Junior Chiefs to host Power in game one of the NYCBL finals

By Joe Manganiello

After sweeping the first two rounds of the East division playoffs, the Syracuse Junior Chiefs will begin the NYCBL finals at home against the Niagara Power, winners of the West division.

Last week, the Junior Chiefs defeated their cross-town rivals, the Syracuse Salt Cats, in two one-run affairs. Game one began last Friday, going ten complete innings before being suspended due to darkness. With rain spoiling the original restart on Saturday, the two teams were unable to resume play until Sunday afternoon.

JD Tyler and the Junior Chiefs completed the eleventh and final inning of game one around 5 p.m. on Sunday, securing their first victory of the series. By the end of that evening, the Junior Chiefs took game two over the Salt Cats, led by a quality start from Ethan Striz and third baseman Tim Locastro’s 1 for 3 hitting with two runs scored.

The Junior Chiefs then matched-up against the Geneva Redwings in the second round, a team who they were only 5-3 against during the regular season, including five games decided by two runs or less. With game one tied in the ninth inning, the Junior Chiefs won on a walk-off single by Brian Witkowski, which scored pinch-runner Daniel Carroll. Reliever Dean Bonneau was the winning pitcher and the final score was 7-6.

Game two against the Red Wings, was a much more comfortable game for the Junior Chiefs and their number-one ranked offense, even though the team was on the road at McDonough Park. Scoring 13 runs in the first six innings, the Junior Chiefs had five players finish with multiple hits and runs. All-Star Frank Salerno finished 4 for 7 with two runs scored. Zach Blanden finished with a game-high four RBIs on 2 for 6 hitting. Reliever Pete Doggett picked up the win in three innings of work, striking out four while only giving up one run.

In just the second summer for the Junior Chiefs under General Manager Mike DiPaulo, the team has won a division title and will be playing in the NYCBL finals. The team was an original member in the 1970s, but had been inactive in the NYCBL for most of the last three decades. The team finished with a losing record last summer, but a retooled roster that includes six all-stars and a league-leading offense has changed the team’s fate in 2012.

The Junior Chiefs will have home field advantage over the Niagara Power, as the West division champs finished 4.5 games behind the Junior Chiefs in the NYCBL standings. Niagara shot up the West division standings in the final weeks of the regular season, finishing their last 10 games with a 8-2 record.

The Power had arguably the strongest rotation in the NYCBL, with four starters that totaled at least 23 innings, five starts and three wins. Steven Beckham, who figures to start game one of the finals, finished the regular season at 4-0 with a 1.84 ERA while striking out 46 batters in just 44 innings.

Their offense is also formidable, as the team boasts eight players with a .280 average or better in at least 81 at-bats. Despite a lack of power (15 team home-runs) they had seven players collect at least 23 runs and 29 hits. First baseman Chase Lynch, who is bating .412 in the team’s four playoff games, led the team in home-runs (4), RBI (32) and hits (51).

Starting pitcher Alex Basso figures to start game one for the Junior Chiefs, as he last threw on Friday. Basso has a 5-0 record in 41 total innings this season, including 33 strikeouts against just 10 walks. All-star closer Kevin Carroll (2 saves, 17 strikeouts in 13 innings) will also be available in game one, as he last pitched on July 24.

Potential pitching match-ups beyond game one include Striz (6-0, 3.89 ERA) against either Jordan Schwartz (Regular season: 3-1, 3.09 ERA) or Rick Hubbard (Regular season: 3-3, 6.17) in game two and a possible game three showdown between Keenan Stare (0-0, 28.1 innings, 3.81 ERA in last four starts) and Jonathan Knapp (Regular season: 5-2, 4.58 ERA).

Game one is Friday evening at 3 p.m. at Hopkins Road field, the Junior Chiefs’ home field for the playoffs. Game two will be on Saturday at 7 p.m. from Sal Maglie Stadium in Niagara Falls, NY. Game three would come back to Hopkins Road field on Sunday if necessary.