Tribs miss an opportunity

By Paul Casey Gotham

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Monroe Community College Tribunes learned a painful lesson Sunday how what goes around can make like a boomerang and grab a team by the throat on the rebound.

After rallying from five down to take game one 7-5, the Tribs dropped the second game of a twin-bill to the Niagara Community College Thunder Wolves 10-2 in NJCAA action at MCC.

MCC put crooked numbers on the scoreboard in the fourth and fifth innings to key the victory.

Jalen Dennis (Aquinas) took a two-out breaking ball the opposite way plating Zach Salvia (Pittsford-Sutherland) and Brian Dixon (St. Joseph’s) as the Tribs trimmed an NCC lead to 5-3.

Ralph Alloco led the frame with a double into the corner. After Danny Mendick (Pittsford Mendon) moved the runner with a ground ball, Alloco came home on a passed ball.

The Black and Gold struck four times in the fifth.

Adam Urschel (Clarence) sent a flair into left field to start the rally. After a stolen base, Vinnie Bomasuto (Dunkirk) put runners on the corners with a bunt single. Alloco followed with a double to score Urschel. Mendick delivered Bomasuto with a ground ball. An error loaded the bases before Brad Kaczka (Pittsford-Sutherland) brought home Alloco with a walk. Frank Poerio (Hampton) singled up the middle for the 7-5 advantage.

Cody Petre (Letchworth) earned a dramatic five-out save retiring all five he faced. The sophomore left-hander came on with bases loaded and one out in the sixth before fanning the first hitter he faced and inducing a ground ball to end the threat.

The southpaw kept opposing hitters off-balance with a mix of fast balls and sliders.

“KJ showed it to me last year,” Petre explained of the slider he learned from former Tribune and now current Pitt Panther, Kevin Johnson. “It has the same release point for me as my hard stuff.”

Instead of coming over the top with a breaking ball, Petre comes with a three-quarter release.

“I just try to jay-it,” Petrexplained using a flick of the wrist to make the letter of the alphabet.

Petre threw a shutout inning in MCC’s game-two victory Saturday.

Steve Trubia (Aquinas) struck out three for the game-one win.

Nate Harris (McQuaid) started, went four innings and kept the Tribs within striking distance working out of  bases loaded jam in the second inning.

The Black and Gold looked poised for the sweep with a 2-1 lead going into the sixth inning of game two.  Five walks and a Tribune error helped the Thunder Wolves score five runs in the sixth and four in the seventh for the split.

MCC took an early lead in the second game. Urschel doubled off the fence in right field. Bomasuto moved the runner with a sacrifice bunt. Alloco kept the rally going with a fly ball that was dropped scoring Urschel.

After NCC tied the game in the fourth, the Tribunes regained the lead one inning later. Bomasuto led off and reached on an error. The freshman stole second, and Zach Salvia (Pittsford Sutherland) hit a ball deep in the hole at short. When the throw skipped past the first baseman, Bomasuto scampered home with the run.

Jimmy Gutowski (Gates-Chili) left with the lead after four.

Urschel went 4-8 on the afternoon with two doubles, two stolen bases and two runs scored.

Alloco added three hits in eight at bats with two RBI.

Bomasuto had two hits, two stolen bases, and two runs scored.

MCC stands 6-6 for the fall season. Next up for the Tribs is round one of the WNYAC tournament. NCC will return to East Henrietta Road on Tuesday for a nine-inning affair. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.