By Paul Casey Gotham
(Webster, N.Y.) For the second time in three nights the Webster Yankees used late-inning heroics for a win.
Chase Grissom (UNC-Pembroke) beat out an infield single and plated Matt Delewski (Toledo) with the eventual winning run as the Yankees knocked out the Niagara Power 5-3 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Basket Road Field.
Webster sent nine batters to the plate in the eighth scoring five runs on three hits. Bryan Deuel (UMass-Lowell), seeing his first action of the season, led the frame with a walk. Monte Marrocco (UMass-Lowell) came on to pinch run. Tyler Grogg (Toledo) reached first on a hit by pitch. Wes Winkle (Ball State) loaded the bases with an infield single.
Delewski chased Niagara starter, Sam Moore, (Oral Roberts) with a single to right field scoring Marocco and Grogg. After Ollie Bertrand (Flagler) walked to load the bases, Matt Boulter (So. New Hampshire U) brought home Marocco with a sacrifice fly to left field.
Bertrand eventually crossed home on a wild pitch.
After struggling through the first four innings, JWebster starter, Joe Akel (Canisius), retired six of the last eight batters he faced.
Adam Sullivan (Canisius) picked up the win in relief tossing two scoreless stanzas.
Tim Johnson (St. John Fisher) worked the ninth for his first save of the year.
Webster defense turned a handful of stellar plays. Blake Beemer (Ball State) had his third outfield assist of the week. For the second time, Beemer surprised an opposing batter. Niagara’s Jordan Vierra singled to right, or so he thought. Beemer quickly charged on the play and made the throw to Delewski at first for the out. Beemer duplicated the effort Wednesday against Elmira. The right fielder from Clayton, Ohio also gunned down a runner at the plate in Webster’s victory Wednesday.
Bertrand turned in one of two double plays on the night when he fielded a ground ball at third, touched the bag and threw to Delewski at first. Webster ended the game on a 6-4-3 double play – Boulter to Marrocco to Delewski.
Moore retired 12 consecutive limiting the Yankees to two hits through the first seven innings. The right-hander from Tempe, Arizona struck out five and walked three. Niagara took an early lead scoring two in the second and one in the fourth.
“Does this team drive you crazy?” commented coach Dave Brust. “I can’t believe we won that game. That was an ugly first seven innings and a beautiful last two.”
Webster scored eight runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Elmira Wednesday.
Webster improves to 2-2 with the win. The pinstripes host Allegany County Saturday. First pitch is 4 p.m. at “The Basket.” Out-of-town fans can listen to the game on TEAMLINE – your internet home for the New York Collegiate Baseball League.
Had fun watching the Yankees play last night. Had even more fun listening to Casey on the PA system. And now I am enjoying Casey’s literary venture; “Everybody On, Nobody Out”. So well written that I feel like I am at the ball park still, or standing in the middle of the lives of the 2007 Webster Yankees. A good read; a MUST read.
Can we get that put on the back of the book?
I say, “back to the presses”!
BTW, I think we have to start thinking of a baseball-type nickname for the author. So far these have crossed my barren mind: Baron of the Bench, The Pine Czar and his book(s) become the Pine Czar’s Incidents! Also BTW, the names of the 2010 Webster Yankees (and last night’s opponent) are such CLASSIC baseball names. Check them out on the team web page. If I was writing baseball FICTION, theirs would be the names I would use. PS: Thank you Casey for the “Insight of the Week”! Along with the helmet sticker I now feel like a celebrity!
You guys are too kind.
I can only pray that “back to presses” is a reality.
Pete, it was great seeing you at “The Basket.” I am happy you enjoyed the experience.
You have no idea how much it means to me that you are enjoying the book.
This nickname while mowing the lawn and wacking my thumb with a set rat trap: Casey at the Keyboard (I do not believe the name was inspired by the backyard adventures.)
This while sitting in the car waiting to assess the damages to our budget inflicted by my wife at Kohl’s: The Wizard of Wiseword