Walking right into defeat (Niskayuna vs. Shenendehowa, 5/16/19)

The Coaches vs. Cancer baseball series resumed at Bruno Stadium tonight, as Suburban Council rivals Shenendehowa and Niskayuna played a make-up game for a rainout on April 26.

The Silver Warriors drew first blood against Shen starter Brendan Disonell in the first inning. Aaron Whitley opened the game with a single. So did Jacob Hand. After Cole Hedden reached on a force play, Nisky starter Tim Schaffer helped himself with a sacrifice fly.

However, it didn't take long for Schaffer to give the run right back. After fanning Nick Lemire to open the home first, Schaffer walked Pat McGuire and Ben Lavery. With two out, Tom Krill laced a two-run single to right center to put Shen in front. That lead didn't last, either, as Nisky tied the score in the top of the second. Chris Erickson led off with a single, and came around on a ground out to even things at 2.

The score remained that way until the home fifth. Back to back walks to Lavery and Jake Reinisch, son of Troy athletic director and former CBA star Paul Reinisch, put Shen in prime position with no one out. Chase Carroll brought home pinch runner Jack Sandberg with the tie-breaking run, and the Plainsmen took it from there.

With the score 4-2 in favor of Shen in the sixth, McGuire led off with a single. That was all Nisky coach Chris Bianchi needed to see, as he lifted Schaffer in favor of Shawn Vena. Unfortunately, Vena poured gasoline on the fire, as he promptly walked Lavery. With one out, Krill got his third hit of the game, scoring McGuire. That closed the book on Schaffer, who was charged with 5 runs, 4 earned in 5+ innings, striking out six, but an unsightly eight walks proved to be the difference. By the time Brian Bowman got the last out in the sixth, Shen had stretched its lead to 10-2.

In the visiting seventh, Sam Morra led off with his third hit of the game, a sharp single that went past Reinisch at third. However, Morra was held to a single, but he would come around on a hit by Hand for the final tally of the evening. Shen gains a split of the regular season series, 10-3.

Disonell went 6 1/3 innings, giving up the three runs on eight hits, while striking out five. The bullpen slammed the door shut, as Jim Murphy made the last out to end the game.

The Coaches vs. Cancer series resumes Sunday afternoon with LaSalle vs. Cohoes at 3 pm.