By Paul Gotham
ROCHESTER, NY – Dylan Sheffer (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) hurled five shutout innings in the opener leading the Monroe Community College Tribunes to a doubleheader split (2-0/8-10) with the Niagara County Community College Thunder Wolves in WNYAC action at Tribunes Field, Sunday afternoon.
Sheffer allowed just one hit, a two-out single in the first, en route to his longest outing of the fall season.
“I was able to get ahead in the count a lot,” Sheffer. “I was having batters swing early and kept the pitch-count low.”
Sheffer struck out one, started a 1-4-3 double play in the second and did not allow a runner past second base.
“He works hard,” said Monroe first-year head coach Dave Brust. “He’s very aware of his game and knows what he has to do to win.”
The sophomore right-hander has made the adjustment in his second year being able to throw his off-speed pitches in different counts.
“I love the change-up and that curveball,” Sheffer stated. “I always like to pitch backwards to hitters, and it’s been working for me.”
As a freshman, Sheffer tossed nine scoreless innings in the opener of the Region III District II. He followed that eight days later pitching into the ninth of a 4-2 victory in the opening game of the East District Tournament.
“He’s not satisfied with just being solid,” Brust commented. “He works at it. He makes changes and is willing to make adjustments.”
Austin Speaker (Buffalo, N.Y./Starpoint) retired the side in order in the sixth.
Davio Caquias (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) worked a perfect seventh for the save. The right-hander struck out one and benefited from an outstanding play in the outfield by Ellington Hopkins (Ithaca, N.Y./Lansing). The freshman left fielder made an over-the-shoulder grab at the warning track on a drive off the bat of Patrick Quinn (Elma, N.Y./ Iroquois).
Monroe got the only run it needed in the second.
Sjaghbar Martis (Curacao/Trinity Christain Academy) legged out an infield bloop single. Brett Sanders (Greece, N.Y./Greece Olympia) worked a one-out base on balls. After a balk advanced the runners, Hopkins delivered with a single through the right side of the infield.
Hopkins singled home another run in the fourth. Tim Segrue (Honeoye, N.Y./HF-L) drove a one-out base hit into center field. Sanders followed with a double to left center before Hopkins provided the timely hit.
“He’s somebody we’re going to depend upon for a lot of things,” Brust said when discussing the variety of tools Hopkins brings to the game. “It’s hard to take him out of the lineup. He has a high baseball I.Q. He’s always balanced.”
MCC looked poised for a sweep. After falling behind 7-2 in the nightcap, the Black and Gold scratched their way back, and Max Franzone (Pawling, N.Y./Trinity-Pawling) singled and scored Tommy LaCongo (Orchard Park, N.Y./ Orchard Park). On the play, Ryan Prevost (Greece, N.Y./ Greece Athena) came home on an errant throw from the outfield knotting the score at seven, but the Tribs stranded the winning run at second.
“We’re good offensively,” Brust added. “I’m impressed with our hitters’ ability to make things happen.”
Niagara County tallied three runs on three hits in the eighth for the win.
“Our pitching staff is young,” Brust said. “We have a lot of guys who are not happy with losing. I’m excited about that.”
Monroe grabbed an early lead in the second game. Hopkins led with a triple and scored on a passed ball. Angel Rosario (Bridgeport, CT/Bullard Havens) doubled home Connor Lewis (St. Marguerite D’Youville), and the Tribs held a 2-1 edge after one.
Chris Reid (Wilson, N.Y./ Wilson) tied the score with a two-out RBI double one inning later.
The Thunder Wolves extended their lead with five in the fourth. After Monroe hurlers walked the bases loaded, Jordan Koons (Oneida, N.Y./ Oneida) brought home a run, and Russell McGibbon (Pickering, ONT/Pine Ridge) doubled home a pair.
McGibbon collected three hits and three RBI in the second game.
Xavier Maira (Churchville, N.Y./ Churchville) came on in relief and struck out two to stop the bleeding.
Lewis singled home a run in the fifth.
Franzone scored on a Hopkins sacrifice fly in the sixth.
The MCC baseball program will honor pioneering head coach H. David Chamberlain in a special tribute on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Tribunes Field.
The ceremony will be part of MCC’s Alumni Week and Homecoming. The Tribunes will also take on the University of Rochester in a doubleheader that day.
Festivities are set to begin at 11 am on the 21st with a dedication ceremony to begin at 11:30 a.m. honoring Coach Chamberlain and his longtime assistant Coach Jack Christensen along with a dedicating of Tribune Baseball Monument Park.
Coach Chamberlain started the MCC baseball program and led the Tribunes for 33 years, compiling a record of 735-232. He is an MCC and NJCAA Hall of Famer.
Paul Gotham is the Director of Media Relations and Communications for the New York Collegiate Baseball League. Paul is the founder, owner, editor and lead writer at Pickin’ Splinters. His work has been featured on Seamheads.com, BruceSpringsteen.net and GoBonnies.com. His book, Everybody On, Nobody Out, chronicles the hope and possibility in the New York Collegiate Baseball League. He will also appear in USA Today’s 2013 College Basketball Preview. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PickinSplinters.
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