By BILLY HEYEN Rayson Miller had it all lined up. Lukas Haefner, RM’s ace, had been pulled early on Saturday so he’d be eligible to pitch Wednesday in a potential championship series. A lot of pieces had to fall into place for that to work out. But something no one on Rayson Miller could’ve expected […]
By BILLY HEYEN A year ago, Rayson Miller head coach Tom Sapienza called Rockland the “evil empire.” As far as Rayson Miller is concerned, that may be true. Rockland is the team that’s ended RM’s season two years in a row. Rayson Miller lost 9-2 to Rockland on Tuesday at Murnane Field in Utica. After […]
By BILLY HEYEN All season long, Hayden Smith has delivered when called upon for Rayson Miller. With a loss Monday representing the end of RM’s season, Smith ensured that wouldn’t happen. Rayson Miller stayed alive at the state tournament with a 7-1 win over Maine-Endwell. Smith threw a complete game on the mound, allowing five […]
By BILLY HEYEN Rayson Miller’s 2018 season ended in the state championship series, two wins shy of a title. The shortcoming was due in part to the pitching demands placed on a team coming out of the losers’ bracket. This year, RM head coach Tom Sapienza didn’t want to face that issue again, so he […]
By BILLY HEYEN The last time Lukas Haefner and Owen VanNewkirk played at Murnane Field in Utica, the outcome wasn’t what they wanted. They posed with a second-place trophy, Haefner’s arms crossed and no emotion on his face. VanNewkirk tucked himself into the back row, not making an effort to be prominently pictured. With Rayson […]
Rayson Miller’s pregame speeches are the stuff of legend. Once RM comes off the field from infield-outfield warmups, Sapienza gathers his team to the dugout bench and into a huddle. Then, he speaks. He might ask an assistant or player to add words. But the most notable aspect, at least from outside the dugout, is the length…
By BILLY HEYEN PENFIELD, N.Y. — As Jack Kelly strolled to the plate with the bases loaded and a 10-run rule possibility at hand, his third base coach had three simple words for him. “It’s your time.” Kelly, who’d pitched a strong complete game to that point, delivered a walk-off grand slam over the tall leftfield […]
You’ll make varsity baseball as a freshman — whoops, spoiler — but then play less than you think you deserve. Cherish those moments anyway. Hanging a curveball to Conner Simonetti that he hit to Kings Highway will feel bad in the moment, but when he’s drafted (twice) you’ll appreciate it…
By BILLY HEYEN BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Underneath the NYSEG Stadium concourse on Saturday, avoiding the pouring rain, Adam Scott leaned in to answer a question, as if to impart deeper knowledge. But then, before he got to the punchline, he admitted he was stating the obvious. “There’s a big picture, which is make it to […]
The Brighton High School and University of Virginia alumnus was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians. He’s worked his way up the system to Akron, where he’s teammates with fellow Section V alumnus Scott. Clement has embraced who he is on and off the field en route to a strong first half for the Rubberducks. He’s in the midst of a 10-game hitting streak with a .293 average that ranks fifth in the Eastern League…