By ANTHONY SCOTT
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Eastern Division leading Cortland Crush brought their fans out for a Wednesday night matchup against the second place Syracuse Junior Chiefs. With every inning that passed with the Crush leading, one Cortland fan rang their cowbell louder and louder. The cowbell was present throughout the entirety of the game and helped propel Cortland as they tried to steal a game on the road against Syracuse.
The Cortland Crush were able to defeat the Syracuse Junior Chiefs 6-2 on Wednesday night, in New York Collegiate Baseball League action from Onondaga Community College.
Syracuse was hot coming into Wednesday’s game coming off their sweep of the Rome Generals, but things did not go the Junior Chiefs’ way early on.
Cortland’s Broderick Santilli (Salve Regina) got the ball rolling with a leadoff infield single. Santilli was quickly moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt by Paul Ludden (Brockport). David Murphy (UMass Boston) was next up to the dish and he gave his team a 1-0 advantage as he singled to center to score Santilli.
Two batters later Josua Lopez (UMass Boston) delivered for the Crush with a single of his own up the middle that brought Murphy around to score and give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Cortland scratched across another run and have a three run lead after their first turn at bat.
“I was just trying to attack the pitcher early in the count, and score a run for the boys.” Lopez said.
John Militano (Salve Regina) did all he could in the bottom of the first to get the Junior Chiefs back in the game. He got on base with an infield single. Then Militano stole second to get in scoring position. He moved to third on a ground ball to the right side of the infield. Militano finished off his trip around the bases by scoring on a passed ball. The Chiefs trailed by two after the first inning.
Cortland extended their lead in the third. Lopez was able to come home from third base after the Syracuse catcher tried to snag the runner sleeping on first as he threw down to first base. The throw was a little wild and dribbled into right field. Lopez crossed home on the error and the Crush lead was now 4-1. Lopez was Cortland’s most effective hitter of the night, going two-for-three with an RBI, a run scored and a walk.
Zach Smith (Salve Regina) got that run right back for his Junior Chiefs in the bottom half of the inning. Smith came through with two outs and teammate Nicholas Roy (Nichols Col.) on third as he singled through the right side of the infield to cut the lead to 4-2.
Crush starter Stephan Witkowski (UMass Boston) gave Junior Chief hitters a tough time at the plate for the rest of his time on the mound. Witkowski worked out of a jam in the seventh. Witkowski had runners on first and second with two outs. The Pittsfield, Massachusetts native was able to keep cool and get the Syracuse three hitter to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the inning and keep Cortland on top 4-2.
Witkowski finished his night with seven innings pitched, striking out eight hitters on his way to the win.
“We had confidence in Witkowski’s stuff that he could finish that one last inning, before we went to the bullpen,” said Crush assistant Connor Griffin.
“I didn’t have my best stuff.” Witkowski said, “I was just trying to throw strikes and the defense had my back.”
Anthony Searles (UMass Boston) helped the visitors add some insurance runs with an RBI double in the eighth inning. Searles would also come around to score to give his team a 6-2 lead which ended up being the final score.
“We came out stale tonight.” Junior Chief manager Joe Antonio said, “We had poor discipline at the plate, and you just can’t win ball games like that.”
The Crush have a tough schedule ahead of them as they play the Junior Chiefs one more time and then the Olean Oilers.
“We have an off day tomorrow, so that will be good.” Griffin said, “We just got to keep our guys relaxed, loose, and fresh and I think we will be alright.”
The win gives the Crush a three and a half game lead over both the Junior Chiefs and the Slat Cats in the eastern division.
Both teams have a much needed day off on Thursday. Then the two teams will meet up again on Friday in Cortland for the finale of the two-game series. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.
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