MY HOMETOWN SPORTS LOCAL COLLEGE & HIGH SCHOOL SCOREBOARD

5/24

Local College

Women’s Lacrosse

NCAA Final Four

 Maryland 11 Syracuse 10

High School

Baseball

Class C 1 

Tully 1 South Lewis 0

Boys Lacrosse

FM 6 Liverpool 1

West Genesee 9 B’ville 8

Girls Lacrosse

Watertown 13 ESM 12 2OT

Skaneateles 17 LaFayette 8

CNS 7 West Genesee 6

B’ville 10 Liverpool 7

CBA 19 JD 4

Marcellus 12 So. Jefferson 8

5/23

High School

Boys Lax

JD 21 Watertown 9

Baseball

Section 3 Playoffs

Class AA

CNS 7 RFA 0

Class A

Watertown 10 Carthage 6

Tory King 6 Ks and New Hartford leads Oneida 3-0 play suspended by rain after 4 innings.  Game resumes 4:30 Friday

Class B

Clinton 2 Notre Dame 1

Anthony Rizzo strikes out 9 and allows just 3 hits as the Warriors advance.  

Phoenix at VVS suspended after 3 innings of action. Game resumes 4 p.m. Friday. VVS leads 2-0

Hannibal 2 Westhill 0

Class C 1

Thousand Islands 3 Lowville 0

Little Falls 4 Herkimer 3

Sauquoit Valley 3 Watertown IHC 2

Class C 2

Fabius-Pompey 15 Port Byron 7

Beaver River 4 Westmoreland 0

Pulaski  2 Cooperstown 0

Bishop Grimes 18 Sandy Creek 1

Class D

LaFargeville 6 Remsen 2

Hamilton 4 Brookfield 2

Copenhagen at Oriskany 0-0 when play suspended by rain in bottom of first inning.

Back at it 2 p.m. Friday

McGraw 6 Otselic Valley 1

Softball

Class AA

CNS 7 Proctor 2

Class C 1

Little Falls 9 Cato-Meridian 1

Cooperstown 3 Thousand Islands 2

Class C 2

West Canada Valley 8 Onondaga 2

Sandy Creek 11 Port Byron 0

Class D

New York Mills 9 ABay 5

Hamilton 10 Copenhagen 0

Becca Rogers throws a perfect game. Strikes out 13

Oriskany 10 Watertown IHC 3-5 innings

 Poland 7 Brookfield 2-Brookfield 2. Kara Morrison & Lexi Darrow HRs for Poland (11-7). 

Lyme 2 McGraw 1

Madison 9 Cincinnatus 5

Morgan Lewis 2 RBI for Madison.

5/22

High School

Baseball

Latest NYS HS baseball poll. Clinton # 11 VVS #15 Class B. Little Falls #6 Class C. NY Mills #4,McGraw#7, Oriskany # 16, Class D.

Class AA

RFA 9 Proctor 4

Eddie Campos drove in 3 runs for the Knights. Jeff Cooke pitches the Knights to the win.

Because of last night’s weather, a few changes have been made in the Sectional schedule for this week.

Class C 1

Herkimer 4 Mt. Markham 2

Mitchell Scherer drive in 2 runs for the Magicians.

Softball

Class AA

FM 3 Proctor 2 Update. The Proctor FM softball score was reported as a final.Game was suspended due to weather. To be completed tomorrow. 

Class C 

Herkimer 19 Sauquoit Valley 3

Boys Lacrosse

Carthage 11 Auburn 5

 LaFayette 14 CBA 11

Liverpool 10 Corcoran 5

Cazenovia 10 Westhill 6

B’ville 11 CNS 0

Girls Lacrosse

ESM 15 Fulton 3

CNS 14 FM 12

Skaneateles 17 General Brown 6

Liverpool 16 Syracuse 6

LaFayette 16 Mexico 9

Marcellus 15 Onondaga 5

JD 13 Auburn 12 Girls lax

5/21

High School

Baseball

Class A Baseball-Round 1

Homer 4  ESM 3

Oneida 4  Camden 3

Carthage 7  Indian River 4

CBA 3  Bishop Ludden 2

Class B Baseball-Round 1

Skaneateles 14  Cazenovia 3

VVS 8 South Jefferson 2

Marc Iseneker (6-1) gets the win, James Flagler 2×3 3 RBIs

Westhill 12, General Brown 0

Solvay 4  Adirondack 1

Hannibal 8  Holland Patent 2

Nortre Dame 7  Sherburne-Earlville 1

Aaron Macchia drove in 3 runs for the Jugglers. Zack Kesterson strikes out 14.

Phoenix 1  Canastota 0

Class C Baseball-Round 1

Class C 1

Tully 4  Frankfort-Schuyler 0

Hamilton’s Noah Fry 3 Hits, 3 runs and 4 rbi, Pitcher Sam Hale with 5 ks and the win

Class C2

Port Byron 3  Cato-Meridian 0

Sandy Creek 6 West Canada Valley 2

Class D Baseball-Round 1  

Oriskany 19, Belleville Henderson 2.

Austin Smith gets the win, Dan Buehler with 3 hits, 4 rbi’s for Oriskany.

