(June 17 Game)

by Jayson O’Connell – boonvillelumberjacks.com

BOONVILLE, N.Y. – The Boonville Lumberjacks have struggled in the field with errors in the early PGCBL season. Going into today, Boonville led the league in errors and only 55 of its 76 given up runs were earned.

The defense looked like it was getting better on Thursday when Boonville committed no errors in a loss to Oneonta.

But the Lumberjacks committed five errors in a 6-4 loss to the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs which resulted in four unearned runs.

The first error came in the first inning which allowed Mohawk Valley second baseman Corey Adams to reach base. Catcher Mitch Balint hit a home run in the next at bat for his league leading 22nd and 23rd RBI.

In the third inning, Balint reached on a dropped fly ball by Boonville left fielder Matthew Layton. Balint would later score on a single from third baseman Sam Miller.

An error in the eighth inning allowed shortstop Justin Hackett to reach first and he then scored off a double from designated hitter Brian Heckelman.

In the ninth inning, a failed double play to end the inning by Boonville allowed Heckelman to score from third base.

The errors took away from great pitching performances from Boonville starter Eli Snelson and reliever Griff Minor. The two combined for eight innings pitched, 10 strikeouts and only one earned run allowed.

Righty Williams Tavarez made his season debut out of the bullpen. He pitched the ninth inning while striking out a batter and giving up one earned run.

The Lumberjacks had a big second inning where they scored three runs. Right fielder Mike Gorham brought in two runs on his first hit of the season and centerfielder Marcus Smith brought him home on a double to centerfield the next at bat.

The fourth run for Boonville came in the sixth inning when extra hitter Darnell Guerrero drove in shortstop Samuel Fleming on a single to centerfield. This gave Boonville a 4-3 lead before Mohawk Valley scored three unanswered runs.

Mohawk Valley reliever Matt Alduino was the winning pitcher. He pitched three hitless innings to end the game while striking out five. Boonville’s Tavarez received the loss.

The Lumberjacks will head to Watertown on Sunday to face the Rapids while the Diamond Dawgs will travel to Glens Falls to play the Dragons.