Pickin' Splinters

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SOTA uses big sixth inning to claim RCAC Championship

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Tournament MVP Jack Wingert struck out nine over six innings as School of the Arts defeated Edison/SWW, 6-4 in the 2024 RCAC Championship. (Photo: DAVE YATES)

By PAUL GOTHAM

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Tournament MVP Jack Wingert threw six innings, and the School of the Arts batting order delivered when needed as the Silverhawks (13-6) defeated Edison Tech/SWW (10-8), 6-4 in the 2024 RCAC Championship.

Wingert struck out nine and allowed four runs (two earned) on one hit and five walks.

“Whole time I was thinking I know what I can do on the mound, so I just have to put it in the zone and let what happens, happen,” Wingert said. “I know my pitches have good movement. It was staying mentally checked in and doing what I know I need to do.”

The left-hander retired nine straight batters starting in the second inning before working out of a jam in the fifth. With one out in the frame, he issued back-to-back walks and then a wild pitch brought home a run. After two errors, Edison had a 4-3 lead.

Paul Stevens II finished 2-for-3, reached base all three times he came to the plate, drove in two runs and scored another. (Photo: DAVE YATES)

“My coach was going to pull me midway through the inning,” he said. “I told him I could finish it out. I know what I’m capable of I just knew I had to mentally prepare myself to do it.”

Wingert started and hurled an inning and a third before being pulled in Tuesday’s semifinal win over Wilson. He left that game with bases loaded. On Thursday, he didn’t allow a runner past first base through the first four innings.

“He was the X factor,” said SOTA head coach Cam Scharf. “He really locked in and battled. He showed so much heart.

“We had a conversation last night about him mentally preparing. It’s just focusing on him and the batter and getting back to that mental aspect.”

Gio Petrone sparked the decisive sixth inning with the first of three straight hits to open the frame.

“There’s no better feeling, ” the senior outfielder said. “It doesn’t get much better than this. This is one of the best feelings in my life.”

Henry Hawkinson put runners on first and second with a single to left field, and Ben Barnosky brought home the tying run. Hawkinson took advantage of an error on the play to score the go-ahead run.

Aftrer Barnosky was thrown out at the plate, Bruce Newton reached with a base hit, stole second base and scored on a single from Paul Stevens II.

A year ago, the Silverhawks fell 17-1 to Edison in the championship game. Thursday’s win gave the program its second title in four years.

“It speaks volumes about mentally how this team has grown so much,” Scharf said. “For them to come back, clean slate. I can’t say anything more about the leadership these guys have shown. They are the ones that deserve the credit.”

Hawkinson hurled a scoreless seventh inning to register the save. This came after the Silverhawks’ starting catcher hurled 4.1 scoreless innings in Tuesday’s victory.

Stevens went 2-for-3 and scored twice. Barnosky also finished 2-for-3. Hawkinson scored twice.

Edison’s Junior Javier started and struck out eight without issuing a walk in a complete-game effort for the Inventors. Javier went 1-for-3 at the plate. Michael Alvarez also was 1-for-3 with a double.

Ben Barnosky (9) races to second base during Thursday’s RCAC Championship game. (Photo: DAVE YATES)

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