By RAEGAN RYAN
HOUGHTON, N.Y. – Isaac Holt (Nebraska Omaha) stepped up and sent a shot over the center fielder for a walk-off RBI single, and the Genesee Rapids earned a 4-3 victory over the Rochester Ridgemen in New York Collegiate Baseball League action Friday night.
In the top of the first, the Ridgemen came out and scored one run on a one hit making the score 1-0 early. The remainder of the first four innings saw no more than four batters get an attempt at the plate for both Genesee and Rochester.
Rochester widened the differential in the fifth inning after Jacob Lentz (Highland CC) advanced to first on a walk and Connor Brown (Ohio Wesleyan) doubled to center putting Lentz on third. Devin Ceratto hit the gap in centerfield and drove in two spreading the margin to 3-0 in favor of the Ridgemen.
Wes Brown (William Carey) tossed seven innings on the night allowing four runs on seven hits. After the fifth inning no Ridgemen would make it past first base. Although the Rapids defense tightened up their bats would have to eliminate the deficit.
With the score knotted at 3-0 for heading into the bottom of the eighth, Genesee decided it’s time to rally. The lead-off hitter was Hunter Sykes (Mississippi College) and he would single to left field. Following Skyes’ lead was Brian Hodges (Niagara CC), and he reached first on a fielder’s choice. With one out, Hodges got a great jump on the pitcher to steal second and put himself in scoring position.
The ever popular baseball saying, “It only takes one” was never more true than it was for the Rapids tonight. Holt was in the box and got ahead of the pitcher to a 2-0 count. He picked the third pitch and sent it to center field for an RBI single, putting the Rapids on the board for a score of 3-1.
Rochester retired the side on a ground out.
It only took one pitch, one hit, and one run to give Genesee a hope that would give them an edge for their final attempt.
Brenton LaRose (Sacred Heart) stepped in from the bullpen and recorded one strike out and zero hits. LaRose’s outing gave an additional lift to the Rapids dugout.
Judah Wollenburg (Rio Grande) , put the pedal to the metal to beat the ball to first base on a one-out infield single in the ninth. Wollenburg advanced to second on a wild pitch. A single to left field from Adam Reece (Salem International) moved Wollenburg to third putting him 90 feet away from home plate. Daniel Lockwood (St. Edwards) came on a pinch runner for Reece. Lockwood got to work on the bases right away stealing second immediately.
With one out and a runner on second and third, Rochester made a pitching change. Exchanging Reagan Lucia (Lubbock Christian) for Joseph Done (Northwestern College). Lucia would finish with giving up three runs on six hits with four strikeouts.
The pitching change allowed for strategizing for both teams as Done warmed up on the mound.
Sykes was up to bat for the Rapids and hit a slow, short grounder to the pitcher all while Wollenburg kicked in to high gear to create an unintentional squeeze type play. Wollenburg got around the catcher’s tag to tack on the Rapids second run of the night making the score 3-2 with only one out. Lockwood, the tying run, moved over to third on the play.
Sykes stole second base and created another second and third scenario for the Ridgemen to defend. With the tying run right down the line, Hodges was at the plate. Hodges would ground out to shortstop but he scored Lockwood, and Sykes, the winning run, was moved over to third base making the score 3-3. Rapids fans were on their feet and the players had their rally caps on.
Holt found himself in an at bat situation nearly identical to that of his previous attempt in the eighth; Two outs, runners in scoring position. The winning run, nonetheless.
Holt takes the first pitch and it was a ball, making his count 1-0. He gets a hold of a pitch and puts it on a rope past the centerfielder and brings in Sykes for a walk off RBI single.
“He (Isaac) had a great game tonight. He simply had good, quality at bats all day. He was on the ball and wasn’t trying to do too much. When you have that approach, especially when the pressure is on, it will mentally work in your favor. And we are really happy it went our way tonight.” said Coach Sam Bashioum.
It only takes one.
LaRose will get the win for the night and the Rapids improve to 3-8. They will continue NYCBL action Sunday afternoon at 2p.m. against the Olean Oilers.
The Ridgemen will go head to head with the Hornell Dodgers on Sunday for a 5:00p.m. start.
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