Brookfield 9  DeRuyter 2

Wade King pitched Brookfield to the win

Otsellc Valley 16  BVM 8

 Poland 8  Stockbridge Valley 0

Finn Morrissey pitched the shutout for Poland

 New York Mills 15 Remsen 2

Remsen 2J.T. Ross 2×4, 4 RBIs and 3 pitchers combine on 2-hitter, 16 Ks

Copenhagen 5  LaFargeville 1

Sandy Creek 6  WCV 2

Hamilton 13 Sackets Harbor 1

Sam Hale pitched the Knights to the win.

Softball

Section III Class C-1 quarterfinal

 Thousand Islands 6 Mount Markham 0

Port Byron 9  Bishop Grimes 4 

Girl’s Lax

 Watertown 14 Indian River 4

SJ 17  Tully 10

 Auburn 7  JD 6

C-NS top seed in AA, Oneida Class A, Solvay in Class B, Cooperstown, Sandy Creek in C-1, C-2, Stockbridge in Class D

CLASS AA

5/25 Saturday’s quarterfinals

9-Fayetteville-Manlius (8-10) at 1-Cicero-North Syracuse (19-1), 1

5-Auburn (13-7) at 4-West Genesee (10-8), 1

5/27 Monday quarterfinal

6-RFA (10-6) at 3-Central Square (13-6), 1

May 29 semifinals, at higher seeds

6-RFA/3-Central Square winner at 2-Liverpool (16-5), TBD

5-Auburn/4-West Genesee winner vs. 9-F-M/1-C-NS winner, TBD

FINALS: Saturday, June 1, at Syracuse University, 2.

CLASS A

5/25 Saturday’s quarterfinal

7-Indian River (11-7) at 2-Jamesville-DeWitt (14-4), 2

5/27 Monday’s quarterfinals

Camden/Mexico at 1-Oneida (18-2), 2

5-New Hartford (15-4) at 4-Fulton (10-6), 3

5/29 May 29 semifinals, at higher seeds

3-East Syracuse-Minoa (11-6) vs. Camden/Mexico/Oneida winner, TBD

New Hartford/Fulton winner vs. Indian River/JD winner, TBD

FINALS: Saturday, June 1, at Syracuse University, 4:30.

Class B

5/25 Saturday’s first round

9-Cazenovia (11-8) at 8-Westhill (11-5), 11

10-Phoenix (10-9) at 7-Marcellus (15-3), 2

11-CBA (8-6) at 6-Holland Patent (13-7), 3:30

15-Clinton (7-10) at 2-Adirondack (16-2), 1

5/27 Monday’s quarterfinal, at higher seeds

Cazenovia/Westhill winner at 1-Solvay (17-0), 11

5/29 May Semifinals: at higher seeds.

FINALS: Saturday, June 1, at Syracuse University, 7.

CLASS C-1

5/25 Saturday’s quarterfinal

4-Pulaski (10-7) at 5-South Lewis (13-6), 1

5/25 Saturday semifinals

3-Herkimer (18-3) at 2-Little Falls (18-3), 1

5/27 Monday semifinals

Pulaski/South Lewis winner at 1-Cooperstown (19-0), 1

FINALS: Wednesday, May 29, at neutral site.

Overall C Final: Saturday, June 1, at Le Moyne College, 2.

CLASS C-2

5/25 Saturday’s quarterfinals

6-Mohawk (11-5) at 3-Fabius-Pompey (9-2), 1

7-Waterville (11-7) at 2-Weedsport (14-3), 4

Semifinals: TBD, at higher seeds

FINALS: Wednesday, May 29, at neutral site.

 CLASS C-2

5/25 Saturday’s quarterfinals

6-Mohawk (11-5) at 3-Fabius-Pompey (9-2), 1

7-Waterville (11-7) at 2-Weedsport (14-3), 4

Semifinals: TBD, at higher seeds

FINALS: Wednesday, May 29, at neutral site.

 CLASS D

5/25 Saturday’s quarterfinals

7-New York Mills (12-8) at 2-Oriskany (17-3), noon

6-Poland (11-8) at 3-Hamilton (17-2), 1 

8-Madison (11-9) at 1-Stockbridge Valley (17-1), 11

12-Lyme (8-10) vs. 4-LaFargeville (16-4), TBD

5/29 semifinals: at higher seeds.

FINALS: Saturday, June 1, at Le Moyne College, 4:30.

The top seeds are: Cicero-North Syracuse (Class AA), New Hartford (Class A), Clinton (Class B), Little Falls (Class C1), Bishop Grimes (Class C2) and McGraw (Class D)

Class AA

5/25 Saturday’s Quarterfinals

6-Syracuse East (11-9) at 3-West Genesee (13-5), 1

7-Auburn (11-9) at 2-Baldwinsville (16-4), 3

5-Oswego (12-8) at 4-Fayetteville-Manlius (13-6), 4

Class A

5/25 Saturday Quarterfinals

5-Homer (14-7) at 4-Jamesville-DeWitt (16-4), 1

6-CBA at 3-Cortland (14-3), 2

9-Oneida (9-1) at 1-New Hartford (11-9), 4

5/26 Sunday Semifinals

CBA-Cortland winner at 2-Watertown (16-4), TBD

Homer-JD winner vs. Oneida-NH winner at higher seed, TBD

FINALS: Monday, May 27, at DeLutis Field, 1

Class B

5/25 Saturday’s Quarterfinals

6-Phoenix (10-8) at 3-VVS (18-3), 2

12-Skaneateles (10-9) at Solvay (15-3), 1

5/26 Sunday Semifinals

Skaneateles-Solvay winner at 1-Clinton (16-4), 1

Phoenix-VVS winner at 2-Westhill (17-5), TBD

FINALS: Monday, May 27, at DeLutis Field, 7 p.m.

