05/02/2026
Evan Hoyle on our Top Tier Aviators 15u (Lacetera) squad got some pretty good ink on
It will be difficult for Floyd freshman Evan Hoyle to outdo his varsity baseball debut Thursday afternoon. Then again, nothing could be harder than the assignment he was given for the debut: outduel Riverhead’s Matt Zambriski.
Hoyle pitched five scoreless innings with six strikeouts, leading visiting Floyd to a 3-0 win over Riverhead in Suffolk League I action at Eastport South Manor Sports Complex in Eastport. Hoyle surrendered five hits and four walks, but he stranded all nine baserunners.
Hoyle’s gutsy outing was needed in order for the Colonials (9-6, 9-6) to have a chance against Zambriski, who entered play with a 0.74 ERA. Luckily for Floyd, it did not have to play from behind because Hoyle was equal to the task.
“I wasn’t really nervous going into it,” Hoyle said. “I had faith in myself and my team. I knew they had my back.”
That comfort level got Hoyle through the dicey moments. The Blue Waves had at least one baserunner in all five frames against him, but he held them to 1-for-12 with runners on base. With runners in scoring position, Hoyle held them to 0-for-8 with three strikeouts.
“I never really get in my head; I’m never really nervous,” Hoyle said. “I just go out and have fun. This feels pretty good. Especially being my first varsity start, I’m very proud of myself.”
The only hit Hoyle allowed with a runner on came in the bottom of the fourth inning on a double by Riverhead centerfielder Connor Downey, but Floyd leftfielder Gabriel Beta played it perfectly. Beta hit shortstop Kiernyn Mehmel with a good throw that allowed him to throw a runner out at home plate, keeping it scoreless. READ the rest on Newsday.com
