By Paul Gotham
GENEVA, NY – Rumors of the Geneva Red Wings demise may have been slightly exaggerated. Mired in a seven-game stretch where they dropped six, the Red Wings have responded with four straight victories, and the New York Collegiate Baseball League playoffs lie within reach.
The latest victory took nearly 36 hours to complete, but the Red Wings left no doubt.
After giving up a seven-run lead, the Geneva Red Wings scored eight unanswered and defeated the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs, 15-8 in a suspended NYCBL game at McDonough Park, Friday afternoon.
Deadlocked at eight in the fifth, Geneva scored three runs on two hits to regain the lead.
“We put this roster together many months ago to be a deep roster,” said Geneva head coach Ross Trachtenberg. “It’s paying off right now. We got fresh legs out there.”
Dustin Stuck (Alvernia) led the frame with a walk. Aaron Tovsky (Davidson) followed with a base hit. After a wild pitch put runners on the corners, Lee Miller (Davidson) delivered with an RBI sacrifice fly to right field. Casey Fox (Haverford) plated Tovsky from first when his line drive beat Syracuse centerfielder, Alex Caruso (St. John’s).
Tovsky, Miller, and Fox combined for eight hits, nine RBI and eight runs scored.
“They work as hard as anyone,” Trachtenberg said of the trio. “Those three guys are as hard as nails. They come to the ballpark early. They’re taking every extra opportunity to get better, and it pays off in the game. It’s that type of mentality that helps teams win down toward the end.”
Originally slated for Wednesday night, the game was suspended when two banks of lights malfunctioned at McDonough Park. Early in the game Friday afternoon, the Jr. Chiefs looked the better for the inconvenience.
The Jr. Chiefs tallied twice in the third. Noel Garcia (Northwood) brought home Caruso with a sacrifice fly, and Nick Sinay (University at Buffalo) scored on a Pat Wright (Le Moyne) single.
That was just an appetizer.
The Jr. Chiefs sent 10 to the plate in a six-run fifth and looked ready to run away with the game.
Aaron Pigna (Ave Maria) started the stanza with a base on balls. Sinay singled. Garcia loaded the bases with a base hit. Wright drove in the first run of the inning with a hit. Ryan Clark (UNC-Greensboro) kept the inning going when he was hit by a pitch. Gabe Levanti (Virginia Tech) singled home a run. Gary Jones (Delaware) brought home a run with a sacrifice fly, and Caruso capped the frame with an RBI hit.
But the Jr. Chiefs battled two foes on this afternoon. Having to complete two suspended games, Syracuse played in sweltering summer temperatures. The effect was evident as the Red Wings scored a run in the sixth and added three in the eighth.
Stuck led with a walk in the sixth and scored when Brian Weightman (St. Bonaventure) reached on an error.
Tovsky started the eighth with a walk. Weightman drilled a line drive over shortstop. Miller reached on a fielder’s choice. Fox singled home a run, and Brandon Costa (Concord) doubled inside the bag at first scoring two.
Meanwhile, Andrew Green (Franklin and Marshall) came on and pitched a perfect eighth for the Red Wings.
“He’s had an up and down season definitely from early on,” Trachtenberg said. “He’s really settled into a good role, worked on his mechanics and is throwing a good ball right now.”
“I was just throwing strikes, letting them make contact and get themselves out,” Green commented. “I like the role. I am happy in the eighth.”
Lee Penzerella (Case Western Reserve) came on and worked a scoreless ninth.
Syracuse defeated the Geneva Twins earlier in the day, 15-8.
Fox had five hits in six trips with five RBI and two runs scored
Game time temperatures hovered near 95 degrees.
The Red Wings will play the Geneva Twins later in the day. The in-house rivals meet for a 7 p.m. first pitch.
The Jr. Chiefs get a day off before hosting a doubleheader with the Sherrill Silversmiths, Sunday. First pitch at Hopkins Road Park is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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