By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Greece Odyssey/Olympia Baseball celebrated its seniors on Tuesday.
Persistent rain showers and a late rally from the opposition didn’t dampen the spirits.
James Schlueter struck out three and turned in a workmanlike performance on the mound as host Odyssey/Olympia defeated Northstar Christian, 8-7 in Section V Baseball action on Tuesday.
With the tying run on third and one out in the seventh, Schlueter induced a shallow fly ball to left field and an infield pop up to secure the win.
“I needed to get through that last inning,” the senior right-hander said. “Wasn’t looking at the scoreboard, just focusing on the batters. That’s all I had to do. I tried to zone everything out except my fielders.”
The win was the fifth in the past seven games for Odyssey/Olympia which improved its record to 5 wins and 7 losses on the season.
And the Griffins inched closer to a team goal.
“It’s one more step toward a home sectional game which is what we’re shooting for,” Schleuter said. “That’s going to be huge.”
Odyssey/Olympia led by as many as four runs before Northstar (5-3) rallied.
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Da’Vonn Stevens finished 3-for-4 on the day including a two-run single in the sixth when Northstar scored three to tie the score.
But Odyssey/Olympia responded in the home half of the frame.
Josh Tantalo led the inning with a single and moved to second on an errant throw. The senior outfielder took third on a wild pitch and scored the eventual game winner on a dropped third strike.
“That one feels good,” Odyssey/Olympia head coach Dan Ford said of the win. “It was just making that one extra play. We just need Jimmy to throw those strikes that he did and trusting in ourselves.”
Schlueter allowed seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits and two walks.
“Early on in the season, he struggled throwing strikes for us,” Ford said. “His last couple starts he’s gotten better. He threw great against Spencerport. He did well against Arcadia on Saturday, and today he earned that complete game.”
Stevens led the game with a single and scored from first on a Dom Kurmis triple to give Northstar an early lead. AJ Mitchell made it a 2-0 game with an RBI groundout.
Schleuter worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the second allowing one run before tossing back-to-back scoreless frames in the third and fourth.
“Throwing strikes,” Schleuter said. “I was just trying to keep it low in the zone, get some ground balls, get some easy outs. That’s what I wanted to do.”
At the plate, Schleuter singled and drove in a run in the first when Odyssey/Olympia took advantage of five free passes and scored five runs.
Ty Van Epps went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in the win. Chris Coriano walked twice, scored twice and had an RBI. Tantalo went 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored. Alex Frisone and Angelo Ubal both crossed home. Dereck Colon Rodriguez had an RBI.
Northstar’s Parker Seeley reached on a two-base error to start the seventh and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Mitchell. But he was left stranded.
“I got a little nervous there in the seventh,” Ford said. “Early on, we didn’t have faith in ourselves as a team and as individuals. I think we’re starting to get there.”
Kurmis went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored for Northstar. Andrew Mitchell was 2-for-3 with a walk. Allen singled and scored twice. David Eschner had an RBI and a run scored.
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