HERKIMER DEALING ACES-BEAT NY MILLS 5-3 AT STOP DWI TOURNEY
STEPHEN SCIALDO MONSTER ENERGY DRINK PLAYER OF THE GAME
Fred Miller-MHTS
Photos: Jeff Robinson
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That’s a wrap! The 2012 Oneida County Stop DWI High School Baseball Classic wrapped up in style on Saturday evening, as the Herkimer Magicians and New York Mills Marauders got together, for the second time this season, on the baseball diamond.
When the last out was recorded, the Magicians (7-2) had once again found a way to pull a rabbit out of their collective hats and beat the tough team from the Mills, 5-3.
Back on April 10th Herkimer took care of the Marauders 10-6 in Herkimer.
This time the win came closer to the Mills (3-2), but the result was the same, as the last game of five led to the curtain falling on the Stop DWI tourney.
The curtain came down in style, as the Magicians and Marauders fought and scrapped for seven fun filled innings.
It was Center States Conference II, Herkimer, coached by Tim Zaleski against Center States Conference IV, New York Mills, coached by Gerry Fiorini in front of a damp, but enthusiastic, crowd at Murnane in Utica.
Addison Wolanin gets set to take a whack at a Scialdo offering
Both teams headed into action coming off wins. New York Mills beat Rome Catholic, 13-0, on Wednesday and Herkimer got the best of Dolgeville, 13-6, on Friday night.
Two days, 10 teams, was the theme of this new tourney and the nightcap was a good one.
Two tough as nails right handers went at it, as Sean Kula got the nod for the Marauders and Stephen Scialdo got the nod for Herkimer.
Monster Energy Drink Player of the Game, Stephen Scialdo, got the best of this matchup, but it took all the moxie he could muster to get the job done.
Herkimer had first ups and Shaun Kula, just a freshmen, acted a lot older on the bump, as he stared the Magicians down and held the formidable lineup in check for five innings.
In his six innings of work Kula allowed 8 hits, struck out 5 and walked just 3.
The first frame went like this. Short stop Bryan McGuire started things off by flying out to right field.
TJ Chilluffo, who had a great day at the dish, going 2-3 with two runs batted in, singled to break the ice.
Low bridge! Herkimer's TJ Chilluffo #7 safe at second as # 5 JT Ross defends.
Kula then retired catcher Mike Dobek, who grounded out to first, and then struck out Gio Aceto to end the inning.
The Marauders, always aggressive at the plate, came out swinging and did coach Fiorini proud, as they rallied with two out, to grab an early (1-0) lead.
Stephen Scialdo got the first two Marauders, JT Ross to ground out and Ryan Lupia to line out.
That’s when first basemen John Sadallah worked out a walk and then motored from first to home, when Zach Vennaro launched a bomb to right field to drive Sadallah home, with the game’s first run, with an RBI producing double, as the Marauders led (1-0).
Brandon Oldfield, who had three hits in the game, got one of those in the top of the second.
That was followed by a walk to Ryan Fahy to set up a threat for the Magicians.
Kula buckled down once again, as he got Robert Holt and Kevin Palmiotto to ground out, as we moved to the bottom of the second.
Stephen Scialdo started to convince us that he might be our Monster Energy Drink Player of the Game, as he was dominant, striking out three straight Marauders, after Addison Wolanin started the inning with a single.
Hold on there. # 11 Ryan Fahy keeps Mills runner close.
It was can you top this, as both starters were in a groove. Shaun Kula followed suit and had a 1-2-3 third when he got Bryan McGuire and TJ Chilluffo to ground out and then fanned Mike Dobek to end the inning.
It was time for another run as New York Mills earned one the hard way.
Ryan Lupia walked and then stole second to end up in scoring position.
Lupia scampered to third on a passed ball.
John Sadallah picked up an RBI as he grounded to the left side of the infield, as Lupia came home with the second run of the game for New York Mills and they now led (2-0).
The Marauders were on cruise control, as Kula was in control until the top of the sixth inning rolled around.
That’s when the Magicians lived up to their moniker and took control of the game.
Gio Aceto ended up stringing together three straight hits as Herkimer kept up the offensive pressure.
Aceto was 3-3 and scored two runs to lead his team. Gio decided enough was enough, as he started the game changing four run rally. In all, Herkimer sent 8 men to the plate in the big inning.
The trouble started when Aceto singled past Zach Vennaro at third base. Aceto then easily stole second base.
That was followed by a walk to Steven Scialdo.
Brandon Oldfield then loaded the bases when he bunted for a base hit. Scialdo dug deep to get the next two Magicians, getting Ryan Fahy to fly out to short and then got Robert Holt to pop out to second.
Oldfield played a key role for Herkimer, all game long, going 3-3 at the plate.
It's a family affair at Murnane in pregame ceremony.
With a full count, 3-2, Kevin Palmiotto worked out a walk to earn a run batted, as Gio Aceto trotted home with Herkimer’s first run to cut the lead to (2-1).
Bryan McGuire, used his blazing speed to his advantage, beat out an infield single to send Scialdo home with the tying run. (2-2).
TJ Chilluffo became a big man on campus as he rifled one to right field to drive in Brandon Oldfield and Kevin Palmiotto as Herkimer suddenly led (4-2).
Chilluffo ended up with the game winning run batted in.
Lucas Sunderland came on in relief of Shaun Kula in the seventh to close things out for the Marauders.
Ryan Lupia scored for New York Mills in the home half of the sixth to cut the lead to (4-3), but that is as close as the Marauders would get.
Gio Aceto added an insurance run for Herkimer in the top of the seventh and that’s all that she wrote as Herkimer beat New York Mills for the second time this season.
As the final out was made and Herkimer celebrated, we saw the inaugural Oneida County Stop DWI High School Baseball Classic come to a close. Five games, 10 teams, two days. It was worth the wait. See you next year.
Herkimer 5 New York Mills 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R
Herkimer 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 5
New York Mills 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 3