  Five Herkimer Softball Players Named to All-American Teams

Herkimer, NY— Five members of the Herkimer County Community College national championship women’s softball team have been named to NJCAA All-American Teams. First team selections include freshman catcher Samantha Smaldone (Delmar), sophomore infielder Jessica Patterelli (Canastota) and sophomore outfielder Stephanie Siriano (Sherrill).

Making second team All-American are freshman DP/Utility Delaney Buckley (Utica) and freshman pitcher Toni Secreti (Baldswinville). Siriano and Patterelli are the first two-year first team All-Americans in the history of the Herkimer softball program. 

Head Coach PJ Anadio said, “I am very proud of these young ladies being named NJCAA All-Americans. There are only 22 spots to be filled from the entire country, so for Herkimer to be recognized with five is amazing and a true sign of respect for the program. This is also a team accomplishment. Without the rest of the team pushing these five day in and day out to achieve excellence, they wouldn’t be where they are today.”

The Herkimer County Community College women’s softball team won the 2013 National Junior College Athletic Association Division III National Championship on Saturday, May 18 in Rochester Minnesota. The Generals had a 4-0 record in the national tournament and a season ending record of 43-2. They also won the NJCAA Region III women’s softball championship.

Siriano was named the Region III Player of the Year and Patterelli was named to the Region III All-Tournament Team. Siriano, Secreti, Patterelli, Smaldone and Buckley were named to the First Team All-Region.

Ashley Sterritt (Accord), Rebekah Kitchen (Delmar), Secreti and Siriano were named to the All Tournament Team at the World Series. The National Tournament MVP was awarded to Tina Karaqi (Thornwood) who was also awarded the Outstanding Offensive Player award. Secreti was recognized with the Outstanding Pitcher Award for the tournament.

HCCC 5 BROOKDALE 2 GENERALS NATIONAL CHAMPS! NJCAA WORLD SERIES

MHTS update: 5/18

HCCC 5, Brookdale 2, Generals win NJCAA Division III championship, their first. More to follow.

ROCHESTER, Minn.-Courtesy NJCAA

Herkimer County Community College’s softball team moved to within a victory of a national championship Saturday after rallying for a 6-5 victory over Dutchess Community College in the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament.

The Generals, 42-2, were scheduled to play either Dutchess or Brookdale Community College for the title at approximately 9 p.m. Eastern time tonight, with another game possible at 11 p.m. or later in the double-elimination tourney.

Tina Karaqi had three hits and three RBIs to lead HCCC, and knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Generals had trailed 5-1 before tying the game with four runs in the sixth.

Karaqi drove home a run in the sixth, Alyssa Balfe delivered a two-run single, and number nine hitter Courtney Gomprecht singled to tie the game. In the seventh, Steph Siriano singled, stole second, went to third on two-strike bunt by Delaney Buckley, and scored on Karagi’s drive.

Sammy Smaldone added two hits for HCCC and Jess Patterelli earned the victory, pitching three innings in relief of Toni Secreti.

MHTS update: 5/17

NJCAA Softball World Series

HCCC 12 Anne Arundel 1 Game one

HCCC 12 Rock Valley 2-Game two

Generals stun Rock Valley 12-2

Rochester, Minnesota – Eight teams began play in the NJCAA National Softball Championship Tournament on Thursday. At the end of the day only two teams remained unbeaten: Herkimer CCC and Dutchess CC.

Herkimer was the #2 seed in this elite eight tournament, so it was not surprising that the Generals earned wins in each of the first two rounds. Dutchess, however, was the #8 seed. They proceeded to upset #1-seeded Brookdale CC in the first round, and they downed #4 Monroe CC in the second round.

Herkimer 12-Rock Valley 2

The Rock Valley College (Illinois) Golden Eagles were the tournament’s #3 seed. They brought a record of 31-10 into their game with the Generals. A close contest was expected, but that did not happen.

Herkimer took a 3-0 lead in the first inning with a Delaney Buckley triple and a Tina Karaqi sacrifice fly. But that was just the beginning.

Toni Secreti was in the circle for HCCC. She held the Golden Eagles scoreless for the first two innings.

The Generals came to bat in their half of the second inning, and they put the game away scoring seven runs on six hits while sending 13 batters to the plate. Rebekah Kitchen led off the frame with a home run to center field – her second round-tripper of the day.Jessica Patterelli doubled to left. Buckley brought in a run with a productive out. Courtney Gumprecht doubled to right. Three other Generals – Karaqi, Ashley Sterritt, and Kitchen – singled. When the dust settled, Herkimer owned a 10-0 lead.

HCCC added two more runs in the third inning. The big blow was a Karaqi clout that cleared the left field fence. It was Karaqi’s fifth homer of the season.

Secreti was in good form and was en route to her 15th win of the season. The Golden Eagles scratched two runs in the fourth inning, but Secreti set them down one-two-three in the fifth and final inning of the game that was shortened by the run rule.

Herkimer had earned a 12-2 win and a place in the huge Friday game.

Friday contest

The Generals and the Falcons of Dutchess CC (Poughkeepsie, NY) are to meet at 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday. The tournament is a double-elimination event. Thus, the winner of Friday’s game will move directly to the championship game(s) at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. If they win that game, they will be the national champions.

