By RAEGAN RYAN
HOUGHTON, N.Y. – The Genesee Rapids defeated the Hornell Dodgers 6-5 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex on Sunday afternoon.
The Dodgers came out with similar aggression to that of Friday’s match up with the Rapids. Leading off for the Dodgers was Joseph Cerda (Oklahoma Panhandle). He got a hold of the second pitch of the game and doubled to left field. Cerda crossed the plate on an Adam Fitzgibbon (Saginaw Valley) RBI put out. Cerda scored again in the third inning after he nailed a triple and eventually came home on an error .
The Rapids matched the two runs from the Dodgers and then some. It started with a single from Judah Wollenburg (Rio Grande) followed by a single from Wes Brown (William Carey). With runners on first and second, Hunter Sykes (Mississippi Coll) hit an RBI single to center field plating Wollenburg making the score 2-1. The hits kept coming as Peter Bocchino (Bentley) hit an RBI single to score Brown and Sykes would score on a stolen base. Adam Reece (Salem International) then would lay down a sacrifice bunt and bring in Bocchino for the fourth run of the inning. Genesee would end the inning with a 4-2 lead.
The Dodgers brought in a run in the fifth inning off an RBI double from Zach Lopatka (Lackawana) making the score 4-3 until the top of the eighth.
The Rapids pitching efforts led by Jake Burlingame (Horseheads) limited the Dodgers offense through eight innings of play. Burlingame allowed just four runs on nine hits.
“Jake did very well,” coach Same Bashiom said. “He kept them (the Dodgers) off balance and had two different pitches in the strike zone. That led to a lot of ground balls for us to field.”
In the top of the eighth, the Dodgers closed the gap. Cerda led the way and advanced to first on a walk and then to second on a sacrifice bunt. Fitzgibbon hit another triple plating Cerda, making the score 4-4. Andy Brahier (Wisconsin Oshkosh) followed with an RBI single to left field allowing Fitzgibbon to cross home plate and gain the a 5-4 lead.
The Rapids did not answer in the bottom of the eighth, keeping the score at 5-4.
Brenton LaRose (Sacred Heart) stepped in to close the game on the mound and retired the top of the ninth with three consecutive strikeouts.
“Brenton is going to be put in that situation quite a bit this summer,” Bashiom noted. “To see him succeed in that today was encouraging.”
The pressure was on heading into the bottom of the ninth. The score still at 5-4, the Rapids would need to score at least one run to continue, two to win. Wollenburg started the offense off with a double to centerfield and Brown would become a runner on first base after getting hit by a pitch. A Dodgers wild pitch moved Wollenburg and Brown to second and third. The bases would then be loaded because of an intentional walk for Peter Bocchino (St. Michael’s). Bases loaded, one out.
Philip Wells (Baldwin-Wallace) advanced to first on a fielder’s choice but no run scored on his at bat. Bases loaded, two outs. Jon Nola (Walsh U) up to bat. The count made was 2-2. Then, Nola got a hold of a pitch, sent it right up the middle, just making it past the pitcher scoring Brown and tying the game at 5-5.
The Dodgers recorded two hits in the top of the tenth but the Rapids defense halted any scoring threats.
In the bottom of the tenth, Brian Hodges (Niagara CC) had a battle in the box to earn a walk to first. Isaac Holt (Nebraska Omaha) moved Hodges to second on a sacrifice bunt. One out with a man on second base. Wollenburg delivered for a third time, singling to left field, moving Hodges to third. The Dodgers chose to load the bases for a second time with an intentional walk. Hunter Sykes (Mississippi College) was ready for his shot to bring in the winning run. He stepped up to the plate and swung at the first pitch forcing the Dodgers’ third basemen into making error that would result in Hodges sliding into home for a walk-off 6-5 win.
“What you want in that situation is a fly ball so you can tag up and stay out of a double play,” Bashiom explained. “Although he (Sykes) hit a ground ball, it was a high chopper and made the third basemen rush and luckily it paid off.” finished Bashiom.
Multiple hit performances for Genesee were recorded by Wes Brown (2-for4), Peter Bocchino (2-for-4), Jon Nola (2-for-4), and Judah Wollenburg (3-for-5). Hunter Sykes would record two RBI for the Rapids.
The Rapids will look to extend their streak Monday night as they host the Rochester Ridgemen for a 7 p.m. start.
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