On Friday, the Tigers will play the first of these four – the rubber game of the series. Aiden Bisson’s brilliant two hitter on Tuesday earned a 3-2 victory for Northport in the series opener. Bisson struck out five.

In this one, the Tigers turned to Junior righthander Michael Lombardo and he locked horns with Lindenhurst multi-sport star Chris Carson in an old-fashion pitcher’s duel. The Bulldogs scratched out an unearned run in the fourth inning and held a 1-0 lead going in to the sixth. Lindy loaded the bases in the fifth inning but were held off the board when leftfielder Tyler Florio made a spectacular diving catch in left-center that would have cashed in three of those base runners. He was helped to his feet by centerfielder Bisson, held up his glove for all to see, and sprinted into the dugout with a big smile on his face.

His teammates were there to greet him with hootin’ and hollarin’ and high fivin’.

“It was a great feeling making that catch,” said the senior Florio. “I knew it was way back and to my left, so I made an adjustment and sprinted to where I thought the ball would be. I dove and thankfully it went into my glove and kept us in the game.”

“He got a great jump on that ball and was able to run it down,” said Tiger Head Coach Sean Lynch. “We would never have been able to to take the lead in the sixth without that play.”

Florio’s catch charged up the dugout and the crowd.  Everyone in attendance was engaged big time in this game and the players from both benches were reacting with every pitch – so much so that the umpires felt the need to warn Lindenhurst’s bench to only encourage their own players and not to deride Northport’s.

Down 2-0, 2B Pat Scarangella and C Richard Kershow led off the sixth for the Tigers with back-to-back singles.  After 1B John Dwyer struck out, Lombardo helped his cause by driving a double to right center, knocking in Scarangella. 3B Ty D’amico knocked in the second run with a single to tie the score at 2. Carson was obviously starting to tire but continued on after a mound visit from Bulldog Coach Rob Moore.

Dominic Tetta drew an intentional walk before D’amico’s single and up stepped pinch hitter Max Brewer, looking to brew up some magic. After fouling off four or five in a row, which not only ballooned Carson’s pitch count but also built the drama to a feverish pitch. Brewer finally drew a walk, which drove in the go-ahead run.

Usually bases on balls don’t exactly juice up the place, but it gave the Tigers a 3-2 lead versus the previously unhittable Carson, who managed to strike out Bisson to end the frame.

“Both Carson and Lombardo threw really good games and runs were tough to get,” said Florio.

Lynch brought in Scarangella to get the final three outs and preserve the unlikely win. But it was Carson, who got the last out in the Tiger sixth and never exited the ballgame, to lead off the seventh for the Bulldogs.

The speedy, All-Suffolk County Wide Receiver for Lindy singled on the first pitch thrown by Scarangella. Carson promptly stole not just second but third as well and the Bulldogs had the tying run 90 feet away with nobody out. Thomas Charlwood drew a walk and 3B Donald Whelan was hit by a pitch and now the sacks were soaked. Scarangella was in a fine mess.

2B Brandon Reybock hit a looper to shortstop Tom Hardick for the first out, but the bases remained loaded.

In a bit of a head-scratcher, Moore instructed C Max Frank to bunt, perhaps looking to avoid a double play that would have ended the game. His bunt attempt went a few feet in the air near the Tiger dugout, where Kershow pounced out of his crouch to snag it. Scarangella was one out away from slithering out of this self-imposed pickle.

With rightfielder Chris Sarnicola hitting, a 1-1 pitch squeaked past Kershow’s shin guards and to the backstop. Carson scampered towards the plate with the tying run as Scarangella tried to cover. Kershow’s throw to the relief pitcher got away and was picked up by 3B D’amico, as Charlwood now chugged home.

D’amico’s underhand toss to Kershow, who had now taken his position at home plate, was good and Kershow applied the tag to Charlwood’s left buttock presumably before his foot touched the plate. The umpire did not see it that way. Safe. 4-3 Lindenhurst.

Lynch came rushing to meet the home plate umpire and pulled an old-style Earl Weaver act, except he didn’t turn his hat around. Lynch loudly and unfruitfully pled his case and might have been correct. The Tribune has reviewed video and photo evidence that clearly show that Kershow tagged Charlwood before he touched the plate, and it might have been that Charlwood never even touched it, as Kershow had most, if not all of it, blocked. It was a tough break for the Tigers.

In the bottom of the seventh, Northport threatened.  The air was out of the balloon, but the game was not over. Kershow hit a one-out double and Dwyer walked, putting the tying and winning runs on base against Reybock, who was in to close the game.

Fittingly, Lombardo came up and had a chance to be the pitching and offensive hero of the game. He hit a rocket to third that was caught by Whelan and Kershow was doubled off second and that was that. Lombardo’s hard-luck liner, and the game as a whole, are what they call a ‘Hang with ‘em’ in baseball parlance.

The Tigers will need to do just that if they are to hang in this playoff race.

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