WEST ISLIP – West Islip and East Islip have been on an inevitable collision course all season.
East Islip came into the season the defending Class AA Suffolk champs. Neighboring West Islip a team hungry to carry the trophy heading home. This is what everyone was waiting for and what it all came down to. A three game series to determine the League IV Champion. The Lions took Game 1, and needed one of the last two games to carry the league title home.
The West Islip Lions finished the job. They took down rival East Islip by a score of 7-2 and clinched the Suffolk League IV regular season championship. A title the Lions haven’t held since 2019.
East and West put they’re very best arms on the mound for this one. Conor Kenefick of West Islip, was handed the ball as was Lucas Patton of East Islip. Both pitchers are highly ranked and college committed.
Kenefick not only pitched a great and complete game but also hit extremely well. The senior hit 4-4 at the plate including two RBI and a run scored. Kenefick is now 5-1 with 2 saves on the mound this season. He carries a 0.86 ERA, with an equally impressive .508 batting average.
West Islip took an early 1-0 lead and then extended it 3-0 during the bottom of the second. Will Delanoy slammed a one run homer and Kenefick followed suit with a single that drove in two runs.
The Redmen starting pitcher Patton also contributed from the opposite side of the plate. He hit a single down the right field line to bring in two runners and cut West Islip’s lead to 3-2.
West Islip answered back with three run rally in the fifth inning. was able to breathe a bit after a three-run fifth inning stretched their lead to 6-2.Ryan Gaffney, a junior, also contributed for West Islip with an RBI groundout to push their lead to bring in a run. Finishing the game by score of 7-2.
Kenefick was just a dominant force on the mound as he retired the side for 4 innings consecutively. He also recorded 13 straight outs that held the defending champions East Islip back and gave his team a league title.
