By Jared Wicks
LIVERPOOL, N.Y. — The Syracuse Jr. Chiefs beat the Geneva Redwings 10-9 at Hopkins Road Field in New York Collegiate Baseball League play Saturday afternoon. The Jr. Chiefs fought back from down 8-3 in the fifth inning for the victory.
That’s two straight games the Jr. Chiefs have mounted big comebacks against the high powered Red Wings, who led early in yesterday’s 6-5 defeat 4-0 early.
“All along our first couple of games I knew we had the ability to score a bunch of runs and we weren’t putting it together but today we were able to string it together.” Jr. Chiefs manager Chris Haynes spoke about his team’s second straight winning performance.
The winning pitcher was Ryan Contegni (Ithaca College) who pitched just the seventh for Syracuse.
“It felt good to get back out there again and get the win.” Contegni said of his three appearances so far this season.
Brandon Wright (Seton Hill) picked up the two-inning save (his first of the season) giving up only one hit.
The losing pitcher was Brian Zielinski (Alvernia U) who came in to relieve starting pitcher Samuel Tinkham (Grinnell College) in the fifth. Zielinski came in and put out the fire that was the Jr. Chiefs six run fifth inning but gave up the winning RBI in the bottom of the seventh to Jr. Chiefs catcher Belyea.
The scoring all started in the bottom of the bottom of the first when the Jr. Chiefs grabbed a 1-0 lead after second baseman Matt McCann (Fairleigh Dickinson U) doubled, stole third and advanced home on a catcher error.
The Red Wings answered right back with a two-out, two-RBI single by left fielder Tommy Haas (Arkansas Pine Bluff), who on the day was 4-for-5 with four RBI as one of the bright spots for the Wings.
“He’s a guy we want in the plate in that situation when the games on the line” Geneva coach George Schaefer said of Hass chance later to tie the game in the top of the ninth with Matt Kozemchak (Lehigh U) just 90 feet from home.
Just like Friday night, the Chief’s erupted for a six-run inning to mount the rally. This time the Jr. Chiefs didn’t wait until the seventh inning to score but got the crucial hits and batted around in the bottom of the fifth right after right-hander Kevin Neumann’s (Seton Hill U) attempt to slow the down the Red Wings in the top half of the fith inning was denied seeing him last only 2/3 of an inning giving up three runs helping Geneva extend its lead to 8-3.
But the day belonged Jr. Chiefs catcher Cooper Belyea (Ithaca College) went 3-for-3 with two singles in the fifth inning alone and two RBI total including bringing home the final run in the bottom of the seventh.
“Offensively that is my best game of the summer” Belyea remarked after the game.
As for the disappointing day for Geneva, Schaefer said “We got to keep the energy and intensity up throughout the game” following Geneva’s second straight game where the ‘Wings led big early. “Even up a few runs and the other team on their toes we need to keep up the urgency.” Schaefer spoke of an attitude his team needs to take into Sherrill tomorrow hoping to snap their two-game skid.
The Jr. Chiefs finish off their season set of games at Hopkins Road Field in Liverpool Sunday at 4pm vs. the Eastern Division leading Oneonta Outlaws before hitting the road for a Wednesday night tilt in Cortland, NY against the Crush.
Contributing to this article: Nick Ristoff/New York Collegiate Baseball League
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