By PAT McGLYNN
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — In a rainy season opener, Tanner Whiteman (Maryland E. Shore) pitched seven strong innings as the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs defeated the Syracuse Salt Cats 4-1 on Monday afternoon at Onondaga Community College.
Whiteman pitched seven innings, giving up only one run on four hits and two walks. The 6-4 righthander had four strikeouts and did not allow a hit through the first five innings en route to picking up his first win of the season.
“Tanner was great for us today,” said Jr. Chiefs manager Matt Colbert. “He gave us seven strong and efficient innings on a tough, rainy day.”
The Jr. Chiefs also had a good day at the plate, with all nine hitters reaching base at least once and four batters picking up a pair of hits.
“Last year we did not win as much as we wanted to, so today I wanted to get the season off on the right foot,” said Whiteman. “I had a lot of help today though, as the guys behind me put ten hits on the board and played great defense.”
It looked like the Salt Cats would get on the board in the top of the second when catcher Brian Billello (Concordia) opened the inning with a walk and then the next two batters moved him to third base with two outs. But Jr. Chiefs shortstop Samuel Ellinwood (Amherst) made a long run to the left field line to catch a fly ball from the bat of Jose Colon (Rutgers U Camden) and end the inning.
The Jr. Chiefs would take the lead in their half of the second when Justin Healey (Widener U) worked a bases loaded walk to score Malik Fogg (Tompkins Cortland CC).
They threatened to break the game open in the fifth inning when three straight singles again loaded the bases. However, Matthew Colon (Cumberland County College) relieved Kyle Kuhr (Siena Heights U), and after a wild pitch that brought home Ryan Pingitore (Southern Vermont College), Colon was able to retire three straight Jr. Chiefs and prevent any further damage from being done.
The Salt Cats were finally able to break through against Whiteman in the sixth when a single by Johnny Knight IV (Walsh U) plated Matthew Mastroianni (SUNY Oneonta) and made the score 2-1.
With the next run being vitally important, it would be the Jr. Chiefs who nabbed it. Shane Trevino (Indiana U-Purdue U) drilled a deep double to the right field wall with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and then Philip Madonna (Siena) smacked a single up the middle to score Trevino and make it 3-1. The Jr. Chiefs added another insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when Danny Walczak (Aurora U) scored on a one-out bases-loaded walk from Alex Perry (Salve Regina U).
Christopher Pennell (St. Thomas Aquinas) relieved Whiteman on the mound for the final two innings. Pennell allowed only two hits over those two shutout innings en route to picking up the save. Pennell was helped by his defense, as right fielder Michael Blatchford (Ohio Wesleyan) made two great plays in the top of the ninth. First he made a long run to catch a fly ball on the warning track and then on the very next batter, he raced in to make a sliding catch.
On the Salt Cats side, five pitchers took the mound, with none of them allowing more than one run apiece. Charles Davis (Northwestern) started the game and pitched two innings, giving up one run on one hit and four walks to go with three strikeouts. Kuhr worked two innings and allowed one run on six hits and four punchouts. Colon relieved Kuhr and pitched two shutout innings, allowing only one hit and striking out three batters. Next came Brian Gerner (Wesleyan) who three one innings and allowed one run on two hits. Finally, Myles Taylor (Coppin St.) recorded the final three outs and gave up one run on one hit and three walks.
Perry, Trevino, Ellinwood, and Blatchford all had two hits for the Chiefs. Knight went 2-4 with an RBI for the Salt Cats.
The two teams will meet again Tuesday night, at Onondaga Community College. A 7 p.m. first pitch is scheduled.
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