By PAUL GOTHAM
WEBSTER, N.Y. — Joe Presutti improved to 4-3 on the season with a complete-game effort as host Webster Thomas (11-8) defeated Victor (15-4), 5-2 in Section V Baseball action, Monday.
Presutti struck out six and allowed one earned run on seven hits and one walk.
“If he can get his off-speed over, he’s tough,” said Webster Thomas head coach Kevin Neenan. “He can throw a first-pitch curve for a strike and that gives them two pitches they have to look for.”
The senior left-hander allowed one runner past first through the first four innings and retired seven of the last eight batters he faced.”
“He can get them to roll over, maybe pop out a little bit,” Neenan said. “He keeps them off-balance. The biggest thing with him is he does such a great job of throwing strikes. He’s our guy on the mound. He’s a bulldog. He wants the ball when he can get it.”
The Titans sent eight to the plate and scored all the runs needed in the second inning. Tyler Estelle, Andrew Rosa and Owen Zimmer led the frame with consecutive singles. Estelle scored on Zimmer’s base hit.
“Guys came up with some big hits,” Neenan said. “We did some little things and were able to cash a couple runs.”
Parker Carley brought in a run with an RBI fielder’s choice. Presutti added a base hit, and Shane Talbot capped the inning with a two-out run-scoring single.
“It was huge early on,” Neenan said. “Anybody wants to play in front. It’s harder to play from behind. We’ve done a little better job of getting out of the gate and grabbing an early lead.”
Tyler Estelle gives @TitansBBall18 a 4-2 lead with two outs in the fifth. pic.twitter.com/vQtOdCSR7k
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 13, 2024
Joe Presutti grabs a line drive off the bat of Matthew Eygabroad to leave a runner on second. Heading to the bottom of the sixth: @TitansBBall18 4 @vshsbaseball 2 pic.twitter.com/hDhI5yZc4C
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 13, 2024
Talbot finished 2-for-4 with a run scored to go along with the RBI. Estelle added an RBI sacrifice fly in the fifth.
Zimmer went 3-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Presutti was 2-for-2 with a stolen base and a walk.
The win was the fifth straight for Thomas and snapped an 11-game Victor win streak.
“The energy in the dugout has been huge for us right now,” Neenan said. “All the kids are buying in. They’re all in it for each other no matter who we put out on the field. It’s good to see, great group of kids.”
Mitchell Schalberg singled and scored a run for Victor. Grady Kessler went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Jameson Ricigliano was 2-for-3. Andrew Stagnitto also scored for the Blue Devils.
Victor holds the top seed in Class AA with sectionals scheduled to start later this week. Webster Thomas is the No. 7 seed in AA.
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