By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
BATAVIA – When you’ve spent pretty much the entire spring pounding the baseball, when there is really no weak spot in the batting order, then you’re never really out of it.
Which is why Canandaigua Academy hadn’t given up hope heading into the bottom of the seventh inning in Friday evening’s Section V Class AA2 championship game at Dwyer Stadium.
Yes, the Irondequoit Eagles led 6-3 and needed just three outs to claim their first sectional championship in 26 years.
But the Gray Wolves still believed they could win. And considering they’d put up double digits in runs 11 times during the season, including in the sectional quarterfinals and semifinals, they had every reason to feel confident their bats could come alive.
“Our bats have been great all year,” said sophomore Cormick Schaeffer, who pitched the first 6 2/3 innings for the Gray Wolves. “We just knew anything could happen.”
That anything happened to be the first six batters reaching base – three on hits, two on walks and one on an error – and the Gray Wolves scoring four runs to rally for a 7-6 victory, their first walk-off of the year.
In winning in dramatic, last-inning fashion, third-seeded Canandaigua ended a seven-year title drought and earned a spot in Monday’s 7 p.m. Class AA regional qualifier at ESL Ballpark against Webster Schroeder.
“We haven’t won it since 2019 so this was big,” said senior first baseman Griffin Kierst, who drove home the winning run with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to center.
Kierst said he used the same approach at the plate that every Canandaigua hitter used in the seventh: just put the ball in play.
While the Gray Wolves (18-5) celebrated, Eagles catcher Landon Bryan slumped into the dirt by home plate and pitcher Alex McLaughlin – Irondequoit’s third pitcher of the game – lay motionless near the mound.
“We played 6 ½ innings, not seven,” Irondequoit coach Joe Kuhn said. “We couldn’t quite finish. But I’m really proud of the kids for getting this far. I think this team overachieved.
“I’m just sad they didn’t get to experience winning.”
The fifth-seeded Eagles (12-8) put themselves in position to win. They scored three times in the third against Schaeffer, playing some small-ball to put pressure on the defense and open a 3-0 lead.
When McLaughlin’s ground ball drove home pinch-runner Jayden Nelson in the top of the fifth, Irondequoit led 4-1.
But the Gray Wolves retaliated in the bottom of the inning, using Schaeffer’s second of three singles in the game, a double by Austin Kierst, a ground out and an error to score twice and slice the Irondequoit lead to 4-3.
The Eagles then produced what they believed would be critical insurance runs in the top of the seventh, with a single by Bryan and double by Jimmy Jackson keying the burst.
That meant when Canandaigua came to the plate for the bottom of the seventh, they had three outs remaining in their season. No need to panic.
“We have six seniors that have experience and some really good underclassmen, underclassmen that are varsity tested,” Canandaigua coach Dale Werth said. “Our nine-hole guy (Schaeffer) had three hits. That’s what makes our lineup so tough.”
The rally began when Cole Harris laced a single just inside the line behind first base. Jack Clark then reached on an error and Sam Clark walked to load the bases.
Tyler Christopher followed with an infield single, driving home Harris, Payton Holtby drew a bases-loaded walk and Richie Baskin looped an RBI single to right and the game was tied.
That brought No. 8 hitter Griffin Kierst to the plate and he delivered the fly ball to center that was plenty deep to produce the winning run.
“We just wanted to have good at-bats, don’t chase,” Werth said. “We wanted to put some pressure on them and in the end ended up with the right man in the right spot.”
While the Canandaigua season continues on Monday, Irondequoit is left to ponder the what-is. And that’s OK, Kuhn said.
“If this is our worst, playing a game,” Kuhn said, “then lucky us.”
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