A total of five league games and one non-league game were completed on Wednesday, with victories by the Tarp Skunks (two), Dutchmen, Blue Sox, and Pioneers in league play.
Jamestown Tarp Skunks 4, Newark Pilots 3 (Game 1)
The Tarp Skunks (16-9-1) improved on their impressive record, taking game one of this doubleheader against Newark (6-18).
The scoring started for Jamestown in the bottom of the second when an RBI single from EH Evan Fragela (Pitt-Bradford) gave the Tarp Skunks a 1-0 lead. They would then add on one more in the fourth inning thanks to an RBI double from right fielder Luc Fuller (Drury), and two more runs would come in the inning after that on a pair of RBI singles to give them a 4-0 lead.
Newark would tack on three runs in the top of the sixth inning, first on a sacrifice fly, and then on a pair of errors to score left fielder Justin DiMartino (Farmingdale State) and first baseman Tatsunori Negishi (Middle Tenn. St.) to make it 4-3. Negishi reached base all three times in this contest, going 3-3 at the plate.
The score would hold there, giving Jamestown the game 1 win. Ryan Bilka (Wagner) got the victory, pitching five scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Joe Reitebach (Gannon) picked up the save.
Jamestown Tarp Skunks 7, Newark Pilots 5 (Game 2)
Jamestown’s (17-9-1) would come out on top in this one to give them the doubleheader sweep over Newark (6-19).
Newark would begin the scoring in this game, making it 1-0 in the top of the first on an RBI single from EH Tatsunori Negishi (Middle Tenn. St.). Negishi went 3-4 to give himself six total hits for the day. Pilots shortstop Michael Flaherty (Grinnell) also showed off his skills in this contest, picking up three hits of his own.
Unfortunately, some errors would prove costly for Newark, and their five runs wouldn’t match up to Jamestown’s seven. After a couple of errors by Newark scored Jamestown’s centerfielder Kieran Gagnon (Gannon) and DH Henry Juan (Williams), they’d carry this momentum into five more runs to give them seven for the game. Gagnon picked up two hits and two RBI to lead the Tarp Skunks.
Jamestown lefty Frank Villella (Nova Southeastern) got the win, picking four innings, allowing one earned run, and striking out two. Jason Masick (Wagner) earned the save.
Elmira Pioneers 5, Niagara Power 4
This tight West matchup between two of the division’s best saw Elmira (17-10) come out on top over Niagara (15-11-1).
Elmira would open up the scoring in this contest, with one run in each of the first two innings. After three more crossed in the top of the fifth, their five runs would hold there and be enough for victory. Leading the way for the Pioneers offense was right fielder John Schroeder (Florida Atlantic) who picked up three hits and third baseman Chris Bear (Northern Essex CC) who had two.
Niagara’s offense would come through at two points in the game, with three in the bottom of the third (to give them a 3-2 lead at that point), as well as one more in the bottom of the eighth. First baseman Vincent Mauro (Niagara U), shortstop Zach Evans (Lenoir-Rhyne), and second baseman Andrew Stillinger (NCCC) each picked up two hits.
The winning pitcher for Elmira was Christian Zilli (Seton Hill), who tossed five innings, giving up one earned run and striking out three. Pioneers’ lockdown reliever Brendan Ferrari (Mass Boston) picked up his fifth save of the season.
Utica Blue Sox 13, Glens Falls Dragons 0
Utica (15-10) showed off their two-way talent in this impressive win over the Dragons (11-16).
After taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, the Blue Sox added on seven more runs the next inning to take a commanding 8-0 lead. Among these highlights were a 2-run single by Utica second baseman Peter Adams (Limestone) and a bases-loaded walk from first baseman Will Shannon (Hillsdale). These two players shined in this game, with Adams’ three hits and Shannon’s four RBIs leading the way.
Glens Falls had a tough day at the plate, although shortstop Alex Sandell (Holy Cross), right fielder Cam Kelly (Kalamazoo), and left fielder Michael Magliocca (New College of Fl.) each picked up a hit.
The winning pitcher for Utica was lefty Bill Rozakis (Siena), who pitched clean fourth and fifth innings, striking out four.
Albany Dutchmen 7, Saugerties Stallions 6
Albany (11-18) came out on top in this hard-fought East Division matchup with Saugerties (15-12-1).
After some offense came through for both teams to give Albany a 4-3 advantage after three innings, neither team could bring home another run for the next four, keeping the score at 4-3 going into the eighth.
In the top of the eighth, Saugerties’ bats came back alive, to push across three runs. First, DH Corey Dowdell (Georgia Southern) came home on an error to tie the game, which was followed by a 2-run single from Hudson Brown (Kentucky) to give the Stallions a two run advantage.
However, the momentum would shift in the bottom of the inning, as an RBI single by Albany right fielder JT Vance (Mississippi) would bring them within one. Then, a pinch hitter Steven Nitch (Barry) would tie the game on an RBI double, and then score on an error to give Albany the lead back, where they’d hold on.
Jackson Smith (Kankakee CC) picked up the win for the Dutchmen, while Austin Trumpour (SNHU) got the save.
NON LEAGUE: Syracuse Salt Cats 8, Auburn Doubledays 7