By Cameron Boon
WEBSTER, N.Y. — Connor Grey (St. Bonaventure U), Jeff Beall (Urbana U) and Seth Cornell (Houghton College) combined for a four-hit shutout and the Hornell Dodgers got a two-hit day from Jordan Climpson (Cameron U) as they defeated the Rochester Ridgemen 3-0 Wednesday night at Basket Road Field in a New York Collegiate Baseball League Western Division matchup.
The reigning league finalist handed the Ridgemen their first loss of the season, but it was not an easy one.
Grey finished with 6.1 innings of work, striking out six while only walking one. He also allowed all four hits and stranded the bases loaded in the second inning.
Beall and Cornell combined to hold Rochester hitless over the last 2.2 innings of play as the Dodgers made it three wins in a row to start the season.
“Both starters were outstanding,” Dodger coach Tom Kenney said after the game.
The first three batters of the game for Hornell reached base, but Ridgemen starter Connor Hamilton (Cedarville U) was able to get Dylan Dunn (St. Bonaventure U) to ground into a double play to end the threat, one of eleven ground ball outs along with a pair of fielders’ choices caused by his sinkerball style pitching.
“The more ground balls the better,” Hamilton said afterwards.
Along with the ground balls, he was also able to shut down a normally potent Dodger offense, one that had put up 21 runs combined in its first two games of the year. He held Hornell to only four hits and one earned run in his eight innings of work while striking out three batters.
“You can’t ask for much more out of a start than that,” Rochester coach Brady James said.
The Ridgemen threatened in the bottom of the second, loading the bases with one out. Matt Emge (University of Pittsburgh) doubled, then Alex Storaci (Blue Mountain CC) was hit by a pitch and Alexander Mumm (Judson U) singled to fill them up. Grey worked out of the jam, though. He was able to get both Chase Burrow (University of Mary Hardin-Baylor) and Andy Santana (Geneva College) to strike out swinging to end the inning.
“I wanted to just get one and then rely on my defense to get the other,” Grey said.
Rayshelon Carolina (Monroe CC) scored the first run of the game in the top of the third. After reaching on a fielder’s choice and stealing second, Brandon Sandoval (Vanguard U) roped a single, scoring Carolina and giving the Dodgers the lead they would not relinquish.
But, thanks to Hamilton, they weren’t able to expand on either.
“We couldn’t get to their bullpen and that was key,” Kenney said.
After getting the last two outs in the bottom of the second, Grey went on to set down Rochester’s hitters in order the next four innings, producing a streak of 14 retire batters in a row. “I got chances to break the curveballs and sliders and those worked,” Grey said.
The streak ended in the bottom of the seventh, and again the Ridgemen were able to load the bases. A pitch hit Luna, and Zane Mapes (Kansas City Kansas CC) ran for him. Mapes was then picked off in a crucial play because on the next pitch, Emge roped his second double of the game. This was a hit that would’ve likely scored Mapes and tied the game.
Nevertheless, Rochester was still able to load the bases after Storaci walked and Mumm singled. But, as it was in the bottom of the second, it was Burrow and Santana going down. Burrow hit an infield fly, and Santana flied out to end the inning.
“I think we forgot how good of a ball club we are today and the grind got to us,” James said.
Beall and Cornell were able to close the deal with a scoreless eighth and ninth, and got a little help in the ninth, with a pair of insurance runs. “You have to tip your hat to all three of those guys,” James said.
Thaddeus Johnson (St. Bonaventure U) roped an RBI triple all the way to the center field fence, scoring Sandoval and making it 2-0. He then scored on Hank Morrison’s (Mercyhurst College) sacrifice fly, giving the Dodgers the final 3-0 margin.
Hornell will look to make it four in a row to start the year when they play the opener of a three-game set with the Geneva Twins, June 5 at Maple City Park. The Ridgemen start a home back-to-back with the Genesee Rapids, June 5 back at Basket Road Field.
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