By Trey Didio
SHERRILL, NY — Coming into Monday, the Sherrill Silversmiths had 10 games left on the schedule and were in desperate need of some wins in order to increase their playoff chances.
After dropping game one of a doubleheader to the Syracuse Salt Cats, Sherrill got a much-needed victory thanks to a walk-off grand slam courtesy of Ka’ai Tom (Fort Scott Community College).
The second game went 10 innings, four more than the previously-scheduled seven. This was due to great pitching and defense on both sides. Scott Orr (SUNY Plattsburgh) went eight innings for the home team allowing just four hits and no runs. Thomas Moriarty (Hamilton) pitched the final two innings without surrendering a base runner and striking out three before the big home run.
“I thought all our pitchers threw the ball well today,” Sherrill manager Dennis Duffy said.
Syracuse had some great pitching of its own. Starter Shane Cochran (Saginaw Valley State) threw five scoreless innings and allowed only four hits. Bo Watson pitched the next four frames and gave up three hits while striking out four batters.
Ray Messner (Ave Maria) relieved Watson to start the tenth inning. Mike Bunal (Binghmaton) immediately doubled down the left field line to start the rally for the Silversmiths. Skyler Geissinger (Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville) came to plate with runners on first and second following an intentional walk. He blooped a single into right field to set up Tom’s game-winning blast for a 4-0 victory.
“Over the years that I’ve faced lefties, they always seem to come in so I was expecting a high fastball,” Tom said.
Moriarty picked up the win out of the bullpen and Messner received the loss.
Sherrill took an early lead in game one, but the Salt Cats scored four unanswered runs to take the first contest 4-1. Zach Tucker (Le Moyne) threw a complete game for Syracuse, allowing just one run on six hits. He also struck out five on the day. Tucker faced just four batters over the minimum thanks to poor Sherrill base running and a double play in the fourth inning.
“He (Tucker) threw really well and he minimized damage,” Duffy said. “As a pitcher, that’s the biggest thing and he did extremely well.”
Mike Piscopo put the Silversmiths ahead in the second inning with an RBI single up the middle.
Syracuse tied it at 1-1 in the fourth frame as designated hitter Kyle Feazell (Louisiana) drove home a run with a single. Zach Carlino delivered the big blow of the game in the sixth inning off of Sherrill starter Josh Webb (Utica). Carlino, the first baseman from Mount Union, hit a two-run homer to right field. Nolan Schultz (University of Rochester) added an insurance home run in the seventh inning to cap the scoring.
Tucker picked up the much-earned win. Webb received the loss for Sherrill after giving up three runs on six hits over six innings.
With the split, the Salt Cats sit at 17-15, tied for fourth place with the Hornell Dodgers. Syracuse next plays the Geneva Twins at McDonough Park on Wednesday.
Sherrill sits at 13-19, which is 3.5 games behind the Wellsville Nitros for the last playoff spot. The Silversmiths host the Oneonta Outlaws for a doubleheader Wednesday at Noyes Park with the first game slated for 3 p.m.
Leave a Reply