A win for the record books: Bethlehem baseball bests Hauppauge for first-ever state championship
This year's Bethlehem Central baseball team has reached heights no other team in program history has reached before. For the first time...the Eagles are state champions.
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- This year's Bethlehem Central baseball team has reached heights no other team in program history has reached before. For the first time ever...the Eagles are state champions.
Making its first NYSPHSAA championship game appearance since 1990, Bethlehem came prepared for Saturday's Class AA final at Mirabito Stadium in Binghamton. The Eagles tallied a season-high 15 hits, outgunning Section XI's Hauppauge, 11-5, to take the title.
"We've had so many great teams, which is why this is a win for the Bethlehem baseball program - past, present and future," said head coach Matt Rehbit, who was accompanied by his top assistant coach, Rick Leach. "They played with a purpose. They were resilient; they were tough. They were everything you're looking for as a coach."
That resilience showed early in the game, as both sides were trading blows through the first two innings. After Bethlehem catcher Scott Sleurs got the scoring started in the top of the first with an RBI single, Hauppauge answered right back in the home half, putting a run up on the board via an RBI groundout.
Bethlehem countered with a three-spot in the second on a run-scoring single from Joe Monserrat and two-run double from Gavin Martin. But Hauppaue again matched with three runs of their own in the next half inning.
It stayed a 4-4 ballgame until the top of the fourth when Bethlehem shortstop CJ Franchini roped a double off the right-field wall that plated Monserrat from second base.
Bethlehem never looked back, tacking on another run in the inning with an Owen Turner sacrifice fly. Turner struck again in the top of the sixth with a two-run single to left field; that was followed by a Sean Matrose RBI single, giving Bethlehem a commanding, 9-4 lead.
Leading 9-5 going into the final frame, Bethlehem tacked on two more runs for good measure: a Monserrat RBI triple and ensuing Martin single that brought home Monserrat.
Turner earned the start on the bump, and while he gave up his fair share of hits, managed to gut through 6 1/3 innings of work. He handed the ball off to Tim Bushart with one gone in the home half of the seventh. Bushart promptly rolled up a game-ending, 6-4-3 double-play that was fittingly turned by seniors Franchini and Monserrat at short and second, respectively.
"This wasn't even a thought at the beginning of the year," said Franchini. "We just wanted to take it one game at a time, and this is where it took us. It's incredible."
It was a postseason full of milestones for Bethlehem, including the program's first section title in 25 years, which sparked a state tournament run.
"Once we won sectionals, it felt like the pressure was off for us," added Franchini. "So, we just kept playing baseball; kept playing the game we love, and we're here."
The Eagles have responded well to adversity all season. After a season-opening loss to Albany High, they rattled off a nine-game win streak. Fast forward to May - they lost three of their first five games that month, and then didn't lose a game the rest of the season.
"It just means the world," said Turner. "We've been fightin' for this the whole year. We had a tough loss at the beginning of the season (Albany) that just motivated us to work hard, and get where we are today."
Some of the offensive stat lines the Eagles put up were staggering. Monserrat finished 4-5 with four runs scored and two RBI. Martin went a perfect 4-4 at the dish, driving in three runs and scoring three himself. Sleurs joined the multi-hit party with two, and Turner the multi-RBI party with three.
Turner's final line on the mound: (W) 6.1 IP, 9 hits, 3 earned runs, 6 BB, 4 SO.
Bethlehem closes the year with a 19-5 overall record.