By Jared Wicks
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — An error-filled third inning proved to be the difference in the Syracuse Salt Cats 4-1 victory over the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs in New York Collegiate Baseball League play at Onondaga Community College, Sunday night.
Salt Cats designated hitter Cody LaBadia (Southern Vermont College) led off the third inning with a triple. Adam Thoryk (St John Fisher College) plated the Cats first run with a single.
That was the only earned run the Salt Cats picked up all night.
Two big errors followed. Jr. Chiefs starter, Iannick Remillard (Canisius College) dropped a Nick DeRegis (University of Rhode Island ) pop up, and Ryan Roman (Concordia College) mishandled an Anthony Morino (Mt Union College) ground ball to load the bases.
Anthony Massicci (Canisus College) followed and took a second pitch fastball from his college teammate Remillard and sent it to right center for a bases-clearing triple giving the ‘Cats a 4-0 lead they never surrendered.
That was enough run support for Kyano Cummings (Siena College) to pick up his second win of the season. The southpaw allowed one run on five hits and two walks over six innings. The Brewerton, N.Y. native struck out five and retired nine of the last ten batters he faced.
He was pulled from the game in the seventh following bases loaded RBI single from Brian Dudek (University of Buffalo) to put the J-Chiefs on the board 4-1.
Remillard made his first start for the Jr. Chiefs turning in a solid 6.2 innings pitched, walking two and striking out four. The Valleyfield, Quebec native joined the team just last week and turned in four-inning relief effort versus Oneonta striking out six.
“I saw him pitch the other night and he was dominating,” Jr. Chiefs coach Chris Haynes remarked. “I knew he could give us a quality start tonight which he did.”
Remillard faced the minimum in his first two innings of work before getting into the third-inning jam.
Andrew Congleton (Mesa CC) came on in relief and threw just four pitches to get Matthew Kozuch (Fordham U) to hit into a fielder’s choice at home and Matt McCann (Fairleigh Dickinson) to hit into a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning without further damage.
The Jr. Chiefs never really threatened after that as Andrew Worth (Concordia College) nailed down the save in the ninth going 1-2-3 including striking out the final two batters.
The hard luck loss went to Remillard (0-1) who still saw some positives in only his second NYCBL game.
Remillard, a reliever at Canisus, referred to the value of pitching against wood bat hitters in helping his pitch selection.
“With metal bats players get more singles through,” Remillard said. “Here I can pick my pitches better and induce more ground balls.”
The Salt Cats are now 5-0 on the season versus their Onondaga stadium co-inhabitants.
“We’re playing good execution baseball, fundamental stuff always makes us a better team.” Salt Cats manager Mike Martinez said after the game about his team’s success.
LaBadia went 2-for-3 on the night and reached base three times for the Salt Cats. Tom Nagy (Bentley University) went 2-for-2 with a double and a stolen base. He also reached when he was hit by pitch.
The J-Chiefs Gabe Lavanti (Northeastern U) went 2-for-4.
The Salt Cats (14-12) moved into a virtual four-way tie atop the Eastern Division with Oneonta (11-9), the Geneva Red Wings (12-10) and Sherrill Silversmiths (13-11). The Cats are 5-0 against their Salt City rivals. They will look to finish off a four-game sweep of the Jr. Chiefs (8-17) Monday night. First pitch at Onondaga Community College is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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