By Nick Ristoff
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Matt Mastroianni (SUNY Oneonta) went 2-4, with a home run as the Syracuse Salt Cats defeated the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs 9-6 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Onondaga Community College, Monday night.
“I got a fastball, something I wanted to drive,” Mastroianni said of his home run. “A couple of at bats earlier I was just missing a few, so I was looking for something I could get a good swing on…It felt great off the bat.”
The NYCBL’s reigning hitter of the week, Anthony Massicci (Canisius), went 3-4 at the plate for the Salt Cats, he had two RBI and scored twice.
“I just try and see the ball all the way and hit it hard… I learn every day on the field, I learn my strengths and weaknesses and come out and try to get better,” Massicci said.
Cody LaBadia (Southern Vermont Col) went 2-5, with an RBI and a run scored. .
The Salt Cats took the lead away from the Jr. Chiefs in the top of the sixth inning.
The Jr. Chiefs struck first in the home half of the first inning. The number two batter, Gabe Levanti (Northeastern) reached on a Massicci error. Vinnie Mallaro (U of Buffalo) stepped up and cracked a line drive RBI triple to left center field. Jason Lundy (Fordham) made it 2-0 Jr. Chiefs with a ground ball.
The Salt Cats answered back in the top of the third inning with three runs. Patrick Ortland (Siena) led off with a single. Two batters later, Erik Poldroo (Concordia Col) singled to center field and advanced to second on a Luke Emlings (Villanova) fielding error. Ortland scored on the play. Massicci plated Poldroo, and Thomas Nagy (Bentley) cracked an RBI single to left field that allowed Massicci to score.
The Salt Cats then added three more runs to the board in the fifth inning to take the lead 6-4. Then in the top of the sixth inning the Salt Cats tacked on two insurance runs.
Most of the game was back and forth between the two teams. For the Jr. Chiefs, Mallaro went 2-5, scored three runs, had two RBI and hit a deep home run to center field.
“My first at bat they usually throw me fastball, curveball and the second time I come up they usually throw me off speed or curveball so I’ll just sit on it and try to hit,” Mallaro said. “You can’t really be upset with today’s game I mean we had eleven or twelve hits, we’re just not getting timely hits.”
Carlos Tapia (Siena) was also productive for the Jr. Chiefs on Monday. Tapia went 3-5 with three RBI.
Yaniel Delgado (Benedict) picked up his third win of the season. The right-hander allowed four runs (two earned) on nine hits over five innings. He is 3-2.
Andrew Worth (Concordia) tossed a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season.
Evan Flanagan (Rhode Island) retired the side in order for the Salt Cats in the seventh.
Cory Fox (Adrian) pitched a shutout eighth for the Cats. The right-hander has not allowed a run in his last four appearances.
Zack Zareva (Manhattanville) took the loss. The southpaw allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits and one walk over five innings. He struck out one. Zareva is 1-4 on the campaign.
The Salt Cats (15-12) have won four straight and are tied with Sherrill’s Silversmiths (14-11) for first place in the Eastern Division. They have won all five meetings with their crosstown rivals. The Cats take to the road Tuesday to face the Cortland Crush (10-13). First pitch at Beaudry Park is slated for 7 p.m.
The Jr. Chiefs (8-18) travel to Oneonta and take on Outlaws (12-10). A 7 p.m. first pitch is scheduled at Damaschke Field.
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