By Paul Gotham
BATAVIA, NY – With the top spot in hand for the upcoming regional tournament, the Monroe Community College baseball team headed west to take on rival Genesee Community College. After a sloppy loss (8-7) in game one, Monroe rebounded for a convincing triumph in the night cap.
Spencer Scorza (Penfield, NY/Penfield) drove home three as the MCC Tribunes (28-12/8-4) defeated the GCC Cougars (19-10/4-7) 8-1 for a doubleheader split in WNYAC action Saturday at Dwyer Stadium.
Scorza’s RBI single up the middle off Genesee starter Ryan DiMartino (Batavia, NY/ Batavia) highlighted a two-run third as the Tribunes jumped to a commanding 4-0 lead and never looked back.
“It was a first pitch fast ball,” Scorza explained. “I try to stay aggressive with every at bat. I don’t want to get cheated. He left it up. I usually live up the middle. That’s my spot.”
Brad Kaczka (Pittsford, NY/ Pittsford Sutherland) came around to score on the play. AJ Kehlenbeck (Oakfield, NY/ Oakfield-Alabama) added a run when his ground ball was mishandled, and Vinny Bomasuto (Dunkirk, NY/ Dunkirk) came home for a 4-0 Tribune lead.
Nick DiBenedetto (Nanuet, NY/ Nanuet) worked six innings for his fifth win of the season. The freshman right-hander retired the first seven batters he faced before allowing one earned run on six hits.
“My focus on the mound was just to come out and get the win,” DiBenedetto said. “You got to make a statement the whole year, every game. It’s important.”
DiBenedetto struck out two and walked one.
Xavier Maira (Chili, NY/ Churchville-Chili) worked a scoreless seventh.
Monroe put a pair on the board in the first. Rayshelon Carolina (Willemstad, Curacao/ St. Jozef Secondary) led with a walk and scored from first on Bomasuto’s second triple of the day and nation-leading 18th of the season. Scorza brought home Bomasuto with a ground ball to the right side of the infield.
The Tribunes added three insurance runs in the sixth. Cameron Scalzo (Webster, NY/ Webster Thomas) reached when he was hit by a pitch. Angel Rosario (Bridgeport, CT/ Bullard Havens) followed with a single through the right side putting runners on the corners. Carolina plated Scalzo with a sacrifice fly. After Rosario stole second, Kaczka singled him home. One out later, Scorza delivered his third RBI of the game.
“The last time (in the regular season) we play GCC we don’t want to lose,” Scorza added. “It’s important to put doubt in their mind for next week. Keep rolling. Every game is important.”
Danny Mendick (Pittsford, NY/ Pittsford Mendon) singled and scored on a wild pitch in the seventh.
MCC scored three in the first inning of the opener but could not hold on for the victory. The usually solid Monroe defense proved porous. Three errors led to Genesee’s last three runs.
Carolina started the twinbill with a base hit. The freshman outfielder stole second and third. When the throw to get him at the hot corner went into left field, Carolina came home with the first run of the afternoon. Kaczka reached on a HBP, and Bomasuto banged his first three-bagger of the game. Scorza also reached on a HBP and eventually reached home on an RBI hit from Angel Diaz (Humacao, PR/ Geneva).
Monroe looked poised for another dramatic late-inning victory. Scorza sparked a two-run rally to knot the score in the seventh. The 6’5” sophomore doubled over the third base bag starting the frame. Two outs later, Mendick reached on an infield single. Brett Sanders (Greece, NY/ Greece Olympia) brought home Scorza with a hit. Rosario plated Mendick with a single up the middle, for 7-7 tie.
But GCC got a walk off win in the bottom of the inning. Shakeel Newton (Christiansted, Virgin Islands) reached on a fielder’s choice and scored from first when a Brandon Collins (Toronto, Ontario) single got through the Monroe outfield.
Scalzo reached base three times in the second seven with two base raps and a HBP.
Monroe hosts the Ontario Terriers to close the regular season. A 1 p.m. first pitch is scheduled Sunday at Tribunes Field. The Black and Gold will seek to claim their 24th Region III title later on next week. Game times to be announced.
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