East Islip's Lucas Patton shuts down East Hampton with two-hitter for Suffolk Class AA title
East Islip's Lucas Patton pitches in the Suffolk Class AA baseball final against East Hampton on Saturday at Middle Country Athletic Complex. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
East Islip baseball coach Sal J. Ciampi says he trusts Lucas Patton as much as any pitcher he has ever coached.
Patton has rewarded that trust all season. In the biggest moment of the season Saturday, it was no different.
The junior lefthander fired a two-hitter to lead No. 2 East Islip to a 4-0 win over No. 4 East Hampton in the Suffolk Class AA finals at the Middle Country Athletic Complex in Selden. He allowed two singles and walked two, and two other baserunners reached on infield errors.
“It’s awesome,” Patton said. “I love it. The defense is just incredible. But it’s fun.”
Said Ciampi: “I’m really, really proud of him. He didn’t have his best stuff today. He was struggling a little bit with his command. Defensively, we did a good job behind him after that first inning. But I love the kid. I’m proud of him.”
East Islip (22-2) won its first county title since 2021 and 12th in program history, according to Newsday records. It will meet Garden City in the Long Island championship game/Southeast Regional semifinal at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Farmingdale State.
“These guys are a family,” Patton said. “I moved here [from Westhampton] last year. Last year was my first year with these guys, but they took me in and I love it.”
Junior Michael Tramaglini went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. His two-run single in the bottom of the first inning gave East Islip a 2-0 lead.
“[Patton’s] my best friend,” Tramaglini said. “I go out there to talk to him before every inning. I have complete utter faith in him no matter what he’s doing. I know he’s going to go out there and do whatever it takes for us to win. He’s always been a team player.”
East Hampton (18-6) nearly scored on Livs Kuplins’ two-out single in the second inning, but East Islip centerfielder Dylan Casani threw out a runner at the plate.
Chris LaMacchia hit an RBI single in the fourth and Tramaglini added one in the fifth to make it 4-0.
Bonackers starter Trevor Meehan struck out four and allowed eight hits and four earned runs in six innings.
“I love these kids,” Ciampi said. “[Coach] Al Nucci from Smithtown West turned around to our parents during the game, he goes, ‘You can tell these kids have played together for a long time the way they communicate and talk to each other. It’s something special.’ ’’
Ciampi agreed, “So far, it is.”
Ben Dickson joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
