By PAUL GOTHAM
Connor Gresens delivered the game winner in the bottom of the eighth to cap a late-inning rally, and Greece Post 468 claimed a second straight New York State American Legion Senior Division Championship with a 7-6 victory over Broundshidle Post 205, Thursday at Mirabito Stadium in Binghamton, New York.
Gresens connected on a one-out base hit and plated James Capellupo for the walk-off win.
“It’s really nice to come through in a clutch situation for the boys,” Gresens said. “He gave me an outside fastball. I poked the other way.”
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JENNIFER LAEMLEIN.
Capellupo scored from second on the play.
“I saw it off the bat,” he said. “I saw it get through the infield, put my head down and just knew I had to score.”
Capellupo led the eighth with a single. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Brody Froman before coming home with the game winner.
“Somewhat close play at the plate,” he said. “As soon as I got my hand on the plate it was a great feeling knowing that the game was over at that point. Threw the helmet in the air and dog pile. It was awesome.”
Capellupo finished 2-for-3 on the day and earned Tournament MVP honors.
“It’s a lot of guys from different backgrounds, different high schools coming together,” the UMass-Lowell commit said. “Everyone became a team really fast, great chemistry and became super-close to do it with all those guys. Put in all the work and to come out champions feels good.”
Greece Post trailed 5-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth before pushing across a pair of runs. Capellupo’s solo shot in the sixth tied the game, and Froman scored on a steal of home for a brief lead.
Broundshidle Post scored in the seventh to send the game to extra innings.
The game was the third straight decided by one run between the two teams. Greece Post ended Broundshidle’s season a year ago (2-1) and defeated their foes from Buffalo in pool play earlier in the week, 1-0.
“They are a terrific team,” Capellupo said. “A lot of clutch moments from guys in all three games. Guys having big moments when most people wouldn’t come through. Out-of-the ordinary big time plays. That was big. It felt good to beat them again.”
With the win, Greece advances to the Northeast Regional in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Heading into last year’s tournament, a Rochester-area, District 7 team had not won an American Legion state title in 55 years. For the second second straight season, Greece will have a chance to reach the American Legion World Series.
Entering the week as reigning champions, brought an added incentive for Gresens.
“You know that you’re the top dog and everyone is gunning for you. It lights a fire under you and forces you to compete that much harder because you know the eyes are on you. You don’t want to be the guy that brings down the name that the other guys have built.”
Jaden Madrid finished 2-for-4 with two RBI in the win. Bryceton Berry doubled, walked twice and scored twice. Kaleb Juliano walked twice and scored a run. Jeffrey Broadnax also crossed home in the win. Tyler Stack added an RBI.
Leave a Reply