By PAUL GOTHAM
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Jeff Destefano hurled a complete game, and the Liverpool Warriors (III) defeated the Kingston Tigers (IX), in NYSPHSAA Class AA semi-final action at Gary Crooks Field on the campus of Maine-Endwell High School, Friday afternoon.
Destefano worked out of a pair early-inning jams and limited Kingston to two hits through the last three innings.
The senior left-hander induced an inning-ending double play to escape a bases-loaded situation in the fourth and got a double play with a pair of runners aboard in the first.
Thomas Bianchi paced the Liverpool offense going 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk. The senior centerfielder doubled inside the left field line to lead the fourth inning and scored the eventual winning run on a Joe Zywicki two-out single through the middle.
Jake Evans gave Liverpool a lead it did not surrender when he plated Zywicki with a two-out single in the third.
Bianchi singled and scored in the sixth to give the Warriors an insurance run. Bianchi led the frame with a base hit to center. Zach Scannell dropped a sacrifice bunt. Nick Antonello moved the runner with a fly ball, and Zach Pieklik delivered with an opposite field base hit.
Kingston’s Tyler Kelder started the fourth with a double to the right field corner. Fritz Genther walked, and Josh McNutt put runners on second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Garrett Warnecke walked to load the bases, and Tiger starter Jeff Hayner helped his own cause with an RBI infield single.
But Destefano ended the threat with a ground ball for the pair of outs.
Liverpool’s roster, as listed on MaxPreps, includes 20 players – 16 of which are seniors.
Liverpool will play the winner of of Massapequa (VIII) and McQuaid (V) in Saturday’s NYSPHAA final at NYSEG Stadium. A 10 a.m. first pitch is scheduled.
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