By PAUL GOTHAM
RIGA, N.Y. — Churchville-Chili capped the first season on its new field clinching a spot in the Section V Baseball Class AA title game.
Lucas Karelus provided the tying and go-ahead runs before Will Sheible hurled three-plus shutout innings in relief as the No. 2 seed Saints (19-4) defeated No. 6 Canandaigua (15-8), 5-3 on Wednesday night.
With the win, C-C advances to face No. 4 Webster Thomas in Friday’s championship.
“It’s been a great grand opening for the new field,” said C-C head coach Bob Rule. “This has been the goal all along. The boys, the culture has been great all year.”
Trailing 3-2, Karelus plated Bobby Rule Jr. with a double as the Saints put the first three runners on base in the decisive inning.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM LAURA ACCIAIO.
Aaron Reina brought home Karelus with a single, and the Saints had a lead they did not surrender.
“It’s pass the bat to the next guy and let’s score some runs,” said Rule, the second-year head coach. “Everybody’s doing their job.”
Reina stole second and moved to third on a ground-out. Josh Miner executed a squeeze bunt to bring Reina home.
Sheible took over on the mound with two outs and nobody on in the fourth. The junior right-hander retired five straight then left runners on second and third in the sixth with one of his five strike outs on the night.
“He’s been clutch all year,” Rule said of Sheible. “He came up from JV last year, and he’s really been a great asset to this team. He’s a bulldog out there. It’s been great to see.”
Churchville took a 10-1 decision over Canandaigua when the two teams met on April 3rd.
Canandaigua had won five of six games heading into Wednesday’s matchup including a 12-3 win over Victor in the quarterfinals – the Gray Wolves second win over the reigning champs this season.
CA grabbed the lead in the third. Sam Clark drove in Austin Kierst and Richie Baskin with a single. Clark then stole second and moved to third on a passed ball before scoring on a sacrifice fly from Jack Clark.
The Saints, though, weren’t going to allow CA any chance for revenge.
“They don’t allow that on this field,” Rule said. “These boys have a next-game mentality. You can hear them in the dugout. They know the job’s not done.”
Anthony Indiano started and struck out five over 3 2/3 innings to pick up the win. The sophomore allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks.
Back-to-back doubles from Bobby Rule Jr. and Lucas Karelus to lead the third knot the game. Aaron Reina follows with an RBI single. No outs. @cccsdbaseball 4 @cabaseball1791 3 pic.twitter.com/1A2mMztLil
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 28, 2025
Josh Miner “squeezes” home Aaron Reina. @cccsdbaseball 5-3 heading to the fourth. pic.twitter.com/NPXFyAYJiT
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 28, 2025
Will Sheible leaves the tying run at second. Heading to the bottom of the sixth: @cccsdbaseball 5 @cabaseball1791 pic.twitter.com/ORu7BCCc6j
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 28, 2025
James Derleth finished 2-for-3 and gave Churchville a 2-0 lead in the second with a one-out single that plated Nick Vacarro and Marcus Roney.
Churchville has won 13 straight at home after Wednesday’s victory.
The Saints defeated Webster Thomas twice this season by scores of 11-4 and 5-4.
Churchville-Chili Baseball has won six sectional titles. The last coming in 2009.
Friday’s Class AA championship will be played at Dwyer Stadium. First pitch is TBA.
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