Healey sparks J-Chiefs victory over Geneva

By PAUL GOTHAM

GENEVA, N.Y. – Credit Justin Healey (Widener) with the ability to put into play what he practices.

Looking for insurance runs in the top of the ninth, Healey sparked the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs with a key hit – albeit one which traveled less than 45 feet.

Healey placed bookends on a 6-1 victory as the Jr. Chiefs swept a pivotal two-game road set from the Geneva Red Wings in New York Collegiate Baseball League action, Monday night.

“Coaches and I were joking about it today because we abbreviated the [batting practice] rounds,” Healey said. “I asked if I could get my bunting in just in case. It worked out tonight.”

With a pair or runners aboard and clinging to a one-run lead, Healey squared and dropped what appeared to be a sacrifice. The ball, though, hugged the third base line, and Healey easily reached with his third hit of the night.

“I was definitely excited about that,” the Ocean City, New Jersey native said. “We work on it a lot.”

Alex Perry (Salve Regina) followed with an RBI sacrifice fly.  Shane Trevino (IPFW)  put the game out of reach with a double to right center plating a pair including Healey with the sixth Syracuse run as the Jr. Chiefs improved to 23-19 and took a two-game lead over Geneva for the fourth and final playoff spot in the NYCBL’s Eastern Division.

“Coming down to the home stretch, and I think we’re starting to play some good baseball at the right time,” Healey commented. “I feel like everyone now has their role on the team, and we’re putting a lineup out there every day that’s ready to win.”

The four runs cemented a seven-inning performance from Jr. Chiefs starter, Matthew Wood (Salve Regina). The southpaw allowed one run on five hits. He struck out three and walked two.

“Funky lefties seem to get outs in this league, and he’s a funky lefty,” Syracuse manager Matt Colbert said.  “He’s able to get a lot of swings and a lot of balls put in play. It keeps his pitch count down. Any time you can keep your pitch count down, you can go further into games, and he’s done a good job of that.”

Wood retired six of the first seven he faced and did not surrender a hit from the fourth through the sixth inning.

“I was trying to get ahead early with my fastball, and my change-up was working no sot much early but later in the game,” Wood said. “They put it in play a lot, and our defense worked well.”

Geneva threatened in the seventh.

Zach Wingate (Birmingham Southern) led with a base hit to right. Wood induced a ground ball to Healey at second who started a 4-6-3 double play.

“I got lucky in the seventh when I got the double play,” Wood noted. “That helped. Defense played well.”

Syracuse jumped to a lead in the first, and Healey was in the middle of it. He started the game with a single. When an errant pickoff throw at first from the catcher went into the outfield, Healey took advantage, rounded the bag at second and reached third on the play.

Phil Madonna (Siena) followed with an RBI sacrifice fly.

“The leadoff is a the spark plug and that’s your job to get on base no matter what,” Healey said. “I tried working a deep count there and luckily I was able to get on base and let something happen.”

Geneva knotted the game at one in the third. Harry Roberson (Amherst) worked a two-out base on balls. Jackson Rhodes (Birmingham Southern) reached on an infield, and Tanner Ivey (Alabama A&M) loaded the bases with a single to left. Alex Rodriguez (Methodist) blooped a single just past the outstretched glove of Healey to bring home the run. The inning ended seconds later with a put out at the plate.

Brandon Maddern (John Carroll) took the loss. The 6-9 lefty struck out four, walked three and allowed six hits. His undoing came at the hands of four errors which contributed to one unearned run.

He came out of the game having thrown over 100 pitches.

“He’s only gotten better and better as the season’s gone on,” Geneva manager Ryan Kassab said.  “Tonight, he did his job. At one point he had more errors behind him than hits. That obviously hurt a little bit. I would have loved to let him ride and keep going and finish the game he started, but at some point you got to say enough is enough.”

Geneva fell to 19-19 on the season and is 3-7 in their last ten.

“They don’t call them the dog days for nothing,” Kassab stated. “A lot of these guys have played a lot of games. It’s a grind right now. These guys are feeling the full effect.”

The win was the second straight for Syracuse (23-19) on Geneva’s field and the fourth win in their last five games. Their magic number for clinching a spot in the playoffs is five. At the same the J-Chiefs sit just three and a half games out first and 2.5 away from second and home-field advantage in the divisional series.

“Two big wins,” Colbert stated. “Especially when the standings are as close as they are three through five. It’s so close. One and two aren’t out of reach either if you play well enough. To come here the past two days and take two after they beat us at our place is good. Those were big wins. They were crucial games for us. We knew we had to win. It’s good to go out with two and get them.”

With three hits Healey finished with nearly half of Syracuse’s eight raps. He also walked once.

“He’s one of the most overlooked players in the league,” Colbert remarked. “He’s really done everything we’ve asked him to do. He’s been extremely productive for us all season. He’s really been a huge part of our offense.”

Trevino collected two hits in four trips to the plate.

Syracuse hosts Sherrill, Tuesday night. A 7 p.m. first pitch is slated at Onondaga Community College.

Geneva travels to Oneonta for a doubleheader with the Outlaws.  A 1 p.m. start for game one is scheduled.