by TYLER HATHAWAY
ROCHESTER, N.Y– Noah DaPolito finished 2-for-3 with two RBI, a run, and a double, while Jayden Traster tossed a perfect three innings of relief as No. 7 seed Palmyra-Macedon (14-7) took down Finger Lakes East rival and second-seeded Wayne 4-3 in the Section V Class A quarterfinals at Eastridge High School on Sunday afternoon.
“It took good pitching,” said head coach Brian Quick. “We got good pitching from Joel (Redmond), and Jayden in the end. We needed that. You need that to win a ball game. And then we had some timely hits. Those are big. Our bats haven’t been on fire all year, but we’re starting to hit the ball at the right time.”
“It took us being connected, with the energy up,” said DaPolito. “We got it done.”
DaPolito got the Red Raiders on the board in the first inning, scoring Camron Quick with an RBI single after Quick walked and stole second base to get into scoring position. Later in the frame, Gavin Everts put a ball in play that scored DaPolito and gave Palmyra-Macedon a quick 2-0 lead.
“I think it was big,” said Quick about jumping out to a fast start. “I told our guys, they’re (Wayne) coming in as the number two seed. Automatically, they have that pressure and that weight, and we don’t.”
Wayne responded with three runs in the second inning to take the lead, and then the pitchers started to take control. Redmond, who got the start for Palmyra-Macedon, and Caleb Celso for Wayne, each worked quick third and fourth innings, keeping the score 3-2 Eagles entering the fifth.
“We wanted to take pitches, work the pitch count, keep the game close, let that pressure kind of build against them,” Quick explained. “And then have a chance at the end.”
The fifth frame was when the Red Raiders put their stamp on the game. After Brody Robbins walked and advanced to second base, Quick placed a single into the center field grass that scored Robbins and knotted the game at three. Two batters later, DaPolito delivered his second RBI of the game, this time a double into right field, scoring Quick for what was ultimately the winning run.
“I was thinking that I just gotta put it out there,” DaPolito said of his mindset on the RBI. “Let the bat do the work, and good things will happen.”
“He’s got one of the prettiest baseball swings I’ve seen,” Quick said of his third baseman. “He’s got a beautiful swing. Couldn’t ask for a sweeter kid. And he just stays calm in all of those situations. From the beginning of the season until now, whether you’re in the batting cage or wherever, the kid can hit. He’s a born hitter, and to come through in that situation was clutch. I’m proud of him.”
Enter Traster. The senior entered in relief of Redmond, who struck out eight batters over four innings, as the bottom of the fifth inning started. The right-hander pitched three innings, retired six on strikes, and allowed no Eagle to get on base to seal the deal for Palmyra-Macedon.
“I just wanted to throw strikes,” said the pitcher. “Get the most strikeouts I could. I knew I had my team behind me.”
“I love him, I’m going to get a tattoo of him,” Quick said of Traster. “The kid has ice water in his veins. High pressure situations, he’s done that all year for us. He’s a major part of this team and the success of this team. He knows his role, he embraces it, and every time he gets on the mound, he gives the team his best. Usually it’s really good.”
The Red Raiders have now won seven of their past eight games. The two teams met at Wayne this past Monday, with Palmyra-Macedon winning that game too. Quick believed that the familiarity the two teams shared eased the preparation for the start of sectionals.
“We’ve seen them, know the kids, and played them. They’re in our league, and we’re rivals. They got a good ball team. Every year, all the way up through from when they were young playing, it’s always been our two clubs in our area. I don’t want to say it was comfortable, but it wasn’t a foreign team. It felt like more of a usual, normal game.”
For Wayne (16-4), Kamden Frechette finished 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBI, and a run. Kolby Frechette and Gehrig Locker each singled and scored. Celso struck out seven batters over four and two third innings on the bump. Ben Smith hurled a clean two and third innings in relief and struck out four.
Palmyra-Macedon advances to face No. 6 seed Honeoye Falls-Lima in the Class A semifinals on Wednesday. The two teams met once in the regular season, with the Cougars coming out with an 8-3 win.
“We just gotta stay together,” Traster explained of what it will take to make a run. “When we’re loud and talking in the dugout, I feel like we’re really connected.”
“We’re the underdogs,” said Quick. “A motivated underdog is a dangerous thing. We’re not supposed to be winning these games. Everything after this is a bonus. We get to play the games, we get to play another week. That’s a big deal.”
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