The loser of Friday’s contest will have a more difficult challenge. They will have to win a game at 1:00 on Saturday in order to qualify for the championship game(s). If Friday’s loser should win the 3:00 championship game, then both of the competing teams would have one loss, and a deciding game would be played after the 3:00 game.

May 23

HAMILTON - The New Hartford Spartans have been the best boys high school golf team in Section III all season.

They haven’t lost a match, won the competitive Warrior Classic on May 11 and sentseven players into Thursday’s first round of the Section III Tournament at Seven Oaks Golf Course in Hamilton.

Nothing changed after Thursday’s play, as five Spartans advanced to Saturday’s final round as the 107-player field was cut down to 25.

New Hartford’s Alec Bard tied for the top spot.

The top 25 will compete in hopes of finishing in the top nine and representing Section III at the New York State Championships June 3-4 at Cornell University’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Ithaca.

Freshman Alec Bard led the way with a 2-over 74 in windy conditions on the difficult layout.

Bard is tied with West Genesee’sJohn Clare and Fayetteville-Manlius’ Mike
Lee. 

“I played really well,” Alec Bard said. “The sad thing is, I didn’t make many putts. I hit the ball really well, so I didn’t put a lot of stress on my short game.”

Bard is looking to make his third state appearance in three opportunities. But being in the lead has him focused on the title.

“Being in the final group, I will just focus on what I have to do and not worry about what’s going on with other players. I will just worry about my next shot and stay in the moment.”

Another New Hartford freshman, Tom Mandel, is a stroke back, and is tied for fourth with Liverpool’s Karl Deuble.

Mandel began his round on the 5th hole, but did his damage on the back side, where he
made three birdies (Nos. 13, 17 and 18).

West Canada Valley’s Bob Davenport watches his tee
shot on the 1st hole. Davenport shot 79 to advance.

“I putted well,” Mandel said. “I made some good birdie putts on the back. I hit most of my fairways and just made my pars most of the round,” Mandel said.

Mandel is in primed position entering the final round in hopes of turning a great season into a special one.

“Just getting here was a goal,” Mandel said. ”Now getting to states is a big goal.”

Three-time defending champion, Derek Bard, struggled with his swing most of his round
and had a five-putt green on the par-5 7th hole.

Not many players would be able to come back from a five-putt green that resulted in a
triple-bogey 8 to put him 4-over par for the day.

But the defending state champion and five-time class champion dug deep and steadied
himself, playing his final 11 holes at just 1-over par to post 77, and is currently in solo
sixth.

“It was just one of those days,” said Bard, who dropped to 5-over after 12, before  playing par golf down the stretch.

“Hopefully I can get off strong Saturday, and being only three back, I’m still in great
position despite not playing well. I have to look at the positives because I hung in there
and just did my best to grind out pars.”

Patrick Coughlin (79) and Alex Malta (82), both seniors, also will play in Saturday final
round.

West Canada Valley sophomore, Bob Davenport, earned his first appearance in the final round with a 79 Thursday. Davenport just missed making it to the final round last year.

Notre Dame senior Mike Kalil posted 81, and will have a chance to earn his second  straight trip to states.

Fayetteville-Manlius’ Mike Lee putts on the 9th green. Lee shot
74, and is tied for the lead after the first round.

Whitesboro’s Sam Tornatore and Alex Egresits, Canastota’s Ian Campbell, and Remsen’s Ryan Rybicki were among a group of six players sweating out the tallying of scores, but ended up making the cut on the number after carding 82s.

Notable local players missing the cut were Whitesboro’s Joel Jakubowicz (86), who
made states in 2012, and Frankfort-Schuyler’s Dante Migliore (85).

Tee times begin at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The state tournament team figures to feature at least a few New Hartford Spartans.

“We’ve been working hard the whole year,” Alec Bard said. “It’s great that all three
seniors made it in their final year. And to have two freshman is also great. It should be
a fun day.”

Section III Tournament
Seven Oaks Golf Course, Par 72
Qualifiers for Final Round: Alec Bard (NH)
74; John Clare (West Genesee) 74); Mike
Lee (FM) 74; Tom Mandel (NH) 75; Karl
Deuble (Liverpool) 75; Derek Bard (NH) 77;
Matt Schaffner (Cazenovia) 78; Pat Coughlin
(NH) 79; Bob Davenport (West Canada) 79;
Joe Petrin (Cicero-NS) 79; Sean Murray
(Chittenango) 79; Alex Rosato (Homer) 80;
Jack Bellardini (CBA) 80; Mike McIntosh
(Chittenango) 80; Nick Mitchell (Auburn) 80;
Mike Kalil (Notre Dame) 81; Doug Pickney
(Skaneateles) 81; Nikita Rosenblum (Auburn)
81; Dan Thomas (FM) 81; Nick Arrigo (South
Lewis) 82; Alex Egresits (Whitesboro) 82;
Sam Tornatore (Whitesboro) 82; Ian
Campbell (Canastota) 82; Ryan Rybicki
(Remsen) 82; Alex Malta (NH) 82.

