By PAUL GOTHAM
WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. — For the first 14 innings of Thursday’s NJCAA doubleheader at Erie Community College, MCC Baseball managed 16 hits and eight runs.
The Tribunes were staring at the possibility of dropping both ends of a doubleheader for the first time since early March when Game 2 headed to extra innings.
At that point Monroe flipped a switch and didn’t leave anything to chance.
Tanner Holmes (Allenford, ON/Owen Sound District) connected on a go-ahead two-run single, and MCC (30-7) erupted for nine runs to salvage a split with a 12-3 win over Erie CC (27-21).
Holmes turned on the first offering he saw from Erie reliever Reece Boyle (Ramara, ON/Twin Lakes Secondary) and singled through the right side of the infield to bring home Jadon Wanat (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville North) and Braedon Reina (Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili) with the first two runs of the inning.
“It was a curveball,” Holmes said of the pitch. “I saw the spin on it coming out of the pitcher’s hand, and I just stayed through it.”
The hit was the third of the nightcap for Holmes who went 3-for-4 in the game with two runs scored.
“That was the first time I saw that guy,” the first-year right fielder said of Boyle. “I went up there, trying to stay aggressive and keep hitting the ball.”
Holmes sparked a rally which saw the five of the next six Tribunes reach base. By the time the inning ended, Monroe had more than doubled its run production on the day.
Aidan Gallagher (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay-EastFishkill) followed with a two-run single of his own. Thomas Woodridge (Fayetteville, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) and Michael Sardou (Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili) drew back-to-back walks. Aaron Reina (Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili) brought in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Wanat delivered his second hit of the inning – a triple inside the bag at third that brought in two runs. Braedon Reina capped the outburst with his second home run of the season – a two-run shot to right center.
“It was good to see everything come together in that last inning,” said MCC head coach Dave Brust.
Cameron Bentley (Toronto, ON/Humberside) didn’t figure in the decision, but the first-year left-hander was the difference when it came to stopping Erie.
Bentley came out of the bullpen with bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, two outs and one run in. He retired the first batter he saw on a routine fly ball and then set down seven of the eight batters he faced – two on strikes. He left the game with the lead after Monroe put up a three-spot in the fifth.
“Cam’s one of the top arms on her pitching staff, and he has been pitching well most of the season,” Brust said. “He has been put in some very tough situations, and he has responded. He is a fearless competitor, and I am not shocked that he handles the tough situations as well as he does.”
Zane Barron (Ormond Beach, FL/Seabreeze HS) drew a walk to lead Monroe fifth. Holmes singled, and Gallagher put both in scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.
Woodridge singled to right field to bring in the pair. Braedon Reina reached on an error. Woodridge scored on the play to make it a 3-1.
Jaden Sherwood (Batavia, NY/Notre Dame-Batavia) worked two innings of relief to pick up the win. He improved to 3-2 on the season.
Erie’s Jimmy Buettner (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster HS) tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run home run.
Gallagher finished 2-4 with two RBI and a run scored in the win.
Gallagher, Woodridge and Braedon Reina had two hits apiece in Game 1, but it wasn’t enough as the Tribunes dropped an 11-5 decision. Gallagher and Woodridge connected on a double apiece. Gallagher crossed home twice. Woodridge had an RBI and a run scored.
Sardou and Aaron Reina both drove in a run.
Tyler Cannon (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) was 1-3 with an RBI.
The loss snapped Monroe’s winning streak at 15 games.
The Tribunes will host Genesee CC on Friday. The two teams will complete a suspended game from April 16th. Play will resume with Monroe leading in the bottom of the fourth, 10-3. The contest is scheduled for a 1 PM resumption of play.
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