The season might be young, but there’s something undeniable about Eastchester’s baseball team; the Eagles have a flair for the dramatic.

That much was evident on April 4, when the Eagles scored an exhilarating victory over visiting Hastings, topping the Yellowjackets 1-0 in extra innings on a game-winning walk-off single by junior shortstop Anthony Annunziata. 

Stepping into the box with one out and runners on first and second, Annunziata rapped a liner to right field, plating Patrick McCauley in the process to earn a hard-fought win. Annunziata said even though this was his first at-bat of the day against reliever Aidan Curtis, he simply focused on doing his job and making the most of having a the winning run in scoring position. 

“I was just trying to put the ball in play and see something good happen,” said Annunziata. “We were talking about making them pay, just doing damage, and that’s what happened.”

Annunziata’s RBI single may have been the decisive play in the game, but the Eagles likely wouldn’t have been in a position to win if not for a masterful performance by starter Tristan Langke. Langke allowed just two-hits over in an eight-inning complete-game shutout, fanning eight batters on the day. 

“When I talked to the boys after the game, I told them ‘That’s what an ace does,’” said Eastchester coach Jesse Watters. “Really, that’s what Tristan gives us every time he goes out there.”

In fact, Saturday’s game was the second time Lengke found himself on the right side of a dramatic Eastchester win this week, tossing 2.2 inning of relief in the Eagles’ come-from-behind win against Brighton on April 1 in Orlando. Trailing the Bruins by six runs, Eastchester rallied to win 8-7 on a walk-off by Chris Castaldo.

Watters chalked up his team’s penchant for for pulling out close wins to the tight-knit nature of the group, noting that no moment ever seems too big for this squad. 

“It’s not surprising to me at all,” said Watters. “This is a good bunch, they like each other, and they appreciate each other, from the guys on the bench to the guys in the game.

“It just takes grit,” added Annunziata. “Our ace threw a great game; he was phenomenal. We just had to back him up and we did.”

Eastchester will be back in action on April 7, when they take on Bronxville at Scout Field. Bronxville is currently 0-4 on the season, with their last loss coming against Byram Hills on April 1.