WILDCATS CLAW THEIR WAY TO FIRST EVER STOP DWI TOURNEY WIN
Third basemen Aaron Woodworth gets his monies worth with big swing!
ADIRONDACK STARTER CODY BUHLER-MONSTER ENERGY DRINK PLAYER OF THE GAME
Fred Miller-MHTS
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4/20/12
The Adirondack Wildcats and Waterville Indians had honors at the First Annual Oneida County Stop DWI High School Baseball Classic on Friday afternoon in a Center States Conference Crossover game.
When the dust settled, coach Rick Mathis and his confident Cats rode the right arm and bat of Monster Energy Drink Player of the Game, Cody Buhler, to a fun-filled, 7-5 win, over a young, but game group of Waterville Indians.
Buhler and his mates jumped out to a quick start, grabbing a three run lead in the top half of the first, but Buhler ran into an inspired group of Indians who said, ”right back at ya,” as they touched the right hander up for four big runs.
The problem for Waterville was that runs became as scarce as hens teeth, as Buhler settled down and went the distance to earn the win and see his team improve to (4-1) on the young season.
Buhler ended up striking out 7 Indians and scattered just 5 hits and yielded 4 runs. Cody also did damage at the dish, ripping an RBI double in the fourth inning to drive in a run. Buhler drove in a run in Adirondack’s 3 run first inning and also scored as well.
Wildcat catcher Gavin Merriam chats with starter Cody Buhler.
Steven Olmstead, a hard throwing lefty, got the start for coach Brian Bogan’s Indians.
Olmstead had a rough start, being touched up for three first inning runs and then a tougher ending, as Adirondack rallied for three more to put the tribe away in the seventh. In between, it was a battle of wills, as both starters hung tough.
Adirondack catcher Gavin Merriman reached on an infield error and later came around to score the first of three runs to make it (1-0) Wildcats. Buhler singled and then found his way around the diamond as Adirondack led 2-zip.
Justin Turnbull, Adirondack’s center fielder, sent one deep to center, to pick up one of his two runs batted in on the day, as Mitchell Moore trotted home to make it 3-0 Cats before the fans had a chance to settle in at Murnane.
The first inning was fun to watch if you like baserunners. Waterville seemed annoyed that Adirondack had touched them up for three runs early and came to the dish ready to dish it out.
Waterville backstop Adam Saville worked out a lead off walk in the home half of the first and later scored, as the Indians answered quickly.
Speaking off walks, the dish was dancing and moving around on Cody Buhler as he struggled with his control in the early going.
Fair or foul? Waterville's Mike Oltman waits to find out.
The free pass issued to Saville was followed up by two more to center fielder Zac Brown and pitcher Steven Olmstead.
With the bases juiced, Dom McNamara came up big, singling to drive in two runs, as Saville and Brown scored for the home team to make it (3-2) Cats. McNamara ripped a shot straight up the gut to pick up two RBI.
Steven Olmstead scored from third on a throwing error, to force home the tying run and just like that it was (3-3).
Third basemen Mike Oltman earned a run batted in when he launched a sac-fly to right to chase McNamara home, to give his team a (4-3) lead, as we headed to the second inning of play.
First basemen Mitchell Moore and Aaron Woodwort singled for Adirondack, as the Wildcats looked to follow up a three run first, in similar fashion.
The singles were wasted, as Steven Olmstead buckled down and retired the next two batters to end the threat.
Cody Buhler started to show fans why he won the Monster Energy Award, as he held the Indians scoreless for three out the the next three innings.
Ryan Dellerba races to first as Waterville's Cody Linfield tries to hold on for the out.
Speaking of Cody, his double in the top of the fourth tied things up at (4-4), as left fielder Devin Reigler made his way around the bases. Reigler came to play, as he scored two runs and chipped in two hits for Adirondack.
Waterville worked out a run in the fifth to regain the advantage and put another run up on the big scoreboard at Donovan Stadium.
Billy Bridge picked up a run batted in for Waterville on a fielder’s choice grounder, chasing Olsmstead, who had singled to the plate and the Indians celebrated a (5-4) lead with just two more innings to play.
The only inning that really mattered was the top of the sixth, as Adirondack put a strangle-hold on this one with a three spot to seal the deal.
The Wildcats sent nine men to the plate and ended up scoring three runs to grab the lead and the win. Devin Reigler ripped a 1-2 offering to left field to pick up his second hit of the game and started the winning rally.
Up next was lead off man Ryan Dellerba, the Adirondack short stop, who wasted off some pitches and then reached base when he laid down a perfect bunt for a base hit.
Reigler had already swiped second and moved to third, on Dellerba’s bunt, to put Cats on the corners.
Gavin Merriam picked up a run batted in when he grounded to short and chased Reigler home to tie things up a (5-5).
Shortstop Dom McNamara follows the bouncing ball as Bret Bourdeau looks on.
Buhler helped his cause again, lacing an RBI single to left, chasing Ryan Dellerbra to the plate with the lead run, as the rally continued with no one out.
Merriam later scored, as Justin Kranbull drove in his second run of the game to plate the seventh and final run for the white and green.
Cody Buhler gave the Indians little hope in the seventh, as Steven Olmstead lined into a game ending double play with Adam Saville on first to put this one in the books.
Both teams made their trip to Murnane and the Oneida County Stop DWI Baseball Classic worth the effort and now look to continue on into the meat of their schedules.
Adirondack 7 Waterville 5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Adirondack 3 0 0 1 0 3 0 7 12 3
Waterville 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 5 3
