Bruckner, Harrison Bats, Too Much for Kennedy

Max Bruckner silenced the John F Kennedy bats for seven strong innings while the Huskies broke out for eight runs Tuesday afternoon to stamp a ticket to the Section I championship game for the second time in three years.

Harrison scored five runs in the second inning. Steven Deleo and Matt Baker set the table with a pair of doubles followed by a Tyler Hart RBI single. A double from Austin Pollack then scored two runs, setting up Shang-Li Polera with a runner on third and two outs.

Polera blasted a deep home run to left field, making the score 5 - 0 and Harrison never looked back.

"We knew they were going to be tough, they were going to be a disciplined, they were going to throw strikes, they were going to be a good team, but our mentality was throw strikes, play great defense and get that timely hitting," said Harrison Head Coach Marco DiRuocco. "Today they just broke out."

The lead was more than enough for Bruckner, who scattered three hits over seven innings of work for the shutout. Bruckner finished with five strikeouts, using less than 85 pitches.

"I got into a zone, made adjustments and was able to make some good pitches and attack the zone," Bruckner said.

Harrison added three more runs in the fifth inning with an RBI single from Pollack, who finished 2-for-3, and a base hit from Raffaele Machia that scored two more to make the score 8 - 0.

The breakout in offense was welcomed help for Bruckner, who used a variety of fastballs and off-speed pitches to keep John F Kennedy off balance throughout the game.

"Phenomenal," DiRuocco said of his starter. "That's his A-game right there and when he's on like that there's just no stopping him.

Harrison will travel to Dutchess Stadium Thursday to take on the winner of Tuesday's game between Byram Hills and Beacon.

"Playing for a championship is what it's all about, the beginning of the season this is where we wanted to be," said Bruckner. "We need to capitalize."