By PAUL GOTHAM
WEBSTER, N.Y. — Field conditions forced Rush-Henrietta to give up home-field advantage for Wednesday’s game.
That didn’t stop the Royal Comets from winning a third straight even if their starting pitcher wasn’t at the top of his game.
Mason Davey hurled five-plus innings, and Rush-Henrietta defeated Webster Schroeder, 6-4.
“He didn’t have his best stuff,” said second-year head coach Brad Basal. “He battled. He couldn’t get the curve ball where he wanted it. His fastball, he was able to get it under control in the fifth inning.”
Despite the lack of pitching touch for the day, the senior right-hander struck out five and allowed three runs on six hits and four walks over 5.2 frames.
Derek VanAuker came on in relief in the sixth with one aboard and two runs in and got the final four outs to record a save.
“He (Davey) lost it a little bit in the sixth, and we didn’t make a play,” Basal said. “If things like that happen, we put our heads down and go to the next guy. Derek came in did a great job finishing up the game.”
Austin Yageric and Oliver Wright both connected on timely hits to pace the R-H offense.
Leading 2-1 in the fifth, Davey reached on an error and Yageric fouled off a half-dozen full-count pitches before doubling to left field.
“Austin had one of our best at-bats of the year,” Basal said. “That’s what we talk about. We’ve really put into our batting practices O-and-2, 1-and-2 (counts), fight it off, fight it off. We were looking at too many strikes. That’s one of our focuses to really change the approach at two strikes and they’ve been doing a really good job.”
After a wild pitch brought in the first run of the inning, Wright took an outside offering to right field and brought in Yageric
R-H had a 4-1 lead.
‘When guys are having really good at-bats, it makes a difference. You grind down the pitcher. You get more pitches up on him.”
The Royal Comets pushed across two more runs in the sixth.
Matthew Turner doubled with one out and scored on a triple from Davey. Yageric delivered again to left with a base hit to left field.
Wright was 2-2 with two walks. The sophomore shortstop scored twice in the win.
VanAuker went 2-4.
Derek VanAuker’s two-out single scores Mason Davey from second. Austin Yageric scores on the play. Oliver Wright comes home on a wild pitch. @RHvbaseball 2 @BaseballWebster 1 heading to the fourth. pic.twitter.com/Uf0K6tbPdH
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 7, 2025
Oliver Wright waits on the pitch and goes to right for a one-out RBI single. Austin Yageric scores on the play. @RHvbaseball 4-1 in the fifth. pic.twitter.com/9XgZmrl9Ex
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 7, 2025
Schroeder’s Tyler Cannon tripled twice as part of a 2-3 effort with a walk and a run scored. Jack Kelly walked, reached base twice and also crossed home.
“I’m happy that we don’t have to see those guys again,” Basal said of Cannon and Kelly who are committed to play at Monroe Community College and St. Bonaventure University next year. “I can’t say enough about those guys. Great players and great kids, I’m glad we don’t have to face them again.”
Dylan Dumont and Tyler Splain both finished with a single and an RBI for the Warriors (7-6). Ashton Allen walked twice and scored. Elliott Johnson also scored for Schroeder.
Tyler Cannon leads the sixth with a triple to right center. pic.twitter.com/TiItXfHDHc
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 7, 2025
Rush took a 6-1 decision when the two schools met on Monday, May 5th.
The game took place on Webster Schroeder’s turf field after the recent rainy conditions rendered Rush-Henrietta’s field unplayable.
The Royal Comets are scheduled to host Irondequoit on Thursday.
“Hopefully, we’ll get on our field,” Basal said. “Who knows, maybe we’ll get shipped somewhere else. It’s just what happens. We’re all over the place.”
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