PURCHASE, N.Y. – Ryan McCann (Medford, N.Y./Longwood) entered game one of the doubleheaders, shutting down the United States Merchant Marine Academy to earn his ninth win of the season and secure the first home playoff game since 2009. The Valiants (27-12, 14-6 Skyline) walked off with a 7-6 win in the bottom of the seventh, as the Mariners (21-14, 13-7 Skyline) took game two 18-5 in eight.
Prior to the first pitch of the second game, the Manhattanville baseball program recognized its nine graduating seniors. All statistics are as of the players' entering the series.
Senior transfer,
Jack Lally (Ogdensburg, N.J./Wallkill Valley), led off the ceremony. In Lally's 39.2 innings, he has posted a 4.31 ERA, going 5-3 and recording 38 strikeouts. The Ogdensburg, NJ native's highlight of the season came with a one-hit, complete game shutout against St. Joseph's Brooklyn.
After joining the Valiants in the fall of 2023,
Joe Kearney (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) has seen action in 54 games. As a senior, Kearney has made eight starts with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage behind the plate while catching four runners stealing.
Aiden Cardel (Lagrangeville, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) was the third senior to walk. After his collegiate debut as a sophomore, he saw the mound three additional times during his career before being halted by injury.
The fourth senior out was
Justin Encarnacion (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes). Encarnacion appeared in 62 career games with 43 starts. Batting .248, the Bronx native drove in 17 runs while crossing the plate 22 times. After falling to injury 10 games into his senior year, Encarnacion continued to be a strong voice in the dugout while encouraging his teammates in all aspects.
Nesconset, N.Y. native,
Chris Goohs (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown H.S. East) was next down the line. Goohs has been a staple in the Valiants' infield since his freshman year, making 115 starts in 133 games. He has taken 29 baes, driven in 95 runs, and scored 88.
Aidan Tumbleson (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) has seen the mound since his freshman year, finding his way to eight wins with two saves across 73.0 innings. Tumbleson found his place as a threat out of the pen during his senior year, earning five wins with a save and sending down 18 on strikeouts.
After recording 72 starts in 114 games,
Marco Clara (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) has racked up a .297 AVG with 51 RBI and 40 runs. During his senior year, he has nabbed 19 starts in 27 appearances, batting .250 with 11 RBI and scoring 10 times.
With a historic career,
Ryan McCann (Medford, N.Y./Longwood) found his way down the line. McCann has found a way to enter the record book in multiple ways, with the highlight coming after his 15th complete game, when he earned his 18th career win. McCann walked off the mound with the win to put him as the winningest pitcher in program history. His ERA is the 7th best in Valiant history, fourth all-time in innings pitched, third in career strikeouts, fifth in starts, tied for first in complete games, and with another program record of 1.05 walks per nine.
The final Valiant to be recognized in the 2026 senior day ceremony was two-year captain Greg Tashik. Starting in 74 of 91 games played, the Midland Park, NJ native has put forth a .306 AVG while recording 47 RBI while crossing home plate 61 runs. After battling through injury, he has recorded a career-high .328 at the plate over 23 games this season, with 7 runs and 16 RBI.
GAME ONE
In his ninth win, McCann recorded two strikeouts in six at-bats.
Ryan Costa (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport Blue-Point) started out on the mound for the Valiants, going 4.2 innings with five strikeouts.
Aidan Tumbleson (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) finished out the fifth inning, keeping the Mariners from taking the lead after tying the game at six.
Anthony Mezzaucella (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) and
Logan Alberto (East Patchogue, N.Y./Bellport Senior) send home two runners respectively, including a sacrifice fly to score the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
SECOND INNING – USMMA 2, MANHATTANVILLE 1
USMMA took an early 2-0 lead as a double sent in run one and a single followed to score once more.
Aidan Rosario (Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich) put the Valiants on the scoreboard with an out to advance the bases, scoring
Chris Goohs (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown H.S. East).
THIRD INNING – USMMA 3, MANHATTANVILLE 1
The visitors added one run off an infield single.
FOURTH INNING – MANHATTANVILLE 6, USMMA 3
Mezzaucella got the inning going with a base hit up the middle to send
Jacob Oakley (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) around third. After Mezzaucella reached second on an error, Alberto singled through the right side to score Rosario in addition to Mezzaucella.
Alex Exarchakis (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe Woodbury) scored on a groundout before Alberto crossed home plate on a wild pitch to build a lead for the Valiants.
FIFTH INNING – MANHATTANVILLE 6, USMMA 6
USMMA tied the game at six with a solo homerun slightly on the right side of the foul pole, followed by a single to put the game within one. The tying run came in from a five-pitch walk.
SEVENTH INNING – MANHATTANVILLE 7, USMMA 6
Mezzaucella flied out to right field, scoring
Dylan Roberts (Warwick, R.I./Pilgrim) for the game-winning run.
GAME TWO
Joe Kearney (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) led the Valiants from the plate in game two, going 3-for-3 with one run.
Evan Kaloski (Center Moriches, N.Y./Center Moriches),
Mike Scozzafava (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas), Goohs, and
Will Forgione (Wilton, Conn./Wilton) all recorded an RBI in the deficit. In addition to Kearney, Goohs,
Nick Caputo (Garrison, N.Y./Walter Panas), Clara, and
Jacob Liberati (Eastchester, N.Y./Tuckahoe) crossed the plate for the Vals. Of the eight Valiants who saw the mound in game two, they combined for six strikeouts and 13 earned runs.
Aiden Cardel (Lagrangeville, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) made his first appearance in two seasons due to injury, recording one out on one pitch on his senior day.
Kearney and Kaloski recorded their first career doubles in the eight innings.
Up Next – Baseball prepares to host its first home playoff game since 2009; for more information, stay up to date on the Skyline Conference website and GoValiants.com.
