By MIKE DeSANTO
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Austin Mack threw a complete game for East Rochester Friday afternoon, delivering the No. 2 seed Bombers a semi-final appearance with an 8-5 win over the No. 7 seed Red Jacket Indians in Class C2 quarter-final action. . The sophomore allowed seven hits and walked three over seven innings, while striking out three.
“We knew what we had in terms of he’s going to come to play,” Bombers head coach Patrick Walsh said. “He loves baseball and he really prepared for this moment. We’ve got everyone believing right now and playing.”
Mack said he made sure to stay calm, even after giving up hits or runs.
“I just focus on what my catcher is showing me, what the count is and what I have to throw, where I have to throw it,” Mack said. “Don’t focus on the runner, focus on the pitching.”
The Indians countered with junior Brandon Mott on the mound. Mott lasted just two innings, surrendering six runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks, before giving way to senior Jonathan Yacono.
The Bombers struck first, getting on the board in the first inning with a pair of runs. After getting runners on the corners with no outs, senior shortstop Andrew Chilelli smacked a sacrifice fly, allowing senior center fielder Dmitri Georgantonis from third. Mack, who later reached third on an error, scored the second run of the inning on a second sacrifice fly out, this time from junior catcher Jackson Hauser.
However, the Indians responded in the second inning. With two outs, following a double play, Mott and junior right fielder Spencer Jacobs slapped back-to-back singles to keep the inning alive. This set up senior third baseman Dan Munn for a two-run double, knotting the game at two.
The second inning saw four runs come around to score for the Bombers, benefiting from a pair of errors by Yacono at shortstop. The first error brought home senior third baseman Cole Lindsay and junior left fielder Tanner Swagler, while the second ensured Georgantonis’ run and allowed Chilelli to score from second.
Yacono walked in the third, making it to third on a passed ball and then a wild pitch, scoring on a fielders choice and chipping into the Bombers’ lead.
But the Bombers were not finished offensively, plating another two runs between the fifth and sixth innings. The Bombers loaded the bases in the fifth on a single for senior right fielder Jacob Sturm, a single for Swagler and Georgantonis being hit by a pitch. Mack then stepped to the plate, squared up a pitch and grounded it to second, being thrown out at first while Sturm scored.
In the sixth, Hauser walked and senior designated hitter John Yacono (the cousin of the Indians’ Yacono) singled, bringing Sturm to the plate with an RBI opportunity. Sturm took advantage of his chance, singling home Hauser for the Bombers’ final run of the game.
The Indians put together a rally in the seventh, starting with a double for Munn and senior left fielder Matt Forbes‘ single. The Indians’ Yacono kept the rally going with a sacrifice fly out, bringing in Munn. Forbes moved to third on a ground out for senior center fielder Jared Henry, coming in to score on a passed ball.
But that is where the rally ended, as Mack walked a batter and then forced a fly out to end the game.
“Hey, they never gave up. You just continue to play,” Indians head coach Nick Frechette said. “That’s what you do, and when you do that the positive will come in the end. We have a lot of work to do in the off-season, had a heck of a team and we have a lot of guys coming back, so I’m very optimistic.”
Walsh said the goal of the coaches going forward in the sectional tournament is to keep the players focused and ready.
“I just want these kids to know you have to come to play,” Walsh said. “We’ve got practice tomorrow, nothing’s changed, just have a good time [and] enjoy the moment.”
The Bombers will meet No. 3 Campbell-Savona on Tuesday. A 4:30 pm first pitch is scheduled.
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