By MIKAEL DeSANTO
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Devin Cerrato (Covenant College) went 3-for-6 with a run batted in and two runs scored to help the Rochester Ridgemen get an 8-7, 11-inning win against the Wellsville Nitros in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Basket Road Field, Tuesday.
“It was great, we haven’t played well the past couple days and to come out here tonight and compete the way we did, I’m really proud of everyone,” Cerrato said. “Everyone played a part, so it was just great to see everyone compete till the end, even when we were down in the 11th by two.”
Justin Dillard, the head coach of the Ridgemen, said the team was fueled by the performance on the mound and they overcame issues they had throughout.
“I thought the pitching was exceptionally well, they went in, they competed, they gave us a chance,” Dillard said. “We made a lot of mental mistakes that cost us a lot, but their competitive nature at the plate gave them a chance to win and they never took their foot off the gas.”
On the mound for the Ridgemen, making his seventh start of the year, was Matt Fontneau (Colorado Christian University) while the Nitros countered with Josh Limes (Cowley College), who made his third start of the season. Limes threw seven innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and one walk, while striking out seven hitters.
“To be honest, I don’t think I did that well,” Limes said. “They hit me pretty well, (I) walked some guys and hit a guy, and all of that snowballs, you can’t be doing that or it’s going to cost you like it did tonight.”
Fontneau pitched six and two-thirds innings, surrendering four runs on five hits and three walks, and striking out eight.
“I felt like I had it tonight, just was pitching well pretty much from the jump,” Fontneau said. “(I) was able to establish the fastball, I was locating well, just felt like I had good stuff out there and was able to compete through at bats, continue to battle late into the game.”
The Ridgemen jumped out to a 4-0 lead early, scoring two in the first inning and two in the fourth inning. Cerrato opened the game with a single and Brooks Pitaniello (Harding University) reached on an error, moving Cerrato to third. A sacrifice fly from Ethan Luna (Southwestern University) plated Cerrato and Pitaniello came around to score on a single from Joe Done (Skagit Valley College).
In the fourth, the Ridgemen loaded the bases on back-to-back singles from Luna and Done, followed by Matt Jackson (Reinhardt College) being hit by a pitch. Danny Molinari (De Anza College) singled to drive in Luna and then Michael Habibi (St. Michaels College) grounded into a double play, allowing Done to score.
“My approach at the plate was definitely try to stay right side, especially off a soft lefty, that’s always been my approach with lefties,” Molinari said. “He threw me a low and outside fastball, I just drop the barrel head on it, shot it through the right side and I was able to come up with an RBI and help my team win.”
The Nitros were able to come back with two runs in both the sixth and seventh to tie the game, and grab the lead with one run in the eighth. They loaded the bases in the sixth when Nicolas Varda (Ashland University) and Max Franzone (Dominican College) walked. Jacob Sims (Roane State Community College) was hit by a pitch. Michael McNicholl (Eastern New Mexico University) then drove in Varda and Franzone with a single, cutting the lead in half.
“I’ve just been focusing on breathing, not making anything too big, just going away, driving it up the middle or away,” McNicholl said.
Pinch hitter Brett Migliore (Canisius College) tripled in the seventh, scoring on a wild pitch. Varda then singled, putting the tying run on base, and setting up a Harry Montero Jr. (Bloomfield College) triple to knot the game at four. Migliore also came through on the eighth, doubling home McNicholl, who had walked, to give the Nitros the lead.
“I go to two strikes relatively quick,” Montero said. “I was just looking to put the ball in play with two strikes.”
However, the Ridgemen tied the game in the bottom of the ninth. Connor Brown (Ohio Wesleyan University) reached base on a single and Jared Piper (Hillsdale College) came in to pinch run, stealing second base. Cerrato then drove Piper in with a single, forcing extra innings.
“He (Patrick Bethelette (Marymount University) was a submarine guy, he’d like to keep the ball down, so I was looking for a pitch up,” Cerrato said. “He got me to two strikes, I was just looking to fight off anything, and he kind of left one over the plate, so I got a good swing on it.”
The Nitros regained the lead in the top of the 11th, scoring two runs to give them a 7-5 lead. Montero and McNicholl both walked and advanced one base on a wild pitch. This allowed Cole Tracy (Finger Lakes Community College) to score both runners with a double, marking the Nitros final runs of the game.
“I was just trying to get up there and put a good swing on the ball,” Tracy said. “I hit one or two hard throughout the night and just tried to put a good swing on it, not trying to do too much and good things happen when you do that.”
But the Ridgemen responded with a three-run bottom half to take the win. Piper led off with a single, moving to second on a ground out, and Cerrato reached base on an error. Piper came around to score. Cerrato reached third on an error, and Pitaniello got on base after he was hit by a pitch. A ground ball by Luna seemingly spelled the end of the game, but Pitaniello’s slide forced the throw to get by the shortstop, making both runners safe and allowing them to advance to second and third while Cerrato scored the tying run. The rally was capped off when a wild pitch rolled to the backstop, allowing Pitaniello to score and seal the walk-off victory.
“I was just trying to get on base any way I could, luckily I got hit by a pitch,” Pitaniello said. “When I got to first I was just going to run as hard as I could, make something happen, and then coming home I knew anything getting by him I was going to be aggressive, and so passed ball, I was going all the way.”
Jason Cronin, the Nitros’ head coach, said his team let the game get away from them and simple mistakes cost them.
“I think we didn’t play anywhere near our capability, and we allowed a team we know we’re better than to beat us because we didn’t execute fundamentally,” Cronin said. “That’s what happens when you don’t make the routine plays. You’re not going to win the baseball game. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing.”
The Ridgemen improved to 10-31. Wellsville fell to 20-21, keeping thematic number for clinching the playoffs at two.
Berthelette pitched three and two-thirds innings for the Nitros, giving up four runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks, while striking out four.
Matt Fischer (Mid America Nazarene University), Joe Dougherty (Grace College) and Casey Claflin (University of Northeastern Ohio) combined for four and one-third innings of relief for the Ridgemen, surrendering three runs on six hits and five walks, with one strike out.
The Nitros next game will be at Wellsville Central School on July 20 against Hornell Dodgers at 5 p.m.
The Ridgemen will next play on July 20 at Basket Road Field against the Genesee Rapids at 7 p.m.
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