Championship week in Section II began today with doubleheaders in all six classes, at five different venues.
The downside to the early game being at 4 pm is that parents have to leave work early, and fight the rush hour traffic to reach the game site, in this case Bruno Stadium. And, so, it was that the first half of the Monday doubleheader, between Niskayuna & Saratoga, had a sparse crowd that slightly grew as the game progressed.
It started as a pitchers duel between Saratoga's Christian Mello and Niskayuna's Billy Canale. It would be a case of who'd blink first, and, in the 4th inning, it was Canale, who had only allowed a walk and hit two more batters through the first three innings.
In the home 4th, Patrick McKinley led off with a single, the Blue Streaks' 1st hit of the game. Coach Andy Cuthbertson inserted pinch runner Lou Longobardo to run for McKinley. Longobardo stole second, and, one out later, scored on a single by Drew Adams, who, in turn, stole second himself. After a walk to Jack Rigabar, Orion Lansing plated Adams with a base knock, making it 2-0 Saratoga.
Niskayuna answered back in the 5th. Sam Booth led off with a single, and, after a single by Tyler Toth and a 1-out single by Cameron Grasso, Jacob Pirrone-Salisbury hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Booth. Saratoga responded in their half of the inning. Camden Rhude led off with a triple off Zach Mravija, who'd relieved Canale in the 4th. Michael Mack added an insurance run with a 1 out single, plating Rhude.
After a leadoff walk to Sardella to start the 7th, Mello was lifted for Trevor Duthaler, who induced a double play grounder out of Grasso, and got Pirrone-Salisbury to fly to center to end the game.
Mello picked up the win, going 6+ innings, allowing a run on 4 hits while walking 3 and striking out 2. Canale went 3 1/3, giving up 2 runs on 2 hits. He walked two and hit two with no strikeouts. In fact, Pirrone-Salisbury, who pitched the 6th, chalked up 3 K's, stranding two runners in scoring position.
Top-seeded Shenendehowa took on Bethlehem in the nightcap, just two weeks after the two teams had their regular season meeting in Delmar, with Shen winning, 6-3.
The first inning for Shen on defense could be best described thus:
Salati, Salati, baloney.
The Plainsmen defense committed three errors behind starter Nino Salati, leading to an unearned run, as Danny Battista singled to drive in the run. In the 3rd, the Eagles added two more to take a 3-0 lead. Salati was lifted after 4 innings, as was Bethlehem starter RJ Johnston, who gave up 2 runs in the home 4th, clearly tiring. With 1 out, Austin Caldwell singled, moved to 2nd on a passed ball, then scored on a single by Brendan Gonzalez, who, in turn, scored on a hit by Brad Curtis.
In the 6th, with Jim Sparks on the mound for Bethlehem, Shen erupted for four runs to take the lead. With 1 out, Ryan Cronin doubled. Evan Kochansky reached on a fielder's choice. Ian Oeschlaeger, batting for Blake Mello, reached on an error, loading the bases. Thomas Hall singled, bringing home Cronin with the tying run. A double by Ethan Farina brought home Kochansky and pinch runner Amaar Bhusri. Caldwell was intentionally walked for the second straight inning, his 3rd free pass of the game. Gonzales brought home Hall with a sacrifice fly.
Manager Greg Christodulu brought in closer RJ Ensel in the 7th, and all Ensel did was retire the side in order with 2 strikeouts to close a 6-3 win, not quite a repeat of what happened in their earlier meeting, but the Plainsmen now move on to face Saratoga Wednesday (weather permitting) at 7 pm.
In Class A, it'll be Albany Academy and Columbia meeting for the title Friday at 4. The Blue Devils blew out Queensbury, 10-2, while Academy dispatched Burnt Hills, 2-1.
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