Article photo captured by Joey Van Allen (Instagram – joe.bros.photos)
Four games were completed on Thursday, June 8. The doubleheader between Niagara and Auburn was postponed, along with the contest between Batavia and Jamestown.
Elmira Pioneers 3, Geneva Red Wings 2
Center fielder Matt Granato (St. Thomas) scored the go-ahead run for The Pioneers in the bottom of the eighth after leading off the inning with a double. Granato finished the contest with two hits and one walk and he scored all three of Elmira’s runs.
Granato led off the bottom of the first with a single, then he came around to score the first run of the game later in the inning.
Geneva tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fifth, then Elmira took the lead back in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single from catcher John Schroeder (Florida Atlantic). Geneva tied the game again in the top of the eighth when designated hitter Ethan Swidler drove in shortstop Tyler Cerame with a base hit to left field.
Right-handed pitcher Gardner Meeks (Roanoake) earned the win for Elmira after allowing three hits, one run and two walks with five strikeouts in 3.0 innings pitched in relief, then right-hander Brendan Ferrari (UMass Boston) delivered a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts in the top of the ninth to record his first save of the season and secure the win for the Pioneers. Elmira starting pitcher Connor Lutes (Northern Illinois) went 5.0 innings and allowed just one run.
The Pioneers (3-2) will return to action on Friday when they host Finger Lakes for a non-PGCBL contest. Geneva (1-2) will take on the Batavia Muckdogs on Friday at 6:35 p.m.
Watertown Rapids 11, Boonville Lumberjacks 5
Watertown designated hitter Owen Parliament (Oswego) launched a home run for the second consecutive game as the Rapids claimed an 11-5 win over the Lumberjacks in Boonville.
Parliament smashed a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning that made it 6-0 in favor of the Rapids. He finished the contest with two hits, two runs scored and a game-high three runs batted in.
Watertown starting pitcher Ryan Peters (Brockport) allowed just three hits, two walks and one run with three strikeouts through the first 6.0 innings to improve his record to 2-0 this season.
Rapids first baseman Quinten Perilli (Elizabethtown) reached base four times with two hits and two walks to go along with two runs scored and an RBI.
First baseman Santiago Jimenez (Prince George) tallied a team-best two hits, including a double, for Boonville during the setback, while second baseman Jacob Khouri (Onondaga) recorded a base hit with a team-high two RBI.
This was the second meeting this season between the Lumberjacks and the Rapids. Boonville previously claimed a 9-1 win over Watertown at Robert Smith Sports Complex on Opening Day.
The Lumberjacks (2-3) will play at home again on Friday against Amsterdam at 6:45 p.m., while the Rapids (3-4) will travel to Mohawk Valley to take on the DiamondDawgs on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs 11, Utica Blue Sox 10
The Blue Sox and the DiamondDawgs battled for the second time this season, and once again it was a high-scoring affair. The Blue Sox previously recorded a 13-10 win over the DiamondDawgs on Opening Day, but on Thursday Mohawk Valley got some revenge with an 11-10 victory over the visiting Blue Sox at Veterans Memorial Park.
Left-hander Ethan Patch (Carson-Newman) got the win and right-hander Owen Zadrozny earned the save for MV, while left fielder Owen Pincince (New Haven) and catcher Mitch Balint (Carson-Newman) both recorded two RBI at the plate. Shortstop Justin Hackett (Bryant) and right fielder Mark Darakjy (St. Bonaventure) contributed two runs, two hits and one RBI each to the Mohawk Valley cause.
Balint currently leads all Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League hitters in doubles (5) and runs batted in (11), while Pincince and Hackett currently have a league-best eight runs scored each through six games played.
Utica center fielder Easton Brenner (Lafayette) recorded two hits, one walk, one run and a game-high three runs batted in during the setback, while shortstop Andre Demetral (NIU) added a game-high three hits, two runs and two RBI. Two of Demetral’s hits were home runs. He launched a solo home run in the bottom of the second, and another in the sixth.
Mohawk Valley will host Watertown on Friday for a 6:30 p.m. matchup, while the Blue Sox will host the Albany Dutchmen on Friday at 6:45 p.m.
Oneonta Outlaws 17, Glens Falls Dragons 7
The Outlaws scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to end the game via run rule and claim a 17-7 victory over Glens Falls. It was the second meeting of the season between the two sides, as the Dragons previously bested Oneonta by a score of 8-5 on June 4.
The Outlaws scored at least one run in seven of the eight innings, highlighted by a five-run frame in the bottom of the fifth.
Oneonta third baseman Bayram Hot (Marist) went 4 for 5 at the plate with four runs scored and an RBI, while left fielder Jack Hopko (Rhode Island) tallied three hits and a game-high five runs batted in. Center fielder Logan Haskell (Binghamton) registered three hits, three runs and three RBI, and designated hitter Dakota Britt (Herkimer) added two hits and four runs scored.
Glens Galls right fielder Odilio Cespedes (Bryant and Stratton) was a perfect 4 for 4 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI. Shortstop Nick Marola (Coker) went 2 for 2 with two walks, an RBI and a run scored for the Dragons.
Oneonta right-handed pitcher Logan Waldschmidt earned the win for the Outlaws after a quality performance out of the bullpen. Waldschmidt entered the game to begin the top of the second and he went on to complete 3.0 innings while allowing one hit, one walk and zero runs with five strikeouts.
The Outlaws will play again on Friday at Saugerties at 7:05 p.m. while the Dragons will take Friday off before hosting the Stallions for a doubleheader on Saturday at 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.