PHOTO GALLERY

Saturday’s Final Round
Tee Times:
12:30: Alex Malta (NH); Ryan Rybicki
(Remsen), Alex Egresits (Wboro)
12:38: Ian Campbell (Canastota; Sam
Tornatore (Wboro); Nick Arrigo (South Lewis)
12:46: Dan Thomas (FM); Doug Pickney
(Skan); Nick Mitchell (Auburn)
12:54: Nikita Rosenblum (Aub); Jack
Bellardini (CBA); Mike Kalil (ND)
1:02: Mike McIntosh (Chitt); Patrick Coughlin
(NH); Alex Rosato (Homer
1:10: Sean Murray (Chitt); Joe Petrin (CNS);
Derek Bard (NH)
1:18: Bobby Davenport (WCV); Matt
Schaffner (Caz); Tom Mandel (NH)
1:28: Karl Deuble (Liv); John Clare (WG);
Alec Bard (NH); Mike Lee (FM)

Photos-Kevin Montano-MHTS

5/23

The Sauquoit Valley Indians held off a late Watertown rally to secure a 3-2 sectional playoff victory by a smooth pitching performance from senior Rob Slivinski, timely hitting and solid team defensive play.

Slivinski walked the first Watertown batter he faced, Vince Alteri, but quickly followed with two outs as he forced Jake Fussilli and Austin Frechette both to pop up in foul territory. Fussilli popped up to Sauquoit senior catcher, Tom Jalowiec and Frechette to senior first baseman, Zack Thomas.

The Cavaliers quickly responded with two singles off the bats of Louie Freda and Robin Massey, sending a run home and taking the early 1-0 lead. The inning ended shortly thereafter when Slivinski struck out Miles Sexton.

Sauquoit Valley starter Rob Slivinski goes the distance.

Sauquoit came out in the bottom of the first ready to swing the bats and get the offense moving.

R.J. Spinella was first to take a cut and grounded out to the shortstop for the first out of the inning.

Pitcher, Rob Slivinski, was next up for the Indians and hit a liner to the shortstop who made a long throw across the diamond that sailed high and resulted in first baseman Joe Fay not being able to make the play, as Slivinski ran out the play and was safe.

Senior, Tom Jalowiec, then stepped into the batters box and turned on a pitch and gave it a long ride to left field nearly clearing the fences for a double and putting the Indians in scoring position.

With runners on 2nd and 3rd right handed batter, Zack Thomas, made his way to the plate and smashed a single to the shortstop who picked up the ball and tossed it to first, but a hustling Thomas was able to beat out the throw, netting an RBI and tying the game at one (1-1).

The second inning saw Slivinski settle down and get into his stride and quickly moved through the inning.

The bottom of the second started off with a single by Gary Falchi, when he placed a ball between the right and center fielder. However, the Watertown pitcher, Robin Massey, was able to strike out the next batter, Lewandrowski, and then record out number two when Ethan Harris perfectly placed a bunt between the pitchers mound and the third baseman to advance the runner.

R.J Spinella stepped up next looking to bring home some runners and was safe after hitting a ball hard to the third baseman who mishandled it. The Indians however, were unable to capitalize when Massey was able to strike out Rob Slivinski leaving two runners stranded.

#98 Joe Fay had him shaded perfectly.

Heading into the third inning with the score tied at one, both teams were eager to break out the bats and put some more runs on the board. However, both pitchers had alternate plans for the inning.

Slivinski worked a quick inning, facing only four batters. He was able to get Jake Fussilli and Austin Frechette to ground out and later struck out Robin Massey. The only hit was by Louie Freda, who scorched a ball to the right of a diving Gary Falchi, whose glove just grazed the ball.

Watertown’s Massey matched his counterpart in the inning by doing one better. He retired the side, striking out Tom Jalowiec and Kevin Owens and popping up Zack Thomas.

Slivinski continued to move along efficient and effectively in the fourth inning. He allowed a single to center by the first batter he faced, Miles Sexton.

Slivinski then struck out the next batter, Spencer Sharlow and helped himself when a ball came back to him and he went to second for the 1-6-3 double play.

As the game began to move into the later innings, the Sauquoit confidence seemed to kick up a notch and it showed in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Indians continued to battle, and Kory Lewandrowski hit a ball at Watertown shortstop Jude Fussilli, who botched it for an E6. Runners were now at 1st and 2nd for the home team.

That brought up Ethan Harris for the Indians, who took direction from his coach and laid down a bunt and ran like the wind, again beating out the throw to load the bases.

Seeing his opportunity, senior R.J Spinella moved into the batters box and smoked a ball to left field sending two runners home, picking up two RBI and giving the Indians a 3-1 advantage.

Sauquoit Valley coach Frank Curriere Jr. fires up the troops.

The Indians turned to the bottom of their batting order in the bottom of the sixth to add some insurance runs and “have a day” as many of the kids on the bench were encouraging.

Still confident in his starter, Sauquoit Valley head coach, Frank Curriere Jr., sent his senior pitcher back on the mound for what he hoped would be the final inning to finish what he started, and finish he did.

Curriere could not ask for more as Slivinski forced Joe Fay to ground out back to him for the first out, then secured out number two with a fly out and ended the game in dramatic fashion by striking out Jake Fussilli. The Sauquoit Valley Indians were victorious by a final score of 3-2. Slivinski finished with six strikeouts, one earned run and two bases on balls.

Leading the offense was Tom Jalowiec, who was 2 for 3 with a double, two stolen bases and an RBI and R.J Spinella with two RBI and two stolen bases.

Following the game senior starting pitcher, Rob Slivinski, spoke with My Home Town Sports regarding his complete game sectional playoff performance. Slivinski said, “I came out in that first inning a little rusty and was not able to hit my spots like I wanted. I was missing with my curve ball. A lot of it may just have been adrenaline.”

