Mamaroneck picked up an important victory—in several respects—on Tuesday afternoon, as they outlasted rival White Plains in a wild 8-7, extra-innings win. For Mamaroneck, the triumph was both a return to to form, as well as another win in the annual Richard W. Kittle Memorial Game.
After White Plains tied things up with two runs in the top of the seventh, the visitors took the lead in the 10th, only to see Mamaroneck roar back, tying the game on a single by Will Plunkett and eventually walking things off—literally—when centerfielder Luke Reagins drew a bases loaded free pass to send the Tiger fans home happy.
Plunkett acknowledged that winning the Kittle Cup is always a goal for the Mamaroneck team, especially since the game is played against another top league foe in White Plains.
“This game definitely means more, White Plains is a rival, it’s a league game,” said Plunkett. “So it’s nice to get that trophy.”
Plunkett collected three hits on the afternoon, but said he came to the plate with a different approach in the 10th inning, which was led off by a pinch-hit single from Gabe Kraut—the first of the sophomore’s varsity career.
“I felt like I had been hitting soft fly balls all game,” said the standout shortshop. “So I really just wanted to make good contact and keep it low.”
Reagins finished with three RBIs on the day, and the Tigers got a big lift from Noah Baum in relief, as he came in to stem the White Plains tide with four innings of solid relief.
At 8-2 on the year—the Tigers would improve to 9-2 with a mercy-rule win over Port Chester the following day—Mamaroneck was coming off their first loss to a Section 1 team and eager to get back on track as the schedule goes into overdrive before the playoffs roll around.
“It was important to get the win, especially in a game of this magnitude and coming off a loss,’ said Plunkett. “We have like five games in a row right now, so it’s just about getting better every day.”
The Tigers have a full league slate coming up, with two games against New Rochelle and Mount Vernon in the next week, coupled with a rematch against White Plains.
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