By JOHN LIKANJE
VICTOR, N.Y. – Aidan Schlarbaum (Victor) singled up the middle and drove in Jarrod Signorelli as James Cooke defeated Irondequoit Post, 11-10, in 12 innings in Game 1 of a best-of-three series.
Signorelli drew a walk to lead off the frame and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Brennan Prather. Brendan Popielec, who tied the game with a two-run double in the sixth, singled down the left field line to set up runners at the corners. Schlarbaum smacked a chopper up the gut past the middle infielders to score Signorelli and end a 3-hour, 20-minute stalemate that was originally suspended due to darkness.
“I was just looking for something right down the middle to hit,” Schlarbaum explained on his approach in the game-winning at-bat. “Nothing too low or too high. Just something I can square up, get the bat on and just put it in play and give us a chance to score.”
American Legion Baseball District 7 Semifinals – Irondequoit Post vs. James Cooke (Game 1): Aidan Schlarbaum back up the middle to score Brennan Prather. Final score: James Cooke 11 Irondequoit Post 10 (12 innings). @PickinSplinters @Wheyen3 pic.twitter.com/OPno30fXRy
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) July 13, 2019
Schlarbaum hurled six scoreless innings on the mound, allowed two hits, a pair of walks and struck out three batters. The sophomore right-hander retired nine of the first 10 hitters he faced as well.
“Didn’t want to lose focus,” Schlarbaum said. “Keep on pitching, going out there and giving my teammates a chance to put us ahead.”
“Aidan was huge,” James Cooke head coach Joe Kurnath said. “Definitely wouldn’t be here without him. I couldn’t be happier for him and couldn’t be prouder of him.”
American Legion Baseball District 7 Semifinals – Irondequoit Post vs. James Cooke: Aidan Schlarbaum retires the side on 5 pitches. Middle of 6: Irondequoit leads James Cooke 10-8. @PickinSplinters @Wheyen3 pic.twitter.com/EmB9EL6O0o
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) July 12, 2019
Popielec, Prather and Will Tehan (Victor) all drove in a pair of runs apiece. Tehan went 5-for-7 at the dish with four singles, a triple and two runs scored. Popielec was 4-for-7 and crossed the plate twice. Prather tripled, singled, drew a walk and scored a run.
American Legion Baseball District 7 Semifinals – Irondequoit Post vs. James Cooke: Brennan Prather (@PYAthletics) 2-run triple as part of a 5-run 4th. 4 full: Irondequoit leads James Cooke 10-8. @PickinSplinters @Wheyen3 pic.twitter.com/mj579Yr4qY
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) July 12, 2019
Zachary Carpin (Clarkson University) and Owen Delforte (Monroe Community College) both had an RBI and drove in a run in seven plate appearances apiece. Carpin connected for three hits, including a pair of doubles, and was intentionally walked three times. Delforte tripled, doubled and reached on a fielder’s choice.
American Legion Baseball District 7 Semifinals – Irondequoit Post vs. James Cooke: @ZacharyCarpin ties the game with a double to left to score Will Tehan. @PickinSplinters @Wheyen3 @vshsbaseball pic.twitter.com/0DaY24se0A
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) July 12, 2019
Peyton Schuck (Penn Yan) went 4-for-6 with a walk. Kaden Helmer (Victor) and Signorelli both singled and scored a run. Signorelli drew a walk and reached on a fielder’s choice as well.
“Guys keeping it simple,” Kurnath explained after his squad rallied from a 10-3, fourth-inning deficit. “Being aggressive and not chasing. Knowing their strengths, shooting the middle and making sure they’re hitting their gaps. I think it’s guys just taking a second to relax and just keep hitting the ball.”
For Irondequoit Post, Reece Correa (School of the Arts) finished a triple shy of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with a walk, four RBI and two runs scored. Frankie Fernandes (Irondequoit) and Paul Tuttle (Irondequoit) both connected for three hits. Fernandes drew a walk and crossed the plate twice. Tuttle cleared the bases and gave Irondequoit a 10-3 lead in the fourth.
American Legion Baseball District 7 Semifinals – Irondequoit Post vs. James Cooke: Paul Tuttle clears the bases. Middle of 4: Irondequoit leads James Cooke 10-3. @PickinSplinters @Wheyen3 pic.twitter.com/S2cwAeHHnN
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) July 12, 2019
Ryan Davis (Irondequoit) singled twice, reached on a fielder’s choice and scored a run. Johnny Fernandes (Irondequoit) went 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored.
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