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Updated: July 7, 2009, 7:47 pm	Share    Print    Email

Southampton shortstop Brian Blasik slaps the tag down on would-be base stealer Tom Rombilus of North Fork. Photos by Brett Mauser

Southampton - Two weeks ago, the Southampton Breakers were outscored 42-12 over the span of four games and tied for fifth (out of six) in the Kaiser Division. They then had a week to let the swoon marinate in their minds thanks to the month's constant rainfall.

Even though they were just five games into their season, the Breakers reached a critical point. Instead of dragging their feet, they huddled up and began playing a fine brand of baseball. On Tuesday, Southampton scratched out a 3-2 win over the North Fork Ospreys, a win that catapulted the Breakers into a first-place tie with the aforementioned Ospreys, both of their records at 9-6. Both are percentage points ahead of the Riverhead Tomcats, who have won four of their last five, including a 5-3 victory at Westhampton Tuesday.

Jon Hughes of Santa Clara went the final three innings to pick up the save for Southampton.

"The kids are upbeat," Lorraine said. "It's no coincidence that we've played good baseball once we got on new field. They're just relaxed and ready to play baseball. Hopefully it keeps up."

The Breakers have won five straight games by a combined seven runs - a mere 15-8 margin. They have scored only 15 runs in that span, which only turns the spotlight to the pitching staff that has kept the opposition in check. In the first five games, Southampton's arms gave up 43 runs (8.6/game) and not coincidentally went 1-4. In the 10 since, they've given up just 32, or 3.2 per game. Their record in that time is 8-2.

"That's how it's going to be in this kind of league," Lorraine said. "The ballpark's going to play like a pitcher's park because of the way the wind's going to blow in and because we're facing wooden bats. Every small thing makes a difference in the game - one play, one error, one big hit, that's going to make a big difference. We're minimizing our mistakes right now and that's why we're having success."

They've also done just enough at the plate. Brian Blasik, a sophomore at Dayton, has been great not only in the field, where he's played the middle infield as well as the outfield, but also with the lumber. On Tuesday, he went 2 for 4 and scored the game's first run after he led off the bottom of the first with a double. Through the weekend, Blasik led the team in homers (2), runs batted in (9), total bases (19) and was second in runs with seven.

"Every hit he gets seems like big hit for us," Lorraine said after Blasik singled in the game-winning run in the opener on Saturday. "That shows he's bearing down and having good at-bats for us."

Dan Haverstick (Rhode Island) and Mark Sunga (Cal State Los Angeles) both collected multiple hits on the day in support of winning pitcher Greg Smith (UNC Greensboro), who went six strong innings, giving up four hits and one run while striking out six. Jon Hughes (Santa Clara) stepped in at the start of the seventh and gave up a run over his three innings to earn the save. He dodged trouble in the ninth however; UC Davis' Danny Cepin started the inning by singling to left, his third hit of the day, and three batters later Adam Clear (San Francisco) walked and moved to second on defensive indifference. Mike Gastelum (St. Mary's) ran the count full on Hughes before rapping a room-service grounder to second baseman E.J. Smith (Hofstra), who threw to first to secure the win.

First baseman Kyle Kubitza (right) and third baseman Dan Haverstick (left) exchange a high-five after surviving North Fork's threat in the ninth.

Southampton has made its opponents pay time and again for their mishaps. A two-error first inning by North Fork allowed Blasik and Haverstick to cross the plate for a 2-0 lead. In the second, Sunga was caught stealing at second but the throw allowed a third run to score.

"We got ahead of them early, gota couple hits, they made a few mistakes in the field and we took advantage of them," Lorraine said. "We had pressure on them all day, which was great. I thought we took it to them and swung the bats really well."

On Sunday, the Breakers grabbed a win after a base-running blunder by Sag Harbor in game two of their doubleheader; the two teams went extra innings in the opener and the Breakers' Nick DeProspo, standing on third, bolted for home and scored after the throw from catcher to pitcher went awry.

The first ever game at Stony Brook Southampton was an out away from going to Westhampton on Saturday. Sunga delivered arguably the biggest hit of the team's season by doubling off the wall in left with two outs in the eighth inning. Kyle Kubitza (Texas State) roared around from first base to score the tying run. An inning later, Blasik's single plated Logan Welch (Maryland) with the game-winner. It made a winner out of Brandon Curson (Siena) who pitched an inning of scoreless relief. In the nightcap, Chris Zaccherio (Sacred Heart) gave up a home run to Nick Ahmed but that was all as Southampton pulled out a 3-1 win.

The Breakers' game at Long Island on Wednesday was postponed due to rain. They play three more at the new Stony Brook Southampton field this weekend - Friday vs. Sag Harbor, Saturday vs. Riverhead and two on Sunday against the Mustangs.