LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — It was all over after five innings, as on Tuesday, April 29, the “Mercy Rule” was invoked in the non-league varsity baseball game between the home team Bulldogs of Sullivan West and the Tri-Valley Bears.

Tri-Valley posted a run in the opening frame; while at their turn at bat, the home team replied by sending a trio of swatters across the plate.

At the second inning, the Bears scored 3 runs, and the Bulldogs responded with 4 trips to the promised land.

That was all she wrote for the visitors, as the Bulldogs posted 7 in the third, and added another two in the fourth frame.

In the wake of a scoreless fifth, the game was called, earning Sullivan West a 16-4 victory.

Sullivan West sophomore William Wilson pitched all five frames, giving up 4 runs on 2 hits and a walk, and striking out 2.  

Hotdogs at the plate for the Bulldogs (5-3) were Evan Ebert (3 hits, 3 runs, 1 RBI), Brandon Haass (2 hits, 2 runs, 2 RBIs), Alec Hubert (3 hits, 3 runs, 3 RBIs), Colin Ebert (2 hits, 3 runs, 3 RBIs), Liam Bernas (2 hits, 4 RBIs) and Aiden Fulton (1 hit, 2 runs scored).

Last year, the Bulldogs were 10-7, but fell to Chester 11-0 in the first round of the playoffs.

This season’s Bulldogs roster includes two seniors (Evan Ebert and Brandon Haass), four juniors and eight sophomores. The team is captained by Hubert, Haass and Ebert.

Tri-Valley is coached by Christopher Russo and lists two seniors, five juniors, four sophomores and three freshmen on the roster.

Sullivan West’s helmsman is Ty Ebert, a man of few words when it’s time to meet the local press.

Asked what the goals for the “Bulldogs of 2025” were, he replied, “To score a few more runs, hopefully win some games, and make it to the sectionals before the season is over.”