#15 Kevin Owens tries to move runner over.

Slivinski added, “Starting in the second inning I started hitting my spots and getting command of my curve ball and started to feel good and settle in. Our defense today played really well and helped me out a lot, with a few great double plays and a diving catch.”

Slivinski reflected on what it means to pick up a sectional win in front of the home crowd and in his senior year. “It feels good to get that first win under our belt but, we feel we have a lot more left in us. We have something to prove after our first round exit last year to Little Falls. We are excited and ready for the competition.”

Senior second baseman R.J Spinella told My Home Town Sports, “This win means everything to us. We know we have a good team and after last year we have to prove that to everyone else. We know we can play with anybody, and this is our chance to show everyone.” Spinella stated, “When we put all the pieces together we can do things.  Today we did that. We hit well, pitched well and played well defensively.”

Senior first baseman Zack Thomas agreed saying, “When we have everything firing at all cylinders we can be pretty good. We had some big plays that were confidence boosters and we played off of that and got fired up.” Thomas also said that “This team has a lot of confidence. We believe in each other. We stay together, play together and we can be successful together.”

Indians move on to second round!

Lastly, senior catcher Tom Jalowiec commented, “We played small ball and did it well today. The first few innings we got the momentum going and played off of that. I personally felt good today getting two hits as I was in a little bit of a slump. This win is a big confidence booster and this team feels like they have a lot left in the tank.”

Coach Frank Curriere was beaming as he was met by his wife and two young daughters after the game with a “good game daddy”.

The coach told us, “I am very proud of this team.  We have had some ups and downs but, they don’t quit or give up. It is a perfect time for them to come together.”

Curriere described the team as a “close-knit group with some returners and some younger players all of whom are stepping up at the right time.” The coach added, “I am happy for these boys.  They have worked hard all season and have practiced hard these last few days, wanting to be at practice.”

“We will gear up for it and hope for a deep run but, we will take each game one at a time.”

Watertown IHC 100 010 0 2-6-2

Sauquoit         100 200 X 3-8-1 

Jeff Pexton-MHTS/PGI Photo

5/23

The Class B, number one seed, Clinton Warriors baseball team overcame an early 1-0 deficit and hung on to defeat the 9th seeded Notre Dame Jugglers by a score of 2-1 in the Section III baseball quarterfinal at Clinton High School. 

Warriors starting pitcher, Anthony Rizzo, who entered the game with a record of (6-1) on the campaign and giving up less than a half a run per game, was masterful on the hill, yielding no earned runs, on just three Juggler’s hits.

Rizzo also collected 9 strikeouts on the afternoon, not the least dramatic of which were the three consecutive K’s in the top of the seventh to end the game, with a thunderstorm looming!

Alex Rocci absorbed the loss on the mound for Notre Dame, despite setting down the first nine Clinton batters he faced. 

Clinton’s Anthony Rizzo (6) strides toward home late in the contest.

Hats (and raincoats) off to the Athletic Directors of both schools for having the foresight to move the start time of this game up 30 minutes, to 4:00 p.m., in an effort the beat the impending rain.

Timing couldn’t have been better as the heavens opened up about a minute after the final out of the contest.

Notre Dame, which advanced to this game with a win over Sherburne-Earlville on Tuesday, took the lead in this one on an odd series of events.

With two out and the score tied at 0-0 in the top half of the fourth inning, Alex Rocci reached on a throwing error by Clinton third baseman, Andrew Hobika.

With Rocci at second base, Caleb Blair then chopped a ball to Warriors second baseman, Rocco Bouse, who made an errant throw up the line at first, causing first baseman, Lenny Ortiz, off the bag and into a collision with Blair.

As both players hit the deck and the ball came loose, Rocci alertly scampered home to give the Jugglers a 1-0 lead. 

Clinton would brush off the shaky infield play, something not at all typical of a Tom Pfisterer coached ball club, with a strong home half of the fourth.

Look and learn kids…Notre Dame sophomore shortstop Zack Kesterson (2) shows textbook form fielding a groundball during today’s game. This kid is going to go places in this game.

Bouse started things off by beating out a grounder to shortstop. Ian Foxton followed him up by placing a single into right field on a perfectly executed hit and run, sending Bouse to third.

With runners at the corners and nobody out, Andrew Taft’s ground ball, fielder’s choice to the shortstop, scored Bouse to pull the State Ranked #11 Warriors even at 1-1.

Lenny Ortiz then clocked a liner to right field, to score Foxton from second base and Clinton took the lead at 2-1 and as it turns out that’s all the Warriors would need.

From there it was all Anthony Rizzo, as the crafty right hander allowed just two singles over the next three innings, while facing just 11 batters in the same three frames.

Four of Rizzo’s nine K’s came in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. 

The stat that probably brought the biggest smile to Coach Pfisterer’s face was the fact that Rizzo did not walk a single batter this afternoon.

Notre Dame sophomore ace, Zack Kesterson, who went the distance in the win over S-E on Tuesday, was called upon with one away in the bottom of the sixth to try to keep Notre Dame within a run.

Clinton’s Justin Jandke (10) rips a third inning offering.

The kid with the big future and the rocket arm did just that, getting two quick strikeouts to give the Jugglers a shot.

Starter, Alex Rocci, finished the day yielding 2 earned runs, on 4 hits, while striking out 3 and walking 1.

