By Trey Didio
SHERRILL, NY – The fourth and fifth innings proved to be the difference in Wednesday’s New York Collegiate Baseball League game between the Sherrill Silversmiths and the Oneonta Outlaws.
Oneonta pushed across five runs in the fourth inning and followed that up with four more in the next frame. Both innings were highlighted by three-run home runs. The first was courtesy of Howard Joe (Mercy University) while Ryan Tomita (Grand Canyon University) connected with a long ball to left field. Joe finished with four RBI to pace the Outlaws.
Sherrill had the lead going into the fourth inning thanks to a five-run third. Zack Kessinger singled home two runners. In his first at-bat in the first inning, Kessinger also had an RBI single. Third baseman Connor Breslin (Maryland Eastern Shore) celebrated his 20th birthday with an RBI single of his own in the third.
“We got the lead early and we have to do a better job keeping it,” Silversmiths’ manager Dennis Duffy said.
The game was locked at 6-6 going into the fifth inning when Josh Webb (Utica College) relieved Sherrill starter Payton Logan. Webb surrendered the four runs in the fifth inning to pick up the loss, yet settled down the next four innings by not allowing a single baserunner. He received the loss.
Ka’ai Tom (Fort Scott Community College) led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to right field, his third on the year, all coming at Noyes Park. Shortstop Dylin Eschenburg (Saginaw Valley State) picked up an RBI single in the sixth to cut Oneonta’s lead to 10-8.
Sherrill missed a huge opportunity in the following inning. Two singles that sandwiched a walk led the bases with one out for the Silversmiths. Brandon Agar (North Georgia) came in for the Outlaws and quickly struck Sherrill designated hitter Matt Ederle. He then induced Max Nagelsmith (Le Moyne) to ground out to short to end the threat.
“We got an opportunity there, and we just didn’t execute,” Duffy said.
Agar struck out one batter in each of the three innings he pitched while not allowing a hit. He earned the save for Oneonta. The winning pitcher turned out to be Jacob Cryts. Cryts (Binghamton) gave up four runs, two earned, on five hits.
Of the 18 runs between the two squads, only 10 were earned. The teams combined for eight errors, four a piece. Sherrill left nine men on base and could not capitalize on the errors committed by the Outlaws. Oneonta did take advantage and scored six unearned runs.
Oneonta improved to 8-6 overall, good for fourth place in the league. They host the Silversmiths tomorrow (Thursday) at Damaschke Field. Sherrill fell back to an even .500 on the year at 8-8. After traveling to Oneonta for a game, the Silversmiths return to Noyes Park and take on the Syracuse Junior Chiefs.
Leave a Reply