By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A modest six-game winning streak came to a halt in game one.
The Monroe Community College baseball team responded with an offensive onslaught in the nightcap.
Monroe sent 17 to the plate in an 11-run third inning and rallied for a doubleheader split (5-10/15-3) with Onondaga Community College in NJCAA action, Saturday at Tribune Field.”
“In game two, we really cashed in,” Monroe head coach Dave Brust said. “We were getting in positive counts, making hard contact.
“Being aggressive early in the count was the difference. I saw it a little bit in game one and I’ve seen it a little bit over the last 10 games. If we are hunting fastballs early in the count, we’re taking advantage of RBI opportunities.”
Phil Ferranti (Webster Schroeder) snapped a a three-all tie with an RBI double to spark the deluge. The next time the sophomore walked to the dish, he pushed the advantage to eight at 11-3 with his second run-scoring double of the inning.
Logan Martella-Tasick (Penfield) plated a run with a two-bagger of his own, and Brennen Smith (Webster Thomas) brought in another with a triple. Freshman Ryan Hill (Webster Thomas) capped the inning with a two-out, two-run single through the left side of the infield.
The offensive output was the fifth time this season the Tribunes scored in double digits.
“At the end of the day, it’s about scoring runs,” Brust stated. “We were making sure that we are scoring runs.”
Maximo Fernandez (A. Philip Randolph/Bronx, N.Y.) hurled four innings for his third win of the season.
“He has late movement, and he throws strikes,” Brust said of the sophomore. “He loves to compete.”
Fernandez came on with bases loaded, one in and no outs in the top of the first. The right-hander retired the next three batters faced. He struck out one, walked none and allowed two hits.
“Max has been very reliable. He has taken advantage of every opportunity he’s been given. He is passionate about playing. He is passionate about the program and winning. He is fun to watch.”
Coming off a 4-for-7 performance on Thursday in which he drove in six and scored two, Ferranti finished 2-for-3 in game two with three RBI and three runs scored. The sophomore was 5-for-7 in Saturday’s twinbill with four RBI and five runs scored. He has driven in a run in nine straight games.
“Phil is a true RBI guy,” Brust said of his clean-up man. “He is super coachable. He is always hungry to produce runs. His mechanical rustiness has been taken care of. When there are guys on base, he’s a special hitter.”
Sean Flannery (Wayne) collected two hits in three at-bats in game two. He scored twice, drove in a run. TJ Lucey (Fairport) was 2-for-2 with a walk, three runs scored and an RBI. Martella-Tasick (Penfield) went 2-for-2 with a walk, run scored and an RBI.
Trey Brown (Aquinas) added three hits for the day with with two RBI and two runs scored.
Nate Hampson (Victor) closed out game two with a scoreless inning of work. The left-hander fanned two.
Monroe put together four straight two-out hits to take a 2-o lead in the first inning of game one. Cas Sobaszek (Rush-Henrietta) sparked the inning with an infield base hit. Ferranti put runners on the corners with a since. Jose Ramos (Poinciana/Kissimmee, FL) singled to right for a 1-o lead. Evan McGill (Notre Dame Catholic/Ajax,ON) followed with a run-scoring single.
The lead was short-lived. Onondaga CC scored four in the second. The Lazers took advantage of Monroe’s generosity in the sixth scoring four runs on two walks, two hit by pitch and two wild pitches.
Sobaszek went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI in game one.
Monroe (12-12) hosts a doubleheader with Herkimer CC on Tuesday. A 2 PM first pitch is scheduled.
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