring four runs.

Port Jefferson’s offensive eruption was more than enough support for freshman starting pitcher Tyler D’Accurdo, who picked up the first win of his varsity career. The Royals hitters didn’t let up in the second game of the Stony Brook series, with first baseman Alex Ruback belting a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning in what would later prove to be the game-winning hit.

Ruback (four RBI), Crowe (two runs scored) and starting pitcher Joey Booker (three RBI) were the game’s hitting stars as each went 3-for-4 at the plate, while Booker was equally impressive on the mound, hurling a complete game shutout with eight strikeouts mixed in. Booker only allowed four hits in recording his second complete game shutout of the season.

This week, Port Jeff resumes its League VIII schedule when it plays a three-game series with Southold (4-6 in League VIII), beginning on May 3 at home, May 4 at Southold and May 6 back at the Royals home field. All games begin at 4:30 p.m.

Softball Team Has Comfortable Lead

 The Lady Royals may not have played a League VIII game since April 15 due to a handful of recent non-league crossover games on their schedule, but rest assured, their lead on first place in the League VII standings hasn’t diminished either.

Port Jefferson, currently 8-2 in league play, leads second place Pierson/Bridgehampton (6-4) by two full games and although they won’t get back to playing league games until May 10 (at Shelter Island), the Lady Royals are staying sharp by playing some top level non-league opponents.

Port Jeff lost a close 4-2 game to powerhouse League VII rival Mt. Sinai (8-1) on April 26 in a game that saw Royals batter Molly Gibson hit a home run off of Lady Mustangs standout starting pitcher Holly Drasser. The game was tied 2-2 until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Mt. Sinai took a two-run lead.

Then on April 27, Port Jefferson defeated League VII opponent Hampton Bays 9-6 as Gibson’s bat stayed hot, going 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBI. She was also the winning pitcher and scored three runs. In their most recent non-league game, the Lady Royals lost another close game, this time 6-5 to Center Moriches on April 29.