By Kathryne Davis
SHERRILL, N.Y. — Billy Whaley (Norwich) went the distance in the nightcap as the Geneva Red Wings swept the Sherrill Silversmiths (9-7/5-1) in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Noyes Park, Friday.
Whaley allowed one run on four hits in a scheduled seven-inning game. The right-hander struck out six and walked two for his third win of the season. He lowered his ERA 1.39 on the season – fourth best in the NYCBL.
Sherrill grabbed an early lead in game two as Nick Duarte (Siena College) doubled and scored on a Bryan Baquer (Washington College) single. This would be Sherrill’s only run of the game as it was all Red Wings after the second.
Wild pitches proved to be troublesome in the fourth for the home team. One moved the runners up and a passed ball led to Sam Kim (Hawaii Hilo) scoring. In the same at-bat, Cameron Coons (Alvernia U) singled and Travis Kreitz (Kutztown U) scored.
Geneva got a single run in the fifth as Connor Gunn (Amherst College) hit a solo shot.
Zach Vennaro (Monroe CC) took the loss after allowing four runs in five innings.
Kim, Coons and Gunn each had two hits. Coons and Gunn each drove in a run while Kim scored two runs. Gunn also scored a run.
Reid Neal (Florida Atlantic U) went 2-5 with a single and a home run in game one, but it was not enough for the Smitties.
Neal hit a game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of seventh to keep his team alive and send the game into extra innings after Ellington Hopkins (Monroe CC) walked to start off the inning.
“I got a strike left over the plate and I got lucky,” Neal said.
In the fifth inning, Neal singled and was able to score on a Kevin Brice (Pomona-Pitzer College) home run.
Alex Saville (Monroe CC) hit a shot on the first pitch of the at-bat that barely cleared the fence for a home run in the third. Geneva right fielder Travis Kreitz (Kutztown) nearly made the play at the fence.
In the fourth, the Red Wings were able to take the lead on back-to-back sacrifice flies. Mark Huddle (John Carroll U) and John Cruz (Dowling College) each scored for Geneva.
The Silversmiths rallied in the fifth. Dalton Rook (Ft Scott CC) scored on a fielder’s choice. Hopkins came in to score later in the inning. Soon after, Brice hit his home run. Sherrill led 5-2.
The back-and-forth continued as the Sherrill lead once again vanished. Geneva also put up four runs in the sixth. Cruz scored after an error by the left fielder and Clint Roche (Marietta College) scored in the next-at bat. Later in the inning, Chris Burns (Alvernia U) scored on a Kim single. Andrew Utterback (Alabama A U) scored the final run of the inning after the ball got by the catcher.
Cruz scored again for the Red Wings in the top of the seventh. He reached by on an error by the first baseman and scored on a Burns double.
After the Neal home run, the Silversmiths had an opportunity to win the game but stranded a runner at third base. Head Coach Greg Dombrowski said he told his team to “keep battling” and to get “quality at-bats.”
In the ninth, the Red Wings scored two and held on to win. Roche crossed the plate on a passed ball, and Ricky Gorrell (Kutztown U) scored on an error.
Roche collected two hits in the game, scored twice and knocked in a run.
Ben Ryder (Alabama A U) picked up the win after pitching 1.2 scoreless innings without allowing a hit.
Alex Summers (Neumann College) earned the save for holding the Silversmiths scoreless in the ninth.
Marc Iseneker (St. John Fisher) took the loss, pitching 3.1 innings and allowing four runs to score.
Sherrill had to get over the tough loss fast, as the team had another game right after.
“I think we regrouped fine,” said Dombrowski.
Kim tripled to start off the sixth and scored on a passed ball. Kreitz scored another run in the game. This was off of a Gunn single.
“Tomorrow will be a long day of baseball,” said Dombrowski. He added that the team will be practicing early before making the trip to Syracuse.
Zach Vennaro (Monroe CC) took the loss after allowing four runs in five innings.
Kim, Coons and Gunn each had two hits. Coons and Gunn each drove in a run while Kim scored two runs. Gunn also scored a run.
Sherrill (14-14) will go on the road Saturday to face the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs (9-20) at 7 p.m. Geneva (16-11) will also travel to Syracuse, but will play the Salt Cats (16-13). First pitch is at 2 p.m.
Leave a Reply