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Zlotkus sparks Webster Thomas

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Adam Zlotkus finished 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI as Webster Thomas defeated Irondequoit, 8-4 on Monday. (Photo: RON ANDREWS)

By PAUL GOTHAM

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — With starting shortstop Josh Butka limited to a designated hitter thus far this season, Kevin Neenan needed to adjust his lineup. The ninth-year Webster Thomas head coach moved usual third baseman, Garett Wilson, to the middle infield spot and inserted Adam Zlotkus at the hot corner.

When the Titans return to full strength, Neenan will have — as the saying goes — a good problem.

Zlotkus connected on a pair of run-scoring doubles and delivered a pivotal play with the glove as Webster Thomas rallied to beat host Irondequoit, 8-4 in Monroe County Division II action, Monday.

“You can’t say enough about what he’s done,” Neenan commented. “We moved Garett over because our shortstop’s hurting a little bit and gave Adam a shot at third. He’s done a great job.”

With the game deadlocked at three, Zlotkus connected on a two-out double to plate Shane Talbot with the go-ahead run. Two innings later, he drove in another with his second two-bagger as the Titans put the game away with a four-run frame.

VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM RON ANDREWS HERE. 

“He’s always got a smile on his face and is ready for the situation,” Neenan said of his player. “He’s a contact hitter. He gets up pretty aggressive and swings it well. He’s hit the ball well in key spots.”

Zlotkus helped preserve the lead in the bottom of the sixth. With bases loaded and no outs, Irondequoit’s Brian Tisa pulled a ball down the third-baseline. Zlotkus made the grab and stepped on third base to get the force out. He followed with a strike to catcher James Bolton at home for the second out of the play.

Zlotkus credited Wilson with helping him on the play.

“I asked him ‘Hey, what should I do?'” he said of the discussion during a mid-inning pitching change. “He walked me through it. ‘If the ball pulls you away throw it home. Ball pulls you to third, step on the bag and go home.’ That’s what I did.”

One batter later, Thomas had averted the jam.

Nate Zicari struck out nine and allowed three hits over five innings to pick up his second win in as many starts.

“He pitches like a bulldog out there,” Neenan said of the senior left-hander. “We had a couple tough plays in the field that hurt him a little bit. To his credit he just kept battling.”

Zicari was at his best in the fifth with bases loaded when he retired the final two batters on strikes.

“Huge part of the game with the bases loaded and he struck out those  two guys. That was big time. He gassed it up a little bit more there at the end. I thought he had a little extra juice at the end. He wanted that.”

Nick Olmo got the final six outs of the game for the save. The junior right-hander came on with bases loaded and no outs. He induced the ground ball that Zlotkus converted and then ended the threat with a routine fly ball. Olmo retired the side in order in the seventh.

“He did a great job for us,” Neenan said of the reliever. “That was our biggest thing. You got a lead, you just got to throw strikes. He had a curveball that was keeping them off-balance which was good.”

Zlotkus and Talbot had two hits apiece and combined for three RBI and three runs scored. A week ago, the eighth and ninth batters in the lineup combined for five hits and two runs scored in an 8-4 win over Gates-Chili.

“Sometimes you’re thinking about squeezing with guys at the bottom,” Neenan said noting the option of using a bunt to move runners. “But they’ve been swinging the stick pretty well. When you get production out of the bottom of the order and the top of the order starts to come along, it’s great to see.”

Garett Wilson drove in the first run of the game and later scored. The senior infielder was aboard at first base when his brother, Colby, turned on an inside fastball that looked destined for right field. That is until Tisa made a spectacular diving play and beat Garett Wilson to the bag at first for a double play.

“He made a heckuva play right there,” Neenan said of the Irondequoit first baseman. “I thought we were going to be first and third after that. They made a couple big plays, too. They’re a good baseball team.”

Sam Lessard gave Irondequoit (2-2) a 3-2 lead in the first with a two-out, two-run double that scored Connor Springer and Carraig Jones. Tisa singled, walked and also came home in the first inning.

Kip Bertram struck out one and walked one over an inning and a third of scoreless relief for Irondequoit.

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