ONONDAGA COUNTY – Asked to deliver another pitching gem for the Cicero-North Syracuse baseball team, Bryce Zicaro did so – and handed West Genesee its first loss of the season.
The Northstars put an end to the Wildcats’ 10-game win streak in a tense 1-0 decision last Tuesday in Camillus, with Zicaro equaling what he did April 22 when he tossed a complete-game shutout to beat Baldwinsville by that same slim margin.
For five innings, Zicaro and WG ace Ryan Klementowski traded scoreless frames, Klementowski striking out seven while limiting C-NS to four hits. Both pitchers got help from their defenses to snuff out possible rallies.
In the top of the sixth, Eric Korzeniewski took over for Klementowski. With two out, C-NS’s Anthony Testa beat out an infield hit, stole second and raced home with the go-ahead run as Zicaro doubled to the left-field wall.
Needing nothing more, Zicaro worked through a scoreless sixth and, in the seventh, capped it with a game-ending double play to snuff out one more WG rally. All told, Zicaro limited the Wildcats to four hits, struck out six and did not surrender a walk.
Thee same two teams met again four days later on that same WG diamond, and once again C-NS triumphed, this time with a big first inning the key to a 4-2 victory over the Wildcats.
Again facing Korzeniewski on the mound, the Northstars got to him for all four of its runs in the top of the first, one each driven in by Corey Cartier, Carter King, Jake Lukasiewicz and Grayson Giddings.
Staked to that early advantage, Sam Shaw was solid on the mound, shutting out the Wildcats until single runs were scored in the sixth and seventh innings. Still, Shaw finished the game, striking out five and overcoming six WG hits.
In a way, C-NS may have felt relieved that its game at Liverpool last Monday was rained out, allowing for Zicaro to be saved for the first WG battle.
As that was going on, Liverpool was facing Baldwinsville for the second time this season and taking a 6-1 defeat to the Bees.
With runs in four of th first five innings, B’ville went in front 5-0, and all the Warriors could manage was Nate Benjamin driving home Lance Phillips in the bottom of the fifth.
Jack Hoppe took the loss, pitching five innings before relief stints from Noah Klasen and Aidan Bincoe. Gavin Miller pitched 6 2/3 innings for the Bees, holding Liverpool to four hits.
Rains interrupted things for the next couple of days, including C-NS’s attempt to avenge its only two losses of the season to Fayetteville-Manlius, which was pushed back to May 19.
It was dry enough on Friday, though, for C-NS to defeat Syracuse 5-2, getting a jump as it would in the West Genesee rematch with three runs in the top of the second before adding single runs in the fourth and seventh.
Casey Gunnip pitched a complete game, allowing five hits bur striking out six. Cartier’s home run was the big blow as he also singled and produced a pair of RBIs. Nick Klamm also drove in a run as Testa earned a pair of hits.
Then on Saturday, as C-NS was topping West Genesee again, Liverpool was earning its own high-profile victory by pulling out a 1-0 decision over reigning sectional Class A champion Christian Brothers Academy.
Warriors pitcher Noah Klasen was superb on the mound, limiting the potent CBA lineup to five hits and two walks while striking out eight.
All that Liverpool needed, as it turned out, was a run in the bottom of the second, scored by Alex Evans. Gianni Toscano and Tyler Vivacqua gained two hits apiece.
