COOKE SERVES UP 12 K’S-OFFENSE BANGS OUT 17 HITS AS SMITH POST ROLLS
SMITH POST 13 ADREAN POST 3-MHTS SUMMER FUN TOUR STOPS AT ND
The District Five American Legion baseball schedule told me to head to Notre Dame High School on Friday as two old school rivals met up on the baseball diamond in their only league matchup of the season.
As local American Legion fans know, this is a must see matchup. With the new alignment in the league, teams only face off once, so no wonder a big crowd showed up on a beautiful, early summer, evening to watch the “boys of summer.”
This was a chance for the youth filled roster, fielded by Adrean Post, to show they have started to mature, as the fast paced Legion season rolls on.
Adrean entered action with a (1-4) record, while their rivals from Henry P. Smith Post of Rome traveled down route 49 with a record of (4-1), looking to get back on track, after being smacked around by another young, but talented, Fort Schuyler Post team, (12-2) on Wednesday night.
Somehow, you knew, the Abones, Tony junior and senior, would have their troops ready to roll. Ready they were.
Smith Post starter Jeff Cooke was at his best striking out 12 Adrean batters to earn the win.
When the dust settled at Notre Dame, Smith Post posted a dominating (13-3) win over Adrean, to improve to (5-1), while Adrean fell to (1-5.)
Manager Mike Macchione, a long time veteran of these Smith Adrean battles, knew it would be a tough challenge for his youngsters, but you also knew they would put up a fight.
Problem is, Smith laid a deadly combo on Adrean Post, as they trotted out starter Jeff Cooke, who was masterful on the mound ,going six strong innings, allowing just 5 hits and overpowering 12 Adrean batters, who were strike out victims. More importantly, Cooke walked just one.
As if that wasn’t enough of a challenge for Adrean to deal with, let’s look at what the hungry hitters, wearing orange and grey did.
Smith Post banged out 17 hits in seven innings and used a big 5 run fourth inning to blow this one wide open.
The bash brothers from Smith were led by Derek Murphy, who rapped out two hits and drove in three runs, Ryan Reilley chipped in three hits and drove in two runs, while Drew DeBlasiss had three hits of his own, including a run scoring triple.
Alex Rudiak also had two hits and a run batted in. Caleb Blair ripped a two RBI triple for Smith.
Adrean catcher Matt Fitzgerald gets ready to gun down a Smith Post runner at second.
Adrean sent New York Mills, High School pitcher, Zach Vennaro to the hill to do battle with the Romans.
Vennaro had a great season for the Marauders and was looking to continue displaying his good form of Friday night.
Vennaro worked out of a first inning jam as Smith Post short stop Jordan Koons, a product of Oneida High School, stuck out to lead things off.
Smith Post catcher Josh Mazzaferro followed up with a single past the bag at third, as third basemen Nicholas Terry, another New York Mills Marauder, dove and just missed making a great play on the hard hit ball off Mazafferro’s bat.
With one on and one out, Jeff Cooke tried to help his own cause by lacing one sharply to right.
Joe Flynt flashed some leather, as he made a great grab to deny Cooke’s attempt to drive in a run.
Andrew DeBlasiss got around on a Vennaro offering and laced one to right field, but was gunned down trying to stretch a single into a double.
Adrean catcher Matt Fitzgerald alertly faked a throw to third and gunned down DeBlasiss as he headed to second. The great defensive play ended the inning.
Andrew DeBlasiss leads off third as Smith Post looks for more.
Adrean headed to the dish in the bottom half of the first and got to see early on that Cooke was on top of his game.
Cooke fanned leadoff hitter Chris Nicoterra, one of two Frankfort-Schuyler High School players on the Adrean roster then was touched up for a two base hit as Ed Casper doubled to center.
Cooke followed up by getting Zack Perri to ground out to third and then struck out Zach Vennaro to end the frame.
Smith Post broke through in the visitor’s second, with a two out rally, to put up two runs. Derek Murphy worked out a walk and later scored to make it (1-0) Smith Post.
Drew DeBlassis followed up the Murphy walk with a single to center. Drew later scored run number two for Smith Post.
Both Smith baserunners were chased home when Caleb Blair ripped a two RBI triple to center to put Smith up (2-0).
A three run third let fans know that Smith came to play as the hits just kept on coming. Jeff Cooke doubled to center and later scored to make it (3-0) Smith.
Andrew DeBlasiss stayed hot with an RBI single to left that scored Cooke. DeBlassis and Ryan Reilley also scored as Smith led (5-0).
Alex Rocci waits on deck as Adrean Post tries to rally.
Adrean railled for a run of its own, in the third, as Terry Nichols singled to right and later scored to make it (5-1), as Ed Casper lined an RBI single to right field.
The warm fuzzy feeling didn’t last long for the home team, as Smith Post exploded for five big, game changing, runs as they sent 10 men to the plate to rough up reliever Ed Casper, who took over for Vennaro.
Highlights of the big inning include, an RBI single to left by Ryan Reilley, and an RBI single to left by Alex Rudiak, as a shocked Adrean team now trailed (10-1).
Adrean scratched out another run in their half of the fourth, as Zach Vennaro singled and then later scored when Elon Scott earned an RBI with a bunt single that chased Vennaro home to make it (10-2).
Adrean rallied for one more run in the home seventh when Terry Nichols reached on an error and later scored run number three for the home team.
Smith Post finished putting runs on the board in the top half of the inning, pushing three more runs across to make the final scored (13-3).
Andre DeBlassis tripled and drove in a run, Ryan Reilley produced an RBI single and Derek Murphy later doubled and drove in a run of his own.
Cable Blair came on in the seventh to close thing out for Smith Post.
Smith Post 13 Adrean Post 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Smith Post 0 2 3 5 0 0 3 13 17 2
Adrean Post 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 3 5 4
Smith Post Offense:
Andrew DeBlasiss- 1 triple-2 singles-2 runs scored-2 RBI
Ryan Reilley- 3 singles-2 runs scored-1 RBI
Derek Murphy-1 double-1 run scored-1 RBI
Caleb Blair-1 triple-1 single-2 RBI
Alex Rudiak-1 single-1 run scored-1 RBI
Jeff Cooke-1 double-1 run scored
Drew DeBlasiss-2 singles-1 run scored
Josh Mazzaferro-2 singles-1 run scored
Jordan Koons-1 run scored
Bernie Adorino-1 single
Adrean Post:
Ed Casper-1 double-1 single- 1 RBI
Nicholas Terry- 1 single-2 runs scored
Zach Vennaro-1 single-1 run scored
Elon Scott-1 single-1 RBI
