By Paul Gotham
ROCHESTER, NY — Monroe’s nine went to work Tuesday afternoon. The Tribunes more than got the job done.
The Monroe Community College baseball team (9-8) pounded out 19 hits en route to a doubleheader sweep (15-0/13-1) of the Corning Community College Red Barons in NJCAA action at Tribune field.
Andrew Segar (Mendon, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) paced the attack with four base raps on the afternoon including run-scoring hits in the first inning of both games. Segar plated Connor Lewis (Brampton, ONT/St. Marguerite d’Youville) with the third of four runs in the first inning of the opener as the Tribs never trailed in either game.
“I’m glad to see him perform,” Monroe coach Dave Brust said of his freshmen outfielder. “A guy who hasn’t had a lot of playing time , and he was given the opportunity. It’s something we talk about all the time. When you’re given the opportunity, you need to perform. He proved to us that he’s ready to contribute on a regular basis.”
Segar brought home Sjaghbar Martis (Willemstad, Curacao/Trinity Christian Academy) and Angel Rosario (Bridgeport, CT/Bullard Havens) with a first pitch one-out double in the first inning on the nightcap.
“I was just trying to see the ball and swing as well as I can,” Segar commented. “He just gave me my pitch there on the first pitch. I just took a hack.”
Mike DiStefano (Greece, NY/Greece Athena) followed with a three-run blast over the left field fence, and the Tribunes were on the way to their second blowout of the day.
“That’s another step in the right direction for out team maturity,” Brust added. “A doubleheader is like two halves of a football game. You got to go out and pick up where you left off. You got to get going in the right direction. Do your job. You’re in there to swing the bat, get in there and swing the bat. Because we’re so young, it’s been a constant issue to mature into a team that takes advantage of another team’s mistakes. We’re getting there. It’s nice to see us get out there and swing the bat.”
Meanwhile a quartet of Tribune hurlers allowed just one unearned run on the afternoon.
Dylan Sheffer (Penfield, NY/Penfield) tossed four shutout innings in game one for his first win of the season. The sophomore right-hander allowed two hits and walked one over four complete.
Nick DiBenedetto (Nanuet, N.Y./Nanuet) struck out six over four full for his second victory of the season. The right-hander has fanned 16 over 18.1 innings on the season.
“They’re both strike throwers,” Brust said of his two starters. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a conference game. It doesn’t matter if it’s someone who is out of conference. They’re going to go out there and do what they need to do to win the baseball game. That was good modeling for the younger players.”
Both sophomores retired the side in order in two different innings.
“Regardless of the score you compete,” Brust continued. “They understand respecting your opponent, and they understand making sure you get your work in. They’re not distracted by anything other than competing and winning.”
Monroe sent nine to the plate in its first at bat. Martis delivered the first run with a single to right field scoring Rayshelon Carolina (Willemstad, Curacao/St. Jozef Academy). Rosario brought home a run with a bases loaded walk, Tim Segrue (Mendon, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) capped the inning with sacrifice fly to center scoring Martis.
Monroe put crooked numbers on the board in each inning of game one.
Chevy Maira (Churchville, NY/Churchville) retired all three batters he faced.
Austin Speaker (North Tonawanda, NY/Starpoint) tossed a scoreless inning in game two.
Carolina walked three times and collected one hit. The sophomore outfielder stole four bases and scored four runs.
Jimmy Latona (Churchville, NY/Churchville) drove in four and scored three on three hits.
Rosario received four free passes and three runs.
Martis went three for three with four RBI and three runs scored.
Lewis plated four with two base raps while crossing the dish twice. The freshman infielder walked twice.
Segar drove in five.
Monroe hosts Finger Lakes Community College on Thursday. Game one first pitch is scheduled for 2 pm.
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