John Neary sparks Massapequa baseball to Game 1 win in Nassau Class AAA championship series
John Neary of Massapequa makes the stop in the top of the seventh during Game 1 of the Nassau Class AAA baseball finals against Port Washington on Thursday at Farmingdale State College. Credit: Dawn McCormick
The bottom of Massapequa’s batting order is just as dangerous as the top.
John Neary, who bats ninth, was the catalyst for the reigning champions in Game 1 of the Nassau Class AAA baseball final series Thursday at Farmingdale State.
The senior shortstop went 2-for-2 with a triple, double, two RBIs and three runs scored to lead No. 1 Massapequa to a 7-4 win over No. 5 Port Washington.
His two-run triple in the bottom of the second highlighted a two-out rally, started by Ryan Moore and Mikey Smar’s back-to-back singles. Moore and Smar bat seventh and eighth in Massapequa’s order, respectively. Neary scored on an error to give Massapequa a 3-0 lead.
“We started some rallies with Moore, Smar and Neary,” Massapequa coach Tom Sheedy said. “They all did a really nice job and when that happens and the top of the order is hitting, we should be tough to beat.”
With one out in the fourth, Smar singled, Neary doubled and leadoff hitter Brady Love was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Smar scored on an error and Neary scored on a sacrifice fly by Anthony DiNello to take a 6-0 lead.
“When the bottom of the order is getting on base and we’ve got the meat of our order up, we know they’re going to find a way to get us in,” Neary said.
“I think it can be pretty imposing knowing that you’re not going to get our No. 9 hitter to roll over or strike out,” Jack Mulligan said. “Every spot in the order can get on whenever and will do anything to score runs.”
Mulligan enjoyed the run support. He struck out 10 and allowed one hit and three walks in five scoreless innings to earn the win.
“Jack threw really well for us,” Sheedy said. “He’s going to be really big time, but he’s only a sophomore. He threw great against Port the last time we played them, but he got tired in the fifth. Today, he got through five and that’s what we wanted him to do.”
Luke Maute had an RBI double and Leo Schindler and Koki Maezawa each added an RBI single for Port Washington (12-12-1). Massapequa (21-3-1) will look to repeat as county champion in Game 2 at 6 p.m. Friday at Farmingdale State.
Matt Lindsay is a high school sports reporter who joined Newsday in 2022 after graduating from Stony Brook University.
