By Kathryne Davis
SHERRILL, N.Y. — Gabe Levanti (Northeastern U) went 4-5 with a home run and five RBI as the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs beat the Sherrill Silversmiths 12-8 on Thursday evening in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Noyes Park.
Scoring started early for both teams as they each got on the scoreboard in the first inning of the game. Syracuse scored two runs after Vinny Mallaro (University of Buffalo) singled to bring home Matt McCann (Fairleigh Dickinson U) and Levanti. The home team got one back as J. C. Pena (Central Florida) singled home Reid Neal (Florida Atlantic U).
Christian Triplett (North Carolina Central U) homered in the fourth to tie the game. That would be as close as the Silversmiths got to a lead in the game.
Levanti hit a two-run home run in the top of the fifth to break the tie and give his team the lead.
The Jr. Chiefs had a five-run sixth inning. McCann got the scoring started as he advanced to first on an error, which led to Matthew Kozuch (Fordham U) scoring after he singled earlier in the inning. Levanti continued his hot-hitting in the game and singled to bring home Thomas Cotter (Ave Maria U) and Michael Lanza (Bryant U). Levanti scored after the next at-bat when Riley Moonan (Fairleigh Dickinson U). Moonan didn’t stay on the bases for long as the next batter, Mallaro, singled and Moonan came home.
Sherrill got one run in the bottom half of the inning as Mitch Cavanagh (St. Johns U) hit a solo shot past the outfield fence.
Syracuse picked up three more runs in the top of the seventh. After Cotter reached first on a throwing error by the shortstop, Connor Martin (Clarkson U) was able to score. Lanza hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring Kozuch home. Cotter then scored later in the inning after a Levanti made it to first on a fielder’s choice.
The Silversmiths scored five runs of their own in the bottom half of the seventh, to make the game closer at the end. After a trio of singles by Justin Dattilo (Maryland Eastern Shore), Bryan Baquer (Washington College) and Kellen Brown (Florida Atlantic U), the bases were loaded for Neal. On the first pitch of the at-bat, he smacked a double to bring home Dattilo and Baquer. After Neal, Kevin Brice (Pomona-Pitzer College) hit a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing in Brown. Neal scored after Pena hit a home run into the trees.
Both teams were robbed of potentially hits by remarkable defensive plays. In the eighth inning, Brown got a hit taken away on a sliding play by the center fielder. Kozuch had a possible home run taken away by Brice in the top of the ninth.
“The last two innings were fun,” said Syracuse head coach Chris Haynes. “Tomorrow we will try to do the same thing and swing the bats well.”
He also said that his team did a good job with situational hitting during this game, which is an improvement.
Shawn Kanwisher (Manhattan College) earned the win for the Jr. Chiefs after pitching six innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits and striking out seven, while walking one. Zach Vennaro (Monroe CC) took the loss after giving up eight earned runs on 12 hits and striking out two over 5.1 innings.
Thomas Jordan (Northwood U) held the Silversmiths scoreless in the last two innings of the game. He did not give up a hit or walk a batter. He struck out one.
Ellington Hopkins (Monroe CC), typically an outfielder, pitched two scoreless innings, while striking out one. This performance comes the day after he pitched a scoreless inning against the Cortland Crush.
Moonan collected three hits for the Jr. Chiefs. He also scored a run and hit one runner home. McCann, Mallaro and Lanza all had two hits. McCann scored one run while Lanza scored two. Mallaro brought home three runners.
Pena led Sherrill with three hits and three RBIs. He also scored once. Cavanagh and Triplett both had two hits, scored one run and had one RBI each.
The Silversmiths (19-17) and Jr. Chiefs (14-26) face each other again, Friday. This time, the game is in Syracuse at Onondaga CC. First pitch is at 2 p.m.
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