THE HITS JUST KEEP ON COMING-WHITESTOWN 12 UTICA POST 2-D 5 BASEBALL
Whitestown running toward another shot at states as they beat Utica Post 12-2
Marc Spaziani-MHTS
Photos-Mark Simon-MHTS
Marcy, NY (7-25-12) – Whitestown Post 1113 extended its win streak to nine-straight Wednesday evening as it beat Utica Post 229, 12-2, at SUNYIT Baseball Field to advance to the 2012 District 5 American Legion Baseball Tournament Championship round.
Whitesboro high school senior Mike Bunal pitched a complete, seven-inning, game while fanning four and allowing just two runs to lead the reigning state champs.
“I had great command of my fastball”, advised Bunal when prompted as to what was working on the hill.
He stated that, “We need to stay level-headed and take one inning at a time for continued success.”
Mike Bunal pitches Whitestown to Championship round of D 5 Tourney.
As great as the Whitestown pitching staff has been this season you must admit that any starter wearing the Whitestown colors would be excited and confident as they warmed up for their start knowing just how prolific the team’s offense continues to be.
Tonight, against a quality opponent in Utica Post, Whitestown banged out another 11 hits and scored 12 runs in just seven innings of play in a game shortened from nine frames to seven by the 10 run Mercy Rule.
Seems like Whitestown took offense to the fact that they did not end up playing in the American Legion World Series last year after coming oh so close.
The defending New York State Champs rampaged their way through the District Five regular season with a perfect 15-0 mark.
The Wednesday night hit parade was led by Mike Sullivan who was 4-4 and scored 5 runs. Dylan Gorski was 2-4 and drove in a pair of runs. Ryan Watson was 1-4 and drove in 4 runs.
Ryan Watson slaps on a tag as # 2 Dan Priore gets back in the nick of time.
Makes you wonder what team left in this well heeled field really has a chance to beat Whitestown Post once, let alone twice, which is the task that is ahead of the remaining three teams left in the field along with Whitestown.
Thursday at 4:30 Smith Post will take on Helmuth-Ingalls for the right to square off with Utica Post at 8:00PM. Both games are set to be contested at Murnane Field in Utica.
After a 1-2-3 top of the first, WP ran through eight batters in the bottom half of the inning while scoring two runs on no hits.
Utica starter Wendell Wright hit three batters while walking one on 35+ pitches to help the home team to an 2-0 early lead. It was that kind of night for Greg Gatea’s guys, who hurt themselves with the rough start and also by committing four costly errors.
After all, the UP offense was doing what it could by banging out 8 hits of their own.
UP answered, however, in the top of the second, as it converted one run on a suicide squeeze executed by Connor Roth to cut the lead to one, 2-1.
Second baseman Jordan Treen singled, followed by a double to the gap, off the bat of AJ Partipelo making it a first and third with one out.
Wendell Wright turns and delivers for Utica Post.
Roth then laid down a picture-perfect bunt to put Utica on the board.
Whitestown quickly answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning, with one run on the help of two Utica errors and another base on balls.
Shortstop Mike Sullivan reached on an error and scored on a fielder’s choice, for his second run scored in as many innings.
After a quiet, scoreless third, WP got back to business as it opened up a five run lead in the bottom of the fourth on two hits to push to a 6-1 advantage.
Sullivan reached on another error and scored on a fielder’s choice while Dylan Gorski ripped an RBI single, driving in Bunal.
Utica was not dead yet though, as it trimmed the lead to four, 6-2, in the top of fifth on two hits and two walks.
Leadoff Nick Maldonado roped a one out hit and later scored on an RBI single to right field by catcher Duke Obernesser.
However, Whitestown continued its surge scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth and four runs in the sixth to wrap this up in a neat bow with the 12-2 win.
#17 Ryan Watson lets loose as # 17 Mike Obernesser grabs a Wendell Wright fastball.
Utica’s Wright tossed five innings allowing eight runs while hitting five batters along with allowing five additional walks.
Matt Haddad relieved Wright in the sixth and gave up six runs on six hits and two walks as UP falls into the losers bracket.
Utica Post was led by right fielder Connor Roth who went 2-for-2 with an RBI, while leadoff batter Nick Maldonado also posted two hits and one run scored.
WP’s shortstop and leadoff Mike Sullivan was the catalyst for Whitestown, as he reached base and scored all five times on the evening.
Bunal helped himself on the hill as he posted two runs, scored to go along with a hit and a sacrifice bunt.
“Keep the consistency on the mound”, stated Head Coach Paul Engelhart when asked what Whitestown needed to do to repeat as State Champions. “Our pitching has been phenomenal”.
Whitestown improves to 27-3 overall including a 3-0 mark in the D5 ALB Tournament while Utica falls to 18-16 on the season and 2-1 in tournament play.
Whitestown also earns a night off and will sit and wait to see who they will play for the title on Friday night.
Whitestown 12 Utica Post 2
Box Score 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Utica Post 229 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 8 4
Whitestown Post 1113 2 1 0 3 2 4 X 12 11 0
Pitcher of Record – Whitestown: Mike Bunal: Won (4-0), Complete Game, 7 Innings Pitched, 2 Runs, 2 Earned Runs, 8 Hits, 4 Strikeouts, 3 Walks, 1 Hit Batter
#8 Adam Pexton gets set to let loose.
