The Marlboro baseball team has secured their place in the state Class A Final Four after a heart-stopping 4-3 victory over Byram Hills in the regional final on Saturday. The Dukes, who had a sub-.500 record for much of the season, have found their stride at just the right time.
The game was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both teams trading blows and the weather even playing a role in the outcome. In the end, it was Marlboro’s clutch performance that made the difference.
Marlboro’s late-game rally seals the victory
After Byram Hills had tied the game in the top of the sixth inning, Marlboro responded in the bottom of the seventh with a walk-off bunt by Cole Belcastro. The bunt scored Meyer Baker, who had reached third base with a one-out tripleand gave Marlboro the dramatic 4-3 victory.
Belcastro admitted that the walk-off finish was not what he expectedbut it was a testament to the team’s resilience and determination. The Dukes had been struggling for much of the season, but they have found their groove in the postseason.
Byram Hills’ comeback falls just short
Byram Hills, the Section 1 champion, had been trailing 3-0 in the second inning before mounting a comeback. They chipped away at the deficit in the third inning with a run-scoring single by Ben Kent. The game was then halted by a weather delay in the top of the fourth inning.
When play resumed, Byram Hills continued their comeback in the sixth inning. Logan Verma’s RBI double cut the deficit to one, and the tying run scored during a double steal. However, Marlboro had one more answer, and it came in the form of Belcastro’s walk-off bunt.
Marlboro’s late-season surge
The Dukes have been getting hot at the end of the seasonas Belcastro put it. They had a 10-11 record going into the postseason, but they have elevated their game when it mattered most. Their victory over Byram Hills was a testament to their resilience and determination.
Marlboro will now head to Binghamton next weekend for the state Class A Final Four. They will be looking to continue their late-season surge and bring home a state championship. As Belcastro said, that’s what matters, getting hot at the end.
