By Kyle Conklin
GENEVA, NY — The Geneva Red Wings and Syracuse Jr. Chiefs met for the third time in a row and the result was no different than the previous two with the Wings walking away with a 6-4 victory in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at McDonough Park.
Red Wing reliever Justin Thigpen (Oglethorpe University) picked up the win in a game that featured 23 position players, nine pitchers, and two ejections. Thigpen pitched 2 2/3 innings allowing just one run, while Jr. Chief starter Greg Jasek (Clarkson University) took the loss giving up five runs in six innings of work striking out seven.
The Jr. Chiefs didn’t wait long to push across a run against Red Wing starter Robert Grippo (Bergen CC). Leadoff man Nicholas Sinay (University of Buffalo) reached first on a bunt single just past the reach of Grippo. Sinay then showed his speed on the base paths, stealing both second and third. Syracuse scored Sinay on an RBI ground out by Alex Caruso (St. Johns University) to give the Jr. Chiefs a 1-0 lead.
The Jr. Chiefs threatened again in the top of the second getting men on first and second with two outs. However a great leaping catch by Geneva short stop John Dockins (Kutztown University) closed out the inning to keep the score at 1-0.
The Wings attempted to close the deficit in the bottom of the second. After a strike out to start the inning, Bret Viola (Stevens Institute of Tech.) reached with a base hit to left which was followed by a Dustin Arnold (Alvernia University) walk to give the Wings runners on first and second. A fly out would make it two outs and bring leadoff hitter Zak Worsley (North Park Univeristy) to the plate. Worsley battled his way to a full count but was punched out on a strike three call to end the inning. Worsley would then be ejected from the game for arguing the call.
Syracuse scored their second run of the game in the top of the third thanks to some shaky defense by the Red Wings. After Grippo retired the first two batters of the inning Caruso walked and advanced to second after a pickoff attempt was thrown away. Connor Mathis (Mt. Union College) singled to make it first and third for Syracuse. A base hit by Noel Garcia (Northwood University) scored Caruso and made it 2-0 Jr. Chiefs.
The Red Wings bats finally woke up in the bottom of the fourth as they pushed across four runs to take a 4-2 lead. Casey Fox (Haverford College) tripled to start the inning, he was followed by a Lee Miller (Davidson College) walk. Viola delivered his second hit of the game driving in Fox to make it 2-1. Dustin Arnold (Alvernia)put down a successful sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third. A John Dockins RBI single would tie the game at two. After Viola crossed the plate to make it 3-2, the Wings added one more run thanks to a wild pitch to end the frame with a 4-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth the Jr. Chiefs threatened when loading the bases against the Geneva starter. After an error, a Caruso walk, and a single by Mathis, Syracuse looked ready to erase the deficit. However, Justin Thigpen (Oglethorpe University) came out of the bullpen and induced a 1-2-3 double play and a fly out to center field getting the Wings out of the seemingly impossible jam.
Geneva added another run in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a two-out rally. With two outs Dustin Stuck (Alvernia University) delivered a base hit back up the middle. Stuck advanced to third after the Jr. Chief catcher overthrew the first baseman on a failed pickoff attempt. Red Wing centerfielder Vernon Trice III (Oglethorpe University) doubled into the right field gap scoring Stuck and giving the Red Wings a 5-2 advantage.
The Jr. Chiefs got a run back in the top of the seventh inning. Thigpen retired the first two batters, but the next man up, Caruso, reached first on a walk. Mathis doubled to the right field wall scoring the run and making it a 5-3 ball game.
Syracuse added another run in the top of the eight to make it 5-4 thanks to a single by Alex Pigna (Ave Maria University). Pitcher Zach Augustine (Johns Hopkins) attempted a pick off at second and hang up the runner Pigna between second and third. After several throws it appeared that third baseman Fox tagged Pigna on his way back to second. However Pigna was called safe and the field umpire ejected the second baseman Scott Shields (Cuesta College) for arguing. Pigna’s aggressiveness did eventually prove costly for Syracuse as he was caught off the bag again by Augustine and thrown out at third base to end the inning.
The Wings added an insurance run in the bottom of the eight to make the score 6-4. Cam Stimpson (Monroe CC) and Arnold would reached base to start the inning. After Arnold reached base on the error, Syracuse had a lapse in concentration and went for a meeting at the mound without calling time. Alertly, Stimpson and Arnold each advanced another base which would prove costly for the Jr. Chiefs as Stimpson would later score on a wild pitch.
The top of the ninth proved eventful as the Jr. Chiefs didn’t go down with a fight. With runners on first and third and two outs, Geneva reliever George Martin (Columbia University) struck out the final Syracuse batter to pick up the save and close out the win for Geneva.
With the win Geneva improves to 16-18 as Syracuse falls to 19-16. The Red Wings and Jr. Chiefs will play again tomorrow at 3:00 at McDonough Park concluding the suspended game from Thursday. The Wings will then face the home town rivals Geneva Twins at 7:00.
Leave a Reply