By Paul Casey Gotham
HORNELL, N.Y. – Rain threatened to stem the momentum of Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees. After vaulting themselves into potential playoff position, the pinstripes along with the rest of the NYCBL were forced to wait out summer storms of Upstate New York. Showers caused postponements, but the home nine picked up where they left off.
Cory Goeggleman (Waynesburg St.) plated Matt Boulter (So. New Hampshire) with a sacrifice fly in the top of the tenth, and Pat Corrigan (Mercyhurst) retired the side in order as Webster defeated Hornell 4-3 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Maple City Park, Monday.
The winning run was a simple end to a game that was anything but simple. Webster rallied from two down and fought off a late comeback by the Dodgers. In between the game offered two runs scoring on a wild pitch and an apparent home run called foul.
Boulter led the tenth with a double to deep center and advanced to third when the Hornell infield took a sacrifice bunt by Ollie Bertrand (Flagler) and attempted the play at third. One out later, Goeggleman lifted the game-winning sacrifice to right field.
Hornell took the lead with a pair of runs in the second. Tanner Gordon (Auburn Montgomery) plated Ray Fuentes (Rend Lake) and scored one out later on a single to right field by Derek Speaker (St. Bonaventure). Nate Chong (Presbyterian) appeared to give the Dodgers a commanding lead in the fifth, but it was ruled his fly ball hooked foul in front of the left field foul pole.
Webster took advantage of the opportunity. Wes Winkle (Ball State) singled to center scoring Matt Francis (U of R) and the Yankees had a 3-2 edge in the seventh. Bertrand led the frame with a single to center. One out later, Goeggleman singled to left. Monte Marrocco (U Mass-Lowell) loaded the bases with an infield single. Francis reached on a fielder’s choice. Goeggleman came home on a wild pitch Blake Gallacher (Oklahoma Baptist), and Marrocco surprised the Dodgers when he scampered around third to tie the score on the same errant pitch.
Hornell rallied to tie the score in the ninth, but Corrigan put out the fire striking out two of three to close the game.
“We’re doing a lot of little things right,” said Brust. “Our defense keeps us in games, and our offense forces mistakes by opponents.”
The Yankees have taken advantage of their chances.
“I have changed my mind five times on the hit that was called foul. I thought it was a home run when it left the bat, but it hooked. THAT was a play instant replay could have helped.”
Jared Locke (Toledo) held the Dodgers to one earned run over six and two-thirds. Michael Sandman (Ball State) tossed an inning and a third striking out one and walking one. Corrigan got the win – his third of the season.
Boulter, Goeggleman and Marrocco all collected a pair of hits. Marrocco is 5-11 with four runs and three RBI over his last three games.
The game was a make-up of the doubleheader scheduled for last Friday. The teams will play the second game on Thursday. Webster’s game with Allegany County originally scheduled for Sunday was also postponed. The Yankees game with Niagara was halted in the fourth. That game will be finished at Niagara on Wednesday.
Webster improves to 20-17 on the campaign and takes of the third place in the NYCBL West with five games remaining. The top four teams advance to the post season.
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