Webster splits with Alfred; clinches playoffs

By Paul Casey Gotham

ALFRED, N.Y. – The Webster Yankees travelled south on Route 390 Tuesday with control of their playoff destiny. The pinstripes returned with a ticket punched to the post-season.

Jason Gardner (Tusculum) hurled a complete game, and Monte Marrocco sparked the offense as the Webster Yankees took the opener of doubleheader, 6-1 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Alfred State.

Gardner tossed a two-hitter in a scheduled seven-inning affair for his second consecutive decision over the Thunder. After allowing a run in the first, the right-hander limited Alfred to a hit and a walk for the remainder. 

Webster pasted four on the scoreboard in the fourth and never looked back. Matt Boulter (So. New Hampshire) plated Tyler Grogg (Toledo) with a double to start the rally.  Blake Beemer (Ball State) brought home Matt Delewski (Toledo), and the home nine had all the runs needed.

Chase Grissom (UNC Pembroke) and Marrocco finished the inning with back-to-back RBI singles.

The Yanks added a run each in the fifth and seventh innings.

Boulter plated Grogg with a sacrifice fly to center an inning later.  Marrocco led the seventh with a double and scored on a single by Wes Winkle (Ball State).

Delewski, Beemer and Marrocco rapped two hits apiece. Marrocco also walked, scored and drove home a run.  The infielder from Winchester, Mass. has seven hits in his last four games.

Gardner held the Thunder to six hits and a run over eight innings in 6-1 victory on July 21st. He is holding opposing huitters to .184 in 38 and a third innings pitched.  

Webster fell in the night cap. Alfred scored two runs in the sixth for a come-from-behind 3-2 victory.

With the split, Webster’s record stands at 21-18 and eans a spot in the 2010 NYCBL playoffs which begin Friday. The pintripes travel to Niagara Wednesday to complete a suspended game from Saturday. The suspended affair will resume at 3 p.m. Webster’s schedule on Thursday depends upon the outcome of Wednesday’s contests. The Yanks have make-up games with both Hornell and Allegany County.