Swietek excels with bat and glove as PPH Mafia Blue 16U draws with FS Prime – Diamond Nation

Josh Kesser pitches PPH Mafia Blue.

By Sean Reilly

Tommy Swietek was given a choice after the game in Diamond Nation on Friday night.

His PPH Mafia Blue 16U team had just tied 1-1 in seven innings against FS Prime during the 17/18U Labor Day Blast, Powered By Cortes & Hay.

The outcome was decided by two decisive plays by Swietek, his team’s first batter and second baseman.

The first was a two-out, two-strike RBI single in the fifth inning that tied the score.

The other was a spectacular fielding play to start a 4-6-3 double play that came with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the sixth inning. It was one of three double plays his team made during the game.

Which play gave the 2026 Notre Dame High School player the most satisfaction?

“Honestly, it was the play at second base,” he said. “It really decided the game, with the bases loaded.”

The score was tied when FS Prime came to bat in the sixth inning.

Jack Conroy led off with his third walk of the game, and Zach Brodsky was hit by a pitch. The next batter attempted to drop a sacrifice bunt, but the leadoff runner was thrown out at third on a fielder’s choice.

The runners reached second and third on a passed ball, and Adrian Rosario walked to load the bases.

Matt Vanaman was next and he hit a hard drive towards second base. Swietek had to work hard to pick up the ball neatly.

He did so, throwing to shortstop Julian Satterthwaite, who was covering second base, for the first out. Satterthwaite then threw to first baseman Michael Chiarella to complete the double play.

“You always have to be ready,” Swietek said. “If it hits you, you have to know what you’re going to do.”

FS Prime took a 1-0 lead at the top of the second. Rosario led off with the first of his three walks. Vanaman and Jayson Harrison also walked to load the bases.

FS Prime’s Austin Fisher leads as PPH Mafia Blue first baseman Collin Perna defends the ball from a bunt.

The next batter grounded out to pitcher Josh Kesser, who threw to catcher Nick Natale for a force. Natale then threw to first baseman Collin Perna for a 1-2-3 double play.

Logan Hammer walked to re-load the bases, and Richie Gonzales walked on a full count to score a run.

The score remained tied until the fifth inning.

Will Vasquez got a one-out walk for PPH Mafia Blue. He stole second before the next batter was retired. Swietek, who was 0-for-2, hit an RBI single to left field on a 1-2 count.

“I tried to clear the last two ABs that happened and put the rider aside,” he said.

A leadoff single by Gonzales in the first inning was the only hit for FS Prime, which had 11 hits and two others on hit-by-pitches. Two of those runners were thrown out by Natale, stealing, along with three others erased on double plays.

Kesser pitched five complete innings and also faced two batters in the sixth. Vasquez then closed the game for PPH Mafia Blue.

Vanaman was the FS Prime starter, and he allowed four hits with 10 strikeouts and three walks in five innings. Chip Clooney threw two innings of perfect relief, with three strikeouts and three groundouts.

“My changeup went really well, my fastball got by the guys early and I threw a curveball in there as well,” Vanaman said.