By Kyle Conklin
GENEVA, NY — The Geneva Red Wings were able to put all the pieces together and defend McDonough Park with a 4-2 victory over the visiting Oneonta Outlaws, in New York Collegiate Baseball League action, Sunday.
Pitching was key to the Wings success as starter Jordan Hanlon (Elmhurst College) put together five strong innings of work allowing just three hits, and one run. He then turned the reins over to reliever Robert Grippo (Bergen CC) who picked up the win after working two hitless innings while striking out a pair. This strong performance on the mound was capped off in the ninth by Zach Augustine (Johns Hopkins) who worked a 1-2-3 inning to pick up his first save of the season.
Early on this game had all the makings of a pitcher’s duel. Outlaw starter Jacob Cryts (Binghamton University) held the Red Wings scoreless through the first five innings mixing a variety of pitches to keep the Geneva bats off balance. The only run in the game through the first five came on a solo homerun to deep right center field by Oneonta’s Brian Kraft (Grand Canyon University).
The Geneva offense finally woke up in the sixth inning. After a ground out to start the inning Vernon Trice III (Oglethorpe University) worked a walk and followed with a stolen base. Cam Stimpson (Monroe CC) then followed suit with a walk of his own. After Trice advanced to third on a wild pitch, designated hitter Ricky Moses (Neumann College) produced an RBI ground out to score Trice and plate the first run of the game for the home team. Andrew Gronski (Case Western Reserve) then came through with a clutch two out base hit to score Stimpson and give Geneva their first lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth.
The Red Wings offense was back at it in the bottom of the seventh. Zak Worsley (North Park University) started off the inning with a base hit and advanced to second on a single by Brandon Costa (Concord University). Wings second baseman John Dockins (Kutztown University) then layed down a sacrifice bunt in which Worsley showed great hustle scoring all the way from second base after Dockins was thrown out at first.
The Outlaws were able to plate a run in the top of the eight but it could have been much more. Oneonta loaded the bases with no outs after a walk and singles by Josh Treff (North Eastern University) and Derek Hirsh (Wofford College). After Treff scored on a fielder choice Red Wing reliever Andrew Green (Franklin & Marshall College) was able to slam the door shut getting Brian Kraft to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
The Red Wings added an insurance run in the home half of the eight on a bases loaded walk by Zak Worsley before Augustine entered the game in the ninth and quickly erased any hope of an Outlaw comeback. With the win Geneva improves to 2-2 on the season as Oneonta falls to 4-3. The two teams will face off again Monday at 7:00 at McDonough Park.
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