By PAUL GOTHAM
Ryan LaRocco had been a similar spot earlier this season, and he didn’t want to let his team down a second time.
Trailing by one with runners on second and third in the top of the seventh inning, the sophomore shortstop connected on a two-out hit to drive in the tying and go-ahead runs as Webster Schroeder (12-11) advanced to the state tournament with a 9-7 win over Canandaigua (18-6), Monday night at ESL Ballpark.
In a game that saw Schroeder put up a six spot in the first inning only to surrender that lead in the bottom of the sixth, LaRocco’s third hit of the night provided the needed response for the Warriors.
“I had an opportunity like that earlier in the year and didn’t come through,” he said referring to an extra-inning loss to Hilton in late April. “I had to pick up my teammates after a rough inning. I just wanted to be the guy to make a big play.”
Callen Rickard and Eli Stockmaster both scored on the hit. LaRocco took advantage of two throwing errors to also cross home on the play as the Warriors celebrated at home plate.
“He’s got ice in his veins,” Schroeder head coach Mat Sanfilippo said. “We’ve asked him to do a ton, and he’s done everything we’ve asked. I never had a doubt, man. I knew he was gonna find a way to hit the ball hard.”
A half-inning earlier it looked like Canandaigua would be the team advancing to the state tournament.
Facing a three-run deficit, the Gray Wolves loaded the bases. Cole Harris stepped to the plate and lifted a blast into the June night that sailed just inside the right-field foul pole.
With one swing of the bat, it appeared that Harris had delivered a knock-out punch.
But the Warriors refused to let their season end.
“I can’t say enough about what they just did,” Sanfilippo said. “We talk about it all the time. We got nine seniors, and we always talk about playing for them. Man, these guys love each other, and they love being around each other, and just the fact that they fight for each other. They don’t want this to be over.”
Schroeder took advantage of five walks, an error and a wild pitch to score six times in the first inning. LaRocco led the game with a base hit. Bradyn Sayers followed later with a two-run single. Max Caron brought in another runnwith a sacrifice fly. LaRocco capped the frame with a two-run single of his own.
Canandaigua (18-6) chipped away the lead.
Tyler Christopher drove in Jack Clark with a double and later scored on a passed ball to make it a 6-2 game in the fourth.
In the fifth, Harris drew a base on balls and eventually scored on a balk to cut the deficit to three.
Richie Baskin reached on a one-out walk to get the Gray Wolves going in the sixth. Jackson Arnaud singled, and Austin Kierst walked to set the stage for Harris who connected on his fourth home run of the season.
In the seventh, Schroeder’s Cole Dougherty singled with one out but was erased on a fielder’s choice. Stockmaster walked. A double steal put runners in scoring position for LaRocco.
“It was the pitch I was looking for,” LaRocco said of the fastball. “I just hit it off the barrel.”
Schroeder will play Section VI champion, Hamburg on Tuesday night. That game is scheduled for a 7 PM first pitch at Grand Island High School.
Schroeder’s Nolan Russell started and struck out 14 over five-plus innings of work.
Arnaud fanned eight over six innings of relief for Canandaigua.
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