By MIKE DeSANTO
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Sophomore shortstop Corwyn Cleveland went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a walk to help the No. 2 seed East Rochester Bombers defeat the No. 15 seed Warsaw Tigers 5-3 and move on in the Class C2 sectionals.
“Those guys (the seniors) said ‘you have to score to win anyway,’ so that was a good mindset right there,” Bombers head coach Patrick Walsh said.
The Bombers offense was consolidated into two innings, the third and the fourth. Cleveland picked up two RBI in the third on a bases-loaded single, advancing to second on a throw that caught senior Andrew Chilelli going to third. Cleveland’s third and final RBI came in the fourth on a single to score sophomore John Krautwurst.
“I kind of just go up there, look at the pitcher, get ready and swing the bat,” Cleveland said. “If I see a pitch I like, I swing, and hopefully it goes where I want it to.”
Chilelli started on the mound for the Bombers, throwing six innings and allowing three runs on four hits and seven walks while striking out four.
“First pitch, I left a ball up, left a high fastball to a good hitter and he just took it center field,” Chilelli said. “I settled down after that. I think I threw a lot of strikes.”
Junior Ethan Grawe had the hill for the Tigers, tossing three innings and surrendering three runs on two hits and four walks with five strikeouts. Grawe left before recording an out in the fourth, having injured his back.
“I started out pretty good,” Grawe said. “I felt everything was working for me: curveball, fastball, change-up. It was about the third inning and a play at first, I had to go over and tag someone, he kind of collided with my knee, hurt, shook it off. But then on the mound in the fourth inning I twisted my back out, so I had to quit.”
The Tigers started the game off with a bang when sophomore catcher Tom Standera hit the first pitch of the game to left center and over the fence for home run.
“I just stayed relaxed, hit the ball and it went over the fence,” Standera said.
However, the Bombers began their response in the third. After loading the bases, Chilelli drew a walk to get the team on the board, with junior left fielder Tanner Swagler scoring. With the bases still loaded, Cleveland slapped a single, bringing around senior center fielder Dmitri Georgantonis and sophomore second baseman Austin Mack.
The flurry still in the fourth, as Georgantonis and Cleveland each singled to bring in an insurance run to help the cause. Senior third baseman Cole Lindsay scored on Georgantonis’ single.
Senior center fielder Adam Maurer was able to single home a run in the sixth inning, allowing Standera to score. But Mack came in to pitch in the seventh, shut down the Tigers quickly and secured the win.
Traynor gave respect to the drive and fight of both teams, saying he was proud of his team.
Walsh kept his approach to the next round very simple.
“Tell our guys ‘you’ve got to play your best, you’ve got to win no matter if it’s a lop-sided score or a close game like today,'” Walsh said. “It’s win and advance, that’s what sectionals is. I think our kids understand that.”
The Bombers will play the winner of No. 7 seed Red Jacket and No. 10 seed Cal-Mum in Friday’s quarter-finals. A 4:30 pm first pitch is scheduled.
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