As coaches lined up excuses coming into the season based on lack of field time, Southold baseball head coach Mike Carver thought that being inside might be the reason the Settlers have come out with their bats on fire.
“We’ve gotten so much extra time in the cage it seems to be really paying off,” Carver said.
Southold (2-0) for the second consecutive game blew out Greenport (0-2) on Monday in a game that was over by the first inning. They scored 14 runs in the inning en route to a 20-2 victory at Southold High School.
After a 4-11 season last year, Carver is happy to see his team off to a fast start.
“Last year wasn’t very characteristic of Southold baseball,” Carver said. “It was a very underachieving season to say the least. But the core group of last year are returning this year with a year of experience under their belts.”
With Shayne Johnson and Pat McFarland atop the Settler’s lineup it’s hard to keep Southold off the board.
“They’re always getting on base and with the depth behind them, we’re going to be scoring a lot of runs,” Carver said.
Johnson went 5-5 leading off for the Settlers.
Liam Walker, a basketball standout in years past, decided to play baseball this year.
“I don’t think he’s played since junior high,” Carver said. “But it looks like he hasn’t missed a beat.”
I’d say. The senior, through the first two games is batting 7-8 with seven RBI.
McFarland earned the victory on the mound for the Settlers, throwing a complete game four-hitter.
Through two games, the Settlers have scored 31 runs. What’s the plan to keep the bats hot?
“Just keep doing what we’ve been doing,” Carver said.
SoutholdLOCAL photos by Courtney Blasl.
