By Jared Wicks
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Fourteen players came to bat for Sherrill in a nine-run sixth inning that as the Silversmiths beat the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs 9-2 in New York Collegiate Baseball League play at NBT Bank Stadium, Sunday.
Silversmiths all-star Kellen Brown (Florida Atlantic U) picked up only the second hit on the day for the Sherrill to lead off the sixth inning and start what turned into a 25-plus minute offensive outburst.
Brown’s college teammate and fellow all-star Reid Neil (Florida Atlantic U) followed with a double to right centerfield which put runners at second and third with no outs.
The last of the team’s three all-stars Kevin Brice (Pomona-Pitzer College) walked to load the bases.
Eleven more batters came to the plate in a seven-hit inning which saw four players bat twice and Neil hit a RBI single well after he scored himself.
“Put together competitive at bats and see more pitches” was the strategy in the dugout, Silversmiths head coach Greg Dombrowski said about the team’s big inning.
What gets lost was a solid start for Jr. Chiefs pitcher Paul Henshaw (Kenyon College) who threw five innings giving up only one hit, no runs and two strikeouts before being pulled in the sixth.
Henshaw (0-5) picked up the loss being charged in the end with three hits and four runs, all earned.
Sherrill’s Daniel Jarrell (Washington College) earned the win (3-1) following six great innings.
Jarrell in only his third start surrendered two runs on five hits, striking out two.
“With our bullpen being down, for him (Jarrell) to give us six was huge today.” Dombrowski said of Daniel’s performance. “He’s been great in his three starts and he’s going to continue to start.”
Early in this game the J-Chiefs were doing all the scoring jumping out to a 2-0 lead.
In the third inning all-star Vinny Mallaro (University of Buffalo) singled home fellow all-star Matt McCann (Fairleigh Dickinson) for the team’s first run.
In the fifth inning Carlos Tapia (Siena College) doubled to right centerfield, moved to third on an out and scored on a wild pitch to cap off the scoring for Syracuse at two.
A note of interest heading into today’s game was the addition to the Syracuse roster Riley Moonan (Fairleigh Dickinson)
Moonan a Liverpool, NY native was a member of the 2012 Jr. Chiefs NYCBL Championship team.
“He was just playing around and ended up being home for the summer so we jumped on the opportunity to have him.” Jr. Chiefs coach Chris Haynes spoke of the team’s addition. “He’s an above average centerfielder and will grab everything he can, he has a strong arm, and he’s a two or three hitter with power.”
His fielding was shown off when he dove to catch a hard hit ball by Bryan Baquer (Washington College) that ended the seventh inning.
Jr. Chiefs Luke Emling (Villanova University) went 2-for-4 on the afternoon with a double.
Silversmiths Reid Neil (Florida Atlantic U) went 2-for-4 with a double, RBI, and a run scored. Christian Triplett (North Carolina Central) went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Heading into the All Star break both teams have different strategies.
Jr. Chiefs coach Haynes said his team is going to focus on “rest” and “trying to make a final run.”
Silversmith’s coach Dombrowski said “Defense” is the big focus going forward and the key to his team’s consistency.
The Silversmiths (15-15) are back in action following the break Wednesday at home vs Oneonta (17-12).
The Jr. Chiefs (10-21) are home Wednesday night as well to face city rivals the Syracuse Salt Cats (17-14).
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