With the win, Clinton (16-5), advances to play the winner of tomorrow’s game between Solvay (4) and Skaneateles (12) in a semifinal game at Clinton High School on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Notre Dame finishes a very solid season, often playing up in class, at (9-11).

Clinton 2 Notre Dame 1

Box Score

                      1  2  3  4  5  6  7    R   H   E

Notre Dame      0  0  0  1  0  0  0    1   3   0

Clinton             0  0  0  2   0  0  0   2   5   2

Submitted to MHTS by Bob George

Jeff Cooke posted win number 8 of the season on the mound and Eddie Campos went 3 for 4 at the plate with 3 RBI’s as Rome Free Academy advanced to the second round of the Class AA sectional playoff with a 9-4 victory over Utica Proctor.

Weather forced this game to be played in two days.

Things started out well for the Raiders. John Napoli was on the hill for the Raiders and had a four pitch first inning.

(Jeff Cooke stood tall and raised his season record to 8-2 with the win over Utica Proctor)

The Raiders then struck first in the bottom of the second and took a 1-0 lead.

Nick Bruzzese started the inning with a hard single up the middle.

The next batter Lawrence Elliot followed with a perfect bunt.

Bruzzese was off with the pitch and was rounding second when the ball was thrown to first.

An errant throw to third allowed Bruzzese to score.

RFA would answer the call in the top of the third.

After a walk and error, starting pitcher singled to drive in two and give RFA the lead at 2-1.

After a Adam Chmielewski RBI sacrifice fly Eddie Campos delivered a run RBI single. After 3 innings RFA lead 5-1.

RFA would strike for three more runs in the fourth with Ken Adams and Eddie Campos delivering RBI singles. Proctor would add two runs in the sixth and a run in the seventh but it wouldn’t be enough. Cooke went the distance for the win.

(Nick Bruzzese rounds second on his way to scoring the game’s first run)

Jeff Pexton MHTS-PGI Photo

5/21

Pretty much everything about Tuesday afternoon’s Section III Class “A” baseball game between number 9 seed Oneida and number 8 seed Camden involved some sort of gamble.

Take Oneida Head Coach, Jeff Skibitski’s, starting pitching decision to hold back St. John’s University recruit, Mitch Cavanaugh, from the start. He saved his ace for a potential matchup with number 1 seeded New Hartford on Thursday.

Then mix in the umpires decisions to wait out not one, but two weather delays and finish the game, which ended up lasting more than four hours. 

Camden’s Nick Melchiore (14) had a solid day at the plate for the up and coming Blue Devils.

When all the dice had rolled out and all the cards had been flipped, it was Oneida that had the most chips in front of them, as the Indians topped the fiery Blue Devils by a score of 4-3 in 8 innings. 

In the end, Oneida’s Dylan Cafalone scored on a a two-out RBI single off the bat of Kyle George in the top of the eighth inning to break a 3-3 tie, punching Oneida’s ticket to Thursday’s quarterfinal matchup against New Hartford. 

Oneida opened the game with two quick runs in the top half of the first inning, with a two-out rally.

Indian’s juniors Mitch Cavanaugh and Drew Mallinder hit consecutive singles to put runners at first and second with two away.

Next up was senior Matt Carinci, who came through in the clutch with a long double to the right-center field gap, scoring Cavanaugh and Mallinder easily and giving the Indians a 2-0 lead right out of the gate. 

Oneida starter Andrew Sreca was perfect on the mound through the first two frames of this one, giving his head coach confidence that the decision to keep is ace in the hole, Cavanaugh, was the right one. 

All was well for Skibitski and the tribe right up until the the home half of third, when the young Blue Devils got to Sreca. 

Camden’s Garrett Mitchell led off the third with a single and later scored on rip from Ryan McCarthy to pull the home club to within 2-1.

Nick Melchiore, then singled and later scored on a wild pitch from Sreca, tying the score at 2-2, which is the way we would head to the fourth.

Oneida’s Mitch Cavanaugh (24), one of the toughest outs in Section III, hammers a double.

Oneida rallied with two outs again in the top of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead.

Yet another Indians junior, Sean Garby, bunted for a single to open the inning, followed by a Michael Lerch walk.

With nobody out and runners at first and second, Kyle George smacked a base knock to left center, scoring Garby and giving the visitors a one run advantage.

Camden struck back in the home half of the fourth frame, when Tyler Kimball and Joe Mitchell lined back-to-back doubles tying the game at 3-3.

Oneida head coach, Jeff Skibitski, couldn’t ask much more from Sreca, who did a yeoman’s job for 3 1/3 innings against a very tough Camden batting order. 

Mitch Cavanagh was called from shortstop in hopes of slowing the Blue Devil’s rally. The big right hander did the job, getting two quick outs and keeping the score tied after 4 innings of play.

Then came the thunder and lightning. Then came the thunder, the lightning and a newcomer to the party,the rain.

Then came an hour’s worth of delays. Then came the trusty lights of Camden Yards, which were the only reason this game didn’t leak into Wednesday. 

The teams couldn’t plate a run, despite Oneida putting a runner in scoring position in both the 6th and 7th innings with just one out in each instance. 

Camden junior hurler Tyler Kimball (5) delivers a first inning pitch.

Third time was the charm as it turned out, as Oneida was finally able to plate what would be the game winner in the top of the eighth on Kyle George’s 2nd RBI of the game, which scored Cafalone. 

