By Kathryne Davis
SHERRILL, N.Y. — Zach Vennaro (Monroe CC) hurled a complete game two-hit shutout in game two as the Sherrill Silversmiths swept the Oneonta Outlaws (4-3/8-0) on Thursday afternoon in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Noyes Park.
“I settled down today,” said Vennaro. In comparison to other games he has pitched in this season, he “stay composed” for this one.
The bullpen was able to rest for the day as David Wright (SUNY Oneonta) pitched all seven innings in the first game. He gave up three runs on eight hits, while striking out seven.
Sherrill looked to be cruising to a win in game one before Ramon Osuna Sanchez (College of Charleston) hit a two-run shot to pull the Outlaws to within one. Wright settled down and finished the inning and the rest of the game.
The home team got on the board in the second as Kevin Brice (Pomona-Pitzer College) scored on a Christian Triplett (North Carolina Central U) single.
Bryan Baquer (Washington College) walked to start off the bottom of the third and later scored after Reid Neal (Florida Atlantic U) singled. He stole second, got to third on a passed ball and scored when Brice hit a single.
Matthew Bolger (South Alabama) singled to start off the fourth for Oneonta. He scored on a Frank D’Agostino (temple U), touching home plate before D’Agostino was tagged out at second, trying to stretch his single.
The Silversmiths got that run right back as they scored in the bottom frame. Baquer hit a single to score Alex Saville (Monroe CC).
After the home run in the sixth, Wright retired the next five batters to win the game for his team.
Alec Romanowski (Stevenson U) took the loss for the Outlaws. He pitched four innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits.
“We came up short,” said Oneonta Head Coach Joe Hughes. He added his starting pitcher “didn’t have his best stuff.”
Ellington Hopkins (Monroe CC) scored in the first inning of the second game. This would be all of the scoring the Silversmiths needed after a lights-out performance by Vennaro, but the team kept piling on the runs.
Brice scored in the fourth to help his pitcher work with a bigger lead. He ran hard into home and scrambled with the catcher. After the dust settled, Brice was safe because the ball fell out of the catcher’s glove. Saville hit him home.
A five-run fifth put the game almost out of reach for Oneonta. Neal singled, scoring Hopkins. In the next at-bat, Kellen Brown (Florida Atlantic U) scored on a balk. Saville had one of the biggest hits of the night when he hit a ball that sailed into the trees behind right field. Neal and Mitch Cavanagh (St. Johns U) scored.
Sherrill added one final run for insurance in the bottom of the sixth when Nick Duarte (Siena College) touched home.
Ben Moxley (Herkimer County CC) received the loss in the second game after giving up four earned runs on six hits.
It was difficult for the Outlaws to try to get any scoring going when no player made it past second base.
“The Silversmiths got key base hits in game two,” said Hughes.
“We got two great starting pitching performances,” said Sherrill Head Coach Greg Dombrowski. “We had good defense and got timely hits with two outs.” He added that the only error the team made in the game was after a bad bounce, which shows how the defense has been improving.
Both teams are putting the games behind them and looking to tomorrow.
“We have to play good baseball all the time,” said Hughes.
After the all-star break and the rainout yesterday, the Silversmiths have had a few days off, with another one coming up. “The break has rejuvenated us,” said Dombrowski. On the off-day, he said, “the guys will enjoy that.”
Only two players had more than one hit in the first game. Bolger got two hits and scored once for the Outlaws. Brice also got two hits, while scoring once and knocking in a runner.
Joseph Romero (Albany) pitched the final out of the sixth and did not allow a run.
In the second game, Hopkins, Neal and Saville had two hits apiece. Hopkins scored twice, while Neal and Saville each scored once. Neal batted in one runner. Saville had a big night at the plate with four RBIs.
The Silversmiths (17-15) have a day off before traveling to take on the Wellsville Nitros (8-21) at 5 p.m. Oneonta (17-14) also goes on the road to play an afternoon game against the Syracuse Salt Cats (18-14). First pitch is at 3 p.m. Only half a game separates the two teams for second place in the Eastern Division.
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