By Justin Lada
WATERTOWN — After the 2010 season the Syracuse Salt Cats left the Eastern Collegiate Baseball League to join the New York Collegiate Baseball League, the same year the Watertown Wizards left the NYCBL to join the new league, the Perfect Game Collegiate League.
Thanks to an exhibition game on Flag Day, the two teams were able to meet for the first time in an inter-league matchup. The Salt Cats got a great start from Maso Cotton (Virginia State University) despite blowing a late lead and eventually fell 6-3, at the former New York-Penn League stadium, Duffy Fairgrounds.
Cotton’s second outing of the season went six strong innings, allowing just two runs (one earned) on three hits. He walked three and struck out five in taking the no decision.
For the third straight game the Salt Cats found themselves playing catch up thanks to an error. Leadoff hitter Calvin Graves bunted to lead the first off inning for the Wizards. While Kevin Bailey (Alvernia) attempted to throw Graves out on the bunt, the throw sailed to the right, sending the speedy Graves to third. He would later score on a groundball double play, making it 1-0.
The Salt Cats fought right back, plating a pair in the second inning. Bailey and Andrew Mederios (Westfield Stae) singled and went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Mike Mascari (Oneata State)
Corbin Gapski (Farleigh Dickinson) plated the pair of Syracuse runners with a hit, his first two RBIs of the season. Gapski would later score the third and final Salt Cat run in the fourth as Dan Fiorito (Manhantanville) reached on an error by the Wizards shortstop Sal Ciccone.
Watertown also plated a run in the fourth, with Cole Gleason scoring on a two out, RBI single by Dustin Exford.
Sean Gavin (Colorado State-Pueblo) made his first appereance of the season, throwing a perfect seventh inning, with a strikeout.
The Salt Cats saw their lead dwindle and vanish in the eighth. Matt Larangera (Rutgers-Newark) was only able to record one out, walking a batter and hitting two to load the bases.
Roberto Morales (Walsh University) came in and gave up back to back doubles. Nine batters would come to the plate in the eighth inning, with four of them crossing home plate safely, sending the Salt Cats to a 6-3 defeat.
For the game the Salt Cats left 10 on base and out hit the Wizards, 6-4.
Syracuse is back in action on Friday as they travel to Hopkins Road Field to take on the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs at 5 p.m. Zack Sutherland (0-1) will get his second start of the season.
Follow the Salt Cats on twitter @SyrSaltCats and on facebook at Syracuse SaltCats
Leave a Reply