News

The Shelter Island Bucks exploded for 13 runs on 14 hits and rode two big middle-inning rallies to a commanding 13-5 victory over the South Shore Clippers on Sunday afternoon at William Floyd High School.

Third baseman Zach Dellerman (Wheeling Jesuit) and designated hitter JD Stemhagen (Manhattan) led the charge for Shelter Island, combining for nine RBI as the Bucks jumped out early and never looked back to improve their standing in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League.

Shelter Island got on the board right away in the first inning, scratching out a run before blowing the game wide open in the third. After falling behind 3-1 following a three-run Clippers frame in the bottom of the first, the Bucks answered with four runs in the third, capped by a three-run home run by Dellerman, who launched his first of two home runs on the day — a three-run shot — as part of a massive 5-RBI effort.to regain the lead at 5-3.

The next inning proved to be decisive. Shelter Island sent another wave of bats to the plate in the top of the fourth, scoring five more runs. The big blow came from Stemhagen, who hit a Grand Slam over the wall. The Bucks' offensive surge built a commanding 10-4 lead.

South Shore tried to keep pace behind center fielder Anthony Rigogliosi (Adelphi), who went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and three runs scored. Liam Hotaling (Villanova) chipped in with a pair of hits and an RBI, but the Clippers couldn’t mount a sustained comeback.

The Bucks added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh, including Dellerman’s second home run and a solo home run by John Gannon (St. Lawrence), who had two RBI for the day, giving him 11 on the season.

Starter Brennan Shapiro (Babson) earned the win for Shelter Island, pitching four innings despite allowing nine hits and five runs. He was backed by Joe LaPrade (St. Lawrence), who earned the save with three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out two.