By Kathryne Davis
SHERRILL, N.Y. — Yale Hughes (West Liberty University) went 1-3 with a grand slam as the Cortland Crush beat the Sherrill Silversmiths 6-5 in game one of a doubleheader Thursday afternoon in New York State Collegiate Baseball League action at Noyes Park. Cortland also won the second game by the score of 6-4.
In the first game, Cortland was the home team. Sherrill jumped out to a 2-0 lead as Kevin Brice (Pomona-Pitzer College) hit a homerun in the first inning. Scoring was Brice and Reid Neal (Florida Atlantic U), who tripled in the previous at-bat.
“I was seeing the ball pretty well,” Brice said of his performance. He also said that he was hitting well during batting practice, which translated to hitting well in the game.
The lead didn’t last for long. In the second half of the inning, Zachary Racusin (Marist College) walked followed by Geoffrey Seto (Niagara U) reaching first on an error by the shortstop. Nick Rybarczyk (Hillsborough CC) walked to load the bases. On the fifth pitch of the at-bat, Hughes sent the ball over the fence for his second home run of the season.
Sherrill got one back in the second. With the bases loaded, Bryan Baquer (Washington College) advanced to first on a fielder’s choice, which allowed Mitch Cavanagh (St. Johns U) to score.
Three innings later, the Silversmiths took the lead once again. Alex Saville (Monroe CC) advanced to first on an error by the third baseman. He later scored when Brice hit a ground rule double. Brice stole third and made his way home after Christian Triplett (North Carolina Central U) got out at first.
The Crush took the lead right back and hold it as they also scored a pair of runs. Seto singled to first, followed by a single by Greg Jasek (Clarkson U). Both runners scored on a double by Henry Pellicciotti (Broome CC).
Dan Jarrell (Washington College) took the loss for Sherrill. He allowed six runs (two earned) in six hits in 5.2 innings pitched. Jarrell also walked three and struck out four. Tom Taplin (University of Buffalo) got the win, as he threw six innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits, while walking two and striking out six. Zachary Lander (SUNY Brockport) earned the save for Cortland. He pitched one inning of shutout ball, giving up two hits.
In the second game, the Silversmiths jumped out to an early lead again. Kellen Brown (Florida Atlantic U) walked and later scored on a single by Brice.
Cortland tied up the game in the third. Racusin singled. He then stole second and moved up to third on an error by the catcher. The ball was thrown to the third basemen. He mishandled the ball, which allowed Racusin to head home and tie the game.
Sherrill was able to regain the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Brown and Neal singled to start off the inning. Brice doubled, allowing Brown to score. Neal crossed home on a sacrifice fly to deep right field by Cavanagh.
Christopher Kwitzer (University of Buffalo) led off the fourth with a walk. He scored on a single by Zephan Kash (Mansfield U). Sherrill pitcher Tommy Mastrodonato (Monroe CC) got into some trouble as he walked Anthony Santoro (Canisius College) to load the bases. He hit the next two batters, Pellicciotti and Racusin to send home Kash and Seto. Wesley Burghardt (SUNY Brockport) reached first on an error by the third baseman, which led to Santoro scoring. Mastrodonato got Kwitzer out to end the inning.
In the sixth, Santoro walked and later scored when Burghardt got out at first.
Sherrill also scored a run in the same inning. Baquer got a single and moved to second on a single by Brown. He later made it home on an error by the shortstop.
Jasek pitched a complete game for the win, allowing four runs on eight hits, striking out seven and walking six. Mastrodonato took the loss after giving up five runs in five innings on three hits. He also struck out four and walked four.
The sweep gives Cortland a boost of confidence and meant a lot to the team.
“We struggled all year,” said Crush assistant coach Yale Hughes. “We’re trying to stay out of the cellar (of the division). We played hard all the way.”
As for the Silversmiths, their main focus is on playoffs. “We’re resting our pitchers,” said head coach Greg Dombrowski. The rest of the team is also looking to rest for the playoffs. As for the pitchers in the doubleheader, Dombrowski said they pitched well, despite the outcome.
In the first game, Brice and Neal led the Silversmiths with two hits apiece. Brice had three RBI, while also scoring two runs. Neal scored one run.
For the Crush, Jasek was the only player with more than a hit. He had two and scored one run.
Brown pitched 0.1 innings and did not allow a hit.
In the second game, Racusin led Cortland with two hits. He knocked in a batter and scored a run.
Brown led the Silversmiths with three hits. He also scored twice. Brice got a pair of hits in this game as well. He also drove in two runs.
Cory Poplawski (Salve Regina) pitched a perfect seventh inning, without allowing any hits.
Sherrill (22-20) takes on the Geneva Red Wings (28-16) in a doubleheader at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at McDonough Park. Cortland (15-30) will go home to face the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs (15-30) at 7 p.m.
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