Mules Baseball Reflects On Tough Season

The Malverne Mules baseball team saw their season end and their hopes of a playoff run fade away last week during against the Wheatley Wildcats.

While the varsity ball team took Game 1, they suffered two losses to their opponents to cap off what has been a very tough season for the Mules, who finished last in their conference with a record of 3-14 and 4-15 overall.

The record however does not reflect the whole story of the team, their talent, perseverance and hard work throughout the season.

This is all exemplified in two of the Mules star outfielders, who kept the team battling inning after inning, game after game.

"We've had some close games this year," said Mules varsity baseball head coach Tim Young. "But we didn't pick up some wins we needed to have."

Young credits his junior centefielder and leadoff batter, Scott Sabino  and sophomore rightfielder Dominick Gandolfo with keeping the team together.

"Offensively and defensively they have been very good for us this season," he added.

Among the bright spots in the season was the Mules victory over crosstown rival West Hempstead earlier in the schedule, and a two game winning streak over Cold Spring Harbor and Wheatley near the end.

Gandolfo has the ability to drive in runs with his strong hitting in the third batting slot. He had a game-winning two run single in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 3 against a tough Cold Spring Harbor earlier in the month.

Sabino had a diving one hand catch in that same game with a man on second to help secure the 8-7 win.

"We had lost to them the last two games and were down to them in the sixth inning of that game," said Sabino. "My catch prevented them from scoring again and I think it gave us some momentum going into the last inning."

Sabino has been a huge offensive asset batting in the lead-off spot for the Mules. He batted in the low 400's, a number that is similar to last season.

"Our record does not indicate the amount of effort we put into each game," said Sabino. "Our team always tries hard no matter what the score is. We are all about hustle whether it's in practice or a game."