BOONVILLE, N.Y. – Rumors of their demise may have been greatly exaggerated. Two days removed from dwelling in the basement of the New York Collegiate Baseball League’s Eastern Division, the Geneva Red Wings have won back-to-back games and have given life to their playoff possibilities.
Chris Murphy (Texas Christian U.) hurled a complete game, and Grant Heyman (Miami) connected for another home run as the Red Wings defeated the Adirondack Trail Blazers, 6-1 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at the Robert Smith Sports Complex, Sunday.
Murphy struck out six, walked one and surrendered seven hits and one earned run for his third win of the season. After allowing three hits and one run in the second, the right-hander form Newark, DE settled down and allowed just one baserunner (a single by Vincent Barbados in the fifth) between the fourth and eighth innings.
Heyman gave Geneva its first lead, and the Red Wings never looked back. Heyman drilled a one-out two-run shot in the sixth to give the Red Wings a 3-1 lead.
The blast was Heyman’s fifth of the season. The Pittsford, New York native was a late signing for the Wings. He has played just 10 games and made 48 plate appearances. He has 15 RBI on the season.
Chris Ray (Alvernia) walked to lead the frame and scored on Heyman’s shot.
Geneva added three insurance runs in the eighth. Brian Sullivan (Clark) singled and came around to score on a Dave Saluga (Youngstown St.) triple. Saluga and Joe Blair (Mid-Continent U) scored when Cam Stimpson (Alvernia) reached on an error.
Ray went three-for-three with two walks and one run scored. He led four Wings with multiple hits.
Murphy has won his last two decisions. In his last start, he allowed three runs over eight innings but did not figure in the decision.
The victory came less than 24 hours after an extra-inning walk-off victory over the Utica Brewers. Ricky Moses II (Southern) drilled a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 11th plating Robbie Enslen (Oakland) for the 7-6 triumph.
The win came after the Wings gave up a two-run lead in the ninth. Daniel De La Calle (Miami Dade) doubled home Eros Modena (Indian River St.) and Kenny Durling (Misericordia) to send the game to extra innings.
The Toronto Blue Jays chose Heyman out of high school in the 11th round with 355th overall pick of the 2012 draft.
A recent change in the NYCBL eligibility rules allowed Heyman to play right away. Prior to last season only current NCAA student-athletes with one year of experience playing in college and at least one year of eligibility remaining could participate in the NYCBL and other NACSB-sanctioned leagues. The rule change allows drafted high school players to participate immediately.
Heyman joins Lake Ontario’s Brennan Henry as the two current NYCBL players taken in the MLB Draft. The Philadelphia Phillies chose Henry in the 25th round with the 788th overall pick. Henry chose to return to school and recently started playing with the Ridgemen.
Jon Leroux (Northeastern) started the season with Geneva. The 31st round pick of the New York Mets currently plays with Kingsport Mets of the Rookie Appalachian League.
Geneva (14-22) hosts the first-place Syracuse Jr. Chiefs. Monday night. The Red Wings are currently half-game back of the Syracuse Salt Cats who hold the fourth and final playoff spot in the east.
Adirondack (21-15) travels to Auburn for a 4 p.m. start with the Salt Cats (14-21) at Falcon Park.
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