Shane Meehan's two-run HR backs Chris Spatenga as Sayville advances
Sayville players rush the pitcher's mound after victory in state Class A Southeast Regional final on Saturday night, June 7, 2025. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Shane Meehan knows his pitchers well.
The junior catcher knew that with Chris Spatenga on the mound, Sayville’s baseball team needed only a few runs to keep its season alive.
Meehan launched a two-run home run into the trees beyond the leftfield fence at Eastport-South Manor, propelling the Golden Flashes to a 5-0 win over Marlboro Central (Section IX) in the state Class A Southeast Regional final late Saturday night. The blast gave Sayville a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning.
“[Spatenga] has made it so easy for us all year, pitching shutouts and one-run games.” Meehan said. “As long as we score two runs, we know we can win a game with him on the mound.”
Sayville (18-7) will face Maine-Endwell (IV) in a state semifinal at 10 a.m. Friday at Mirabito Stadium in Binghamton.
“This is what we’ve been grinding for the whole season, the whole offseason,” Spatenga said. “This is the end goal and we’re there. It’s exciting.”
Spatenga allowed three hits and one walk in six scoreless innings, striking out five. The lefty was unaffected by the rain, which started in the fourth and turned into a downpour in the fifth. He retired 12 straight batters and took a one-hitter into the sixth, when Marlboro (13-7) got two singles.
“It definitely wasn’t easy, but I had my groove going,” Spatenga said. “I felt strong, I felt confident and I just kept doing what I do.”
Tyler Brown picked up two strikeouts in the seventh to close out the win.
Kyle Messina hit a one-out triple to right-centerfield in the first and scored on a single up the middle by Andrew Law. In the third, Aidan Devane hit a leadoff single and advanced to third on a double by Messina. Devane scored on a groundout by Law to give Sayville a 2-0 lead. Then Meehan came through with the big swing.
“Standing on third, just seeing that in the air, I knew it was gone right away. It was such a boost of morale and confidence for everyone,” Messina said.
Messina scored on a wild pitch in the fifth for the final run. The senior went 2-for-3 with three runs and Brown added a double.
“Great players make coaches look good,” coach Joe Esposito said. “I have the best staff in the world. This is a great group of kids and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
After posing for pictures at home plate following the win, Esposito made sure the Golden Flashes thanked their supporters, who overflowed the bleachers behind home plate.
“I love this community so much, so any time I get to put on this Sayville jersey and represent this amazing community, it’s truly an honor,” Messina said. “I’m so grateful to be in this situation. We’re going to states and hopefully we win the championship. It’s a blessing.”
