MARAUDERS CLIP WINGS 13-0 IN CSC IV BASEBALL SHOWDOWN
Starter Zach Vennaro gets ready to rock in Rome as #15 John Sadallah pumps up his teammate. # 5 JT Ross heads to third.
Fred Miller-MHTS
You know the high school baseball season, much like a first run movie, or maybe a good soap opera, is getting to the good part when two old school rivals, the New York Mills Marauders and the Rome Catholic Redwings meet on the baseball diamond.
Today’s showcase event transpired at DeLutis Field in Rome, as the Redwings hosted the Marauders for their first league matchup of the year.
Unfortunately, for the Romans, this movie script was devoid of much drama, or many twists and turns, as the boys from the Mills unloaded on the Wings to cruise to a dominating 13-0 win.
The home team hung tough until the middle innings, when the visitors spoiled the matinée by plating 10 runs in the middle three frames, to break this one wide open.
No offense, but the Marauders didn’t need all the offense they put on display, as they were lucky enough to have number 8, Zach Vennaro, on the hill as their starter.
Vennaro, also a pretty good hoops player, as Mills fans know, was in complete command, mixing up his pitches beautifully, to keep the would be Romans, off balance all day long.
Zach Vennaro offers one up in early action. Vennaro struck out 11 on the day.
How strong was Vennaro? How about this line? Vennaro allowed just three Rome Catholic hits, two of which came in the home first, as Josh Blair doubled to left field and then center fielder Mike Esinger beat out an infield single to the left side.
The Rome Catholic rally fizzled when Nico Pezzula struck out swinging to retire the side.
The third and final Rome Catholic base hit did not come until the bottom of the seventh when left fielder Dominick Provenzano singled to, you guessed it, left field. That’s how strong Vennaro was on this afternoon.
The lanky right hander struck out 10 Wings in the first five innings of the game and struck out the side in the bottom of the third and the bottom of the fifth, leaving the Wings and their fans scratching their heads, as they tried figure out how to hit Vennaro.
In all, Vennaro registered 10 K’s, just 3 hits, and walked just one, to cap off his superb outing.
Coach Joe Melioris handed the ball to Caleb Blair who got the nod on the hill for the home team.
Blair acquitted himself nicely, in the early going, as the game was scoreless until the fourth inning when the Marauders broke on through for a three spot.
John Sadallah heads home with a run for the Marauders.
In the top of the first, Blair had an easy time of it, as he got leadoff hitter JT Ross to ground out to shortstop Josh Blair.
The other Blair then struck out Ryan Lupia and got John Sadallah to ground out to Nico Pezzula to end the opening inning.
The bottom of the first was the inning fans thought Rome Catholic would and should have gotten on the board.
A two out rally started to look good when Josh Blair doubled to deep left and then Mike Eisinger beat out an infield hit.
The runners failed to move, as Vennaro worked his way out of the jam.
In the fourth, the offense fed off the defense and the momentum Vennaro gave them as he struck out the side.
It was more of the same from both starters until the fourth inning, when New York Mills started to find their rhythm at the dish and hone in on Blair.
Eight Marauders came to the plate and before the inning ended New York Mills enjoyed a (3-0) lead.
Nico Pezulla reacts as a Vennaro offering whizzes past.
Second basemen Sean Kula walked, to lead off the inning and then later came around to score the first run of the game. Kula enjoyed his afternoon in Rome, as he drove in two runs.
Addison Wolanin worked out another walk, to set things up for the big inning. Sean Kula found his way home, as Jordan Wilcox doubled to right field for the first of his three RBI on the day.
Wolanin and Wicox made it (3-0) when Joe Pacini picked up two RBI of his own doubling to center field.
New York Mills was right back at it in the top of the fifth, as run number four was scored.
John Sadallah picked up his second hit of the game, singling to left field and later made it (4-0) when Zack Vennaro rolled a grounder to third, that was misplayed, allowing Sadallah to score.
Little doubt was left about the outcome of this one, when the visitors exploded for a six pack of runs. Josh Blair came on in relief of Caleb and was greeted rudely by the Marauders offense.
Twelve men came to the plate in the inning that was highlighted by another Ryan Lupia single that loaded up the bases.
Jordan Wilcox settles in at second. Jordan drove in three runs for NY Mills.
Joe Pacini scored run number five, when John Sadallah earned an RBI by working out a walk.
Zach Vennaro did the same thing, to force in run number six, catcher Terry Nichols, who had walked himself
The lone hit in this six run rally was a two RBI single to center by Jordan Wilcox to score Vennaro and Wilcox.
The rout was on as New York Mills led (10-0).
Three more red, white and blue clad Marauders found their way home in the top of the seventh inning, as the final score ended up New York Mills 13, Rome Catholic 0.
With the win, coach Gerry Fiorini’s team improved to (5-2) on the young season, while Rome Catholic dropped to (1-5) overall. The two teams meet again later this season on May fourth in New York Mills.
Up next for the Marauders is a Friday home game against Old Forge and for Rome Catholic, they next take the field against Oriskany,on the road, on Friday.
New York Mills 13 Rome Catholic 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
NY Mills 0 0 0 3 1 6 3 13 12 0
Rome Catholic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4
Offensive Highlights-
New York Mills:
Zach Vennaro-2 RBI- 1 single
Jordan Wilcox-3 RBI-2 singles- 1 double
Sean Kula-2 RBI-1 triple
Joe Pacini-1 double
John Sadallah-1 single
JT Ross-1 single
Ryan Lupia-1 single
Rome Catholic:
Josh Blair-double
Mike Eisinger-single
Carl Provenzano-single
Addison Wolanin leads Marauders procession off the field after big win.
