Tribs settle for split

By PAUL GOTHAM

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Backed by a 16-hit attack, Tyler Riehl (Resurrect Catholic) earned his first win of the season as the Monroe Community College Tribunes defeated Ithaca College JV Bombers, 15-0 in the first game of non-conference doubleheader at Tribune Field, Thursday.

Riehl struck out six, walked one and allowed four hits over five innings.

“I was glad to see that,” Monroe coach Dave Brust said. “I wanted to give him a chance to go out there and have some success.”

After struggling during the Tribunes recent Arizona trip including a performance where he allowed six runs in two-thirds of an inning against nationally ranked Phoenix College, Riehl limited Ithaca to one baserunner per inning. The southpaw stranded a leadoff triple in the second with a ground ball and pair of punch outs and did not allow a runner past second for the remainder of the game.

“I’m really happy with his performance,” Brust added. “Out in Arizona, he took some lumps. He never makes excuses. He never acts out. He just takes it. He always come back out a little better. He always wants instruction.”

Johnny Ricotta (Greece Athena) led six Tribunes registering multi-hit games. The freshman finished 3-for-4 including a double, two RBI and a run scored. His base hit to left field plated Matt Brooks (Auburn) and Connor Lewis (St. Marguerite d’Youville) as Monroe put the game out of reach in the third inning.

Lewis got the Tribunes on the board when he brought home Alex Saville (Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) in the first with an inside-the-park home run. Ricotta followed with a double, and Collin Stack (Maple Grove) made it 3-0 with triple down the right field line.

Brooks, Lewis and Stack all collected two hits and two RBI in game one. Luke Brust (Honeoye Falls – Lima) also added two hits and two RBI.

Lewis scored four runs in the game.

Saville scored twice and drove in a run.

Anthony Santoro (Henninger) scored twice and drove in a run with a base hit.

Monroe’s prolific bats turned feeble in the nightcap.

After scoring ten or more runs in their previous six outings, the Tribunes managed just seven hits in a 9-2 game two loss.

“There were enough guys who lacked intensity, and enough guys who failed to execute,” Brust said of his team’s showing in the nightcap. “Guys were not mentally prepared to play.”

Ithaca starter, Chris Marinaccio limited MCC to two runs over seven innings. The right-hander struck out seven and walked five.

John Peterson staked Ithaca to a 3-0 lead in the first with a towering three-run home run to the opposite field in right. The Bombers never looked back. Ithaca pushed the lead to 9-0 on a pair of unearned runs in the sixth.

Colin Johnston (Greece Athena) came out of the bullpen and tossed two shutout innings for Monroe.

Ricotta finished with four hits on the day.

Luke Brust went 3-4 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored.

Mike Pringle (Pittsford-Sutherland) collected thee hits including a triple and double, scored twice and drove in a run.

Monroe (11-11) travels to Genesee Community College for a doubleheader on Saturday. A 1 p.m. first pitch is scheduled.