Dominick Cusumano pitches Wantagh to Nassau Class A baseball championship

Dominick Cusumano could not wait for his chance at redemption.

Two days earlier, the Wantagh senior was the losing pitcher in extra innings in relief in Game 2 of the best-of-three Nassau Class A baseball championship series. But he knew he’d get the start in Game 3, and once that moment arrived, he proved ready.

“Ever since I woke up, I’ve been thinking, I want this game, I want the ball,” Cusumano said. “And I came out here and I loved that I had pressure on me. I do better with that.”

In the spotlight of starting the deciding Game 3 on Sunday, Cusumano excelled. He allowed one run, six hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 6 1⁄3 innings as Wantagh claimed the Nassau Class A championship with a 6-1 victory over Seaford.

“I could tell from the beginning when he was throwing his off-speed pitch for a strike that he was looking good,” Wantagh coach Keith Sachs said. “What a tremendous outing. We had a lot of plans if he couldn’t go further, but we didn’t have to use many of our plans because he was so good.”

Wantagh (23-4) will play Sayville (16-7) in the Long Island Class A championship game in a state Class A subregional at Middle Country Athletic Complex on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

Wantagh, the No. 1 seed from Nassau A-I, won its first county title since 2018 and 10th in program history. Seaford, the No. 3 seed from Nassau Conference A-II, finished 19-10.

“We knew coming into this, we were going to win this game and we knew we were the better team,” Cusumano said. “That’s why you play three games. We were insanely confident and we went out there and we showed them what we’re made of.”

Wantagh scored three runs in the second inning. Frank McNally drew a bases-loaded walk to force home Ryan Tullo, and one batter later, Cole Spinelli and Michael Avitabile scored on an error for a 3-0 lead. After an RBI single by Seaford’s Luke Walsh,

Tullo scored again in the third on Avitabile’s infield single to give Wantagh a 4-1 lead.

Pinch hitter Robert Terrana tripled home Spinelli in the sixth and Charlie Cascino’s RBI single delivered the game’s final run.

“It’s nice to bring Wantagh back to its winning ways,” said Spinelli, who was 1-for-1 with two walks and two runs. “It’s a very rich history, so we’re happy we were able to be a part of it.”

With the bases loaded in the seventh, Wantagh ace Christian Danzilo induced a game-ending double play. Shortstop Ryan Conigliaro stepped on second and threw to first, and the celebration was on.

“It was that moment where you need to make that play as the shortstop,” Conigliaro said. “Anywhere on the field, you need to make that play, you need to get him out with everyone trusting you. It was pure excitement. To win with your friends, to win with your family watching and your coaches, to win for them also with everything they’ve put into you, nothing’s better than that.”