By ANTHONY SCOTT
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Junior Chiefs were scheduled to take on the Rome Generals at 7:00 P.M, but the game was delayed due to rain. After a thirty minute delay, the rain cleared, and a rainbow appeared over the Onondaga Community College right field. The game between the road Generals and the home Junior Chiefs was just as amazing and unpredictable as the double rainbow.
There were a lot of twists and turns along the way, but the Junior Chiefs were able to come out on top 9-8 over the Rome Generals in New York Collegiate Baseball League action.
Syracuse began the scoring in the second when Matthew Kleinstein (Felician) went to the opposite field gap for a two out RBI double. The Chiefs were up early 1-0.
The scoring did not stop in the next frame for the home squad. After Webb Little (Ithaca) already singled in a run, Joe DeLuca (Col. of St. Rose) doubled in Little from first. DeLuca’s hit was one of his three doubles on the night in which he increased his hitting streak to nine games.
The Syracuse starter was also sharp his team early on. Jimmy Skiff (Purdue Univ. Calumet) allowed only one hit through three and a third innings. Then in the fourth inning three straight General singles resulted in the first Rome run of the night. Skiff bounced back from his shaky fourth, by striking out the side in the fifth. On the night Skiff finished with a season high 11 strikeouts. The Dyer, Indiana native was pulled after six and a third allowing four runs (one earned) on seven hits.
“I just want to put our team in a position to win.” Skiff said, ” If I can hold them to three runs, I know we have a good enough offense to score three other times.”
Speaking of that offense, the game was knotted at four when the Chiefs got their turn at the plate in the seventh. After Syracuse had already scored one run in the inning via a pass ball, Conner Lafferty (Desales) ripped a ball the opposite way for a clutch two RBI single. The Junior Chiefs thought they were going to win the game holding a convincing 7-4 lead after seven innings.
However the Generals had other plans. James Park (Highland CC) got the two-out rally started with a single. Then Joseph Davide (Concordia) and Randy Torres (Keystone) blasted back to back doubles. Ryan Quinn (Colby) finished off the two out rally with and RBI single of his own to tie the game at seven.
Since there was no chance at the save, Syracuse closer Joseph DiTorrice (Manhattan) was on the mound in the ninth. The flame throwing righty got himself into some trouble in the ninth as he had the bases loaded with only one out. The rising sophomore was able to stand strong and retire the next two General batters on a strikeout and flyout to end the inning and keep the game deadlocked at seven.
In the tenth DiTorrice was not so lucky. The Rome Generals were able to go ahead of the Junior Chiefs on a passed ball with two outs. Rome was now only three outs away from getting an incredible 8-7 victory.
The Generals could taste victory as the Junior Chiefs had a man on first with two outs, and John Militano (Salve Regina) was facing a 0-2 count. The five foot six junior was able to use his height to his advantage and foul off a couple pitches to eventually work a walk. Two batters later the bases were loaded and Rome walked in a run to tie the game. Then Steven Zimmerman JR. (East Stroudsburg) came to the plate. Zimmerman was only in the game because he pinch ran for DeLuca in the previous inning. Zimmerman made the most of the opportunity as he blooped a single over the shortstops head and Militano came home to score the winning run. Syracuse escaped in extra innings with a 9-8 win.
Zimmerman was mobbed by all of his teammates as he came around first. A dog pile ensued with the Junior Chief on the bottom soaking wet.
“I got the count 2-1 and was looking for a fastball, and was able to put it in the right spot,” Zimmerman said after he was doused with a water jug after the game. “I just took it like any other at bat and tried not to do too much.”
The 20-14 Syracuse Junior Chiefs remain four games out of first place in the Eastern Division after their victory.
“We caught a break, it’s just good for us.” Syracuse coach Joe Antonio said “This is a big boost heading into tomorrow’s game against Cortland.”
That game against Cortland will be on Sunday from Onondaga Community College at 7:00 P.M.
“We are still fighting for that last playoff spot, we want to extend the season.” Rome coach Craig Farley said, “It’s hard to find a silver lining after a loss like that, but if it fires them up then great, I don’t know if that’s the case we will have to wait and see tomorrow.”
The 13-19 Rome Generals will be back on the diamond Sunday at Delutis Field when they welcome in the Genesee Rapids for 3:30 game time.
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