Mitch Cavanaugh was just too strong for Camden in the home half of the eighth, working largely with an overpowering fastball to set down the Blue Devils and earn the win for the Indians, which improved to (9-10) on the season. Camden finished the season at (6-11).

Oneida will now have a day of rest before travelling to Joseph Corr Field in New Hartford on Thursday for a big quarterfinal battle with the Spartans (11-9).

The winner of that game moves to the Class “A” semi-final at the highest seeds.

Box Score

                 123   456  7 8        R H  E

Oneida        200  100   0 1        4-10-1

Camden       002  100  0 0         3- 5- 1

Andrew Sreca, Mitch Cavanagh (W) and Kyle George; Tyler Kimball, Nick Melchiore (L) and Austin Littler.

2B Matt Carinci (O), Cavanagh (O)  2B  Kimball (C), Joe Mitchell (C).

May 21, 2013

ONEIDA VALLEY – Vernon-Verona-Sherrill senior Amanda Snizek has persevered through what most teenagers couldn’t even imagine.

In the past three years the Snizek’s were dealt a double dose of tragedy. In 2010 Amanda’s father, John, died unexpectedly.

Then, this past September, Amanda’s mom, Judy, passed away after a long fight with Breast Cancer.

Vernon-Verona-Sherrill’s Amanda Snizek watches her tee shot
on the 12th hole during Tuesday’s Section III Golf
Championships at Kanon Valley Country Club. Snizek advanced
in a playoff to qualify for the New York State Tournament June
8-9 at SUNY Delhi.

“It’s been difficult and definitely has made me much stronger and more mature,” said  Snizek, who now lives with her sisters, Kelly (25) and Melissa (23).

“It definitely gave me better perspective.”

After 18 holes of play at Tuesday’s Section  III Girls Golf Championship at Kanon Valley Golf Club, Snizek, who shot 87, was in a four-way tie for 7th place.

Only nine players qualify for the state tournament, so there had to be a playoff for the final three automatic berths to states.

It came as no surprise that Snizek thrived in what would be a pressurized situation for any athlete.

Playing the first-playoff hole on the par-5 1st, Snizek striped a 3-wood down the middle, then hit a 7-iron just short of the green.

After hitting an average chip, Snizek knocked her 20-foot birdie putt to within inches and tapped in for par to advance to the New York State Championship, June 8-9 at SUNY Delhi.

“She knows hot to handle the pressure,” first-year VVS coach, Bill Wiley said.

“I knew when she stood on that tee she was going to qualify, because she’s the most mentally strong kid I’ve ever seen. I’m just very proud of her and feel very lucky I got to coach her in her senior season.”

Auburn’s Larissa Carter shot 75 to win the individual title by one stroke over teammate Lindsay May.

Carter not only qualifies for the state tournament, she gets an exemption to play in an LPGA Symetra Tour event at Drumlins Country Club July 26-28.

Auburn’s Larissa Carter (above) shot 75 Tuesday to win the
sectional title by one stroke over teammate

“It means a lot to win this,” said Carter, who has made the state tournament four times, but this is her first win at sectionals.

“It will be a very exciting to get to experience playing a Symetra Tour event, because I’m hoping to one day go pro … and that’s a good start.”

Jamesville-Dewitt’s Molly Hair shot 80 to finish third. Baldwinsville’s Katie Walsh shot 83 for solo fourth. Allison Donella (FM) and Kate Hlywa (Auburn) tied for fifth with 86s. Victoria Roney (JD) and Brianna Sovring (C-NS) also advanced in the playoff.

Fayetteville-Manlius’ Natalie Powers is the first alternate.

RFA’s Lilly Bulawa (89) edged out her sister, MaryAnn, on a tiebreaker to become second alternate.

Auburn won the Section III Division I team title with a 336 total. Fayetteville-Manlius was second at 361, and defending champion, RFA finished third at 382.

Jamesville-Dewitt won the Division II title with a 373 total. The Rams were followed by Cazenovia (410) and New Hartford (416).

Snizek will soon turn her focus on playing in her first state tournament, but for at least a few days can enjoy the fact that she accomplished her main goal for her senior season.

“It was a goal for a while,” Snizek said. “But after coming so close last year, I definitely realized I wanted to come out and make it my senior year.”

On Tuesday she had nearly everything working, but at SUNY Delhi, she’ll need to put it all together to compete with the best in the state.

“Today I played very well except for my putting,” Snizek said. “Aside from that, everything else was great.”

PHOTO GALLERY

May 21
Section III Tournament
at Kanon Valley Country Club
Team Results,
Division I: Auburn 336;
Fayetteville-Manlius 361; RFA 382; West
Genesee 398; West Genesee 398; CBA
409; Baldwinsville 412; Cicero-North
Syracuse 413.
Division II: Jamesville-Dewitt 373;
Cazenovia 410; New Hartford 416;
Chittenango 426; Oneida 449; VVS 450;
Notre Dame 490.
Section III Team going to States: Larissa
Carter (Aub) 75; Lindsay May (Aub) 76;
Molly Hair (JD) 82; Katie Walsh (B’ville) 82;
Allison Donella (FM) 86; Kaitlin Hlywa (Aub)
86; Amanda Snizek (VVS) 87; Victoria
Roney (JD) 87; Brianna Sovring (CNS) 87.
1st Alternate: Natalie Powers (FM) 87.
2nd Alternate: Lilly Bulawa (RFA) 89.