Coach John Morrissey called an audible, and his Dukes delivered.

With Meyer Baker 90 feet from home on a triple and the score tied in the final inning, Morrissey called for a squeeze bunt. Cole Belcastro dropped it perfectly in front of home plate, Baker barreled home through a collision at the dish, and Marlboro walked off with a 4-3 win over Byram Hills in a state Class A quarterfinal Saturday in Saugerties, to punch its ticket to Binghamton.

“We opened up the door, made a couple of mistakes, let them back in,” Morrissey said. “But when we had a one-inning game to win, they did what they needed to do.”

Liam Correa threw a complete game, allowing four hits and striking out seven. He also provided the offensive spark with a two-run triple. Jax Fernandez added an RBI single.

Marlboro had led by two runs before Byram Hills rallied to tie it, but the Dukes answered with the walk-off in their final at-bat. Byram Hills attempted to pick Baker off third base before Belcastro’s bunt ended any suspense.

For Morrissey, the victory meant as much for what his team built off the field as what it accomplished on it.
“They welcomed each other into it. They welcomed each other, and they became a family,” he said. “It takes time to build a family, and these guys put the time and the effort in.”

Marlboro will face Plainedge at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 12, at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Field in Binghamton for a spot in the state finals.