Earlier this season, theSoutholdbaseball team went through a rough patch, losing four games by one run.
David Riddell, the new coach, took the positive route, reminding his players how much they had improved over last season.
“My message at the next practice was I want everyone to know that even though we lost, we saw improvement,” he said. “Last year, you had 10 errors. This year, we have one or two. Your batting averages [are] up. We’re picking better pitches to swing at. We need to be [there] for our cutoff. Even when you lose a game in baseball, there’s still many opportunities to focus on positive things.”
The Settlers have shown their resilience. They recorded their sixth consecutive victory on Thursday, May 8 — a 15-0 home triumph over Bridgehampton/Ross. The Suffolk County League VIII game was called after 4 1/2 innings due to the mercy rule.
“It was so much fun,” said sophomore third baseman Brady Treharne, who collected two hits and four RBIs. “Playing good baseball right now. That’s what it’s all about.
“Coming into the game, we just had a hot mentality,” he added. “We’re coming in for a playoff push right now.”
Center fielder Noah Riddell, who collected three hits and two RBIs, agreed.
“We had a rough start to the season, and it’s all falling into place right now,” he said.
The Settlers (7-5, 6-5) have outscored their foes, 74-17, during their winning streak.
Southold has positioned itself to reach the Class C postseason for thefirst time since 2022.They need to finish at least .500 to book a spot. By the time they complete a three-game series with Port Jefferson on Thursday, May 15, the Settlers will know their fate.
Source: The Suffolk Times
