CENTRAL NEW YORK – At least in the early portion of the 2023 season, only the fickle spring weather could slow down the momentum built up by the West Genesee baseball team.
Back-to-back games against defending sectional Class AA champion Fayetteville-Manlius early last week were postponed, so the Wildcats had a chance to rest before hosting Liverpool on Thursday afternoon.
But as it turned out, WG’s bats went silent and, for the first time this season, it suffered a defeat, falling 6-1 to Liverpool as it managed just four hits, one each by Vince Firenze, Jacob Severson, Ryan Saroney and Jared Jaeger.
Meanwhile, Liverpool got eight hits, three of them by Tyler Vivacqua, who doubled and drove in two runs. Austin Burch also had two RBIs as Jack Hoppe pitched 5 1/3 innings and amassed 11 strikeouts.
With little time to recover, the first F-M game was made up on Friday afternoon, and the Wildcats immediately seized command before hanging on late to beat the Hornets 10-7.
A five-run first inning and three-run second made it 8-0 as Jason Clifton, with two hits and three RBIs, set the tone. Firenze, Jack Elinich and Gerard Shattell drove in two runs apiece as Severson got three hits.
Talon Elkins pitched four innings, only giving up four runs in the third. Relievers Ryan Tabaczyk and Kyler Chigaridas worked the other three innings, fending off a late F-M comeback.
Then, against Rome Free Academy on Saturday, WG got yet another pitching gem from junior ace Colin Crinnin, who shut down the Black Knights in a 3-0 decision.
Going all seven innings, Crinnin held RFA to three hits, recorded five strikeouts and moved his overall record to 3-0, while Firenze burned the Black Knights at the plate with a single, double and two RBIs. Clifton drove in the other run.
Bishop Ludden made it three lopsided wins in as many games whenit pounded Onondaga 19-1 last Tuesday afternoon, striking for nine runs in the bottom of the first and eight runs in the third.
Nolan Feldt tripled, doubled and drove in five runs, with Joey Adamo going three-for-four with two doubles and three RBIs. Greg Purdy scored three times as pitcher Tim Dunham struck out eight and only allowed one hit in four innings.
Off until Friday, Ludden greeted the warm temperatures with another big day at the plate against Onondaga, breezing to a 14-5 win over the Tigers.
A five-run first inning was followed by much more, Purdy going three-for-five and driving in three runs. Joe Dunham also had three RBIs as Jimmy Westers drove in two runs. Anderw Pullano earned three hits and a walk, scoring four runs.
Jordan-Elbridge broke into the win column last Tuesday with an 8-1 romp over Mater Dei Academy where Eagles pitcher Nolan Brunelle allowed just two hits in five innings and struck out 11 before Caspian Phillips worked the last two innings in relief.
At the plate, Hunter Bigness had three of J-E’s 10 hits and David Dominick had two others, including a home run. Brunelle, Charles Klock and Dom Rinaldo also drove in runs as Phillips, Dominick and Bigness each scored twice.
A tight 8-7 defeat to Onondaga followed on Friday as the Eagles scored three times in the fourth inning and four times in the fifth to take a 7-2 lead, Rinaldo getting two hits as he, along with Bigness and Hunter LaBarge, each scored twice.
Yet the Tigers battled back, scoring twice in the fifth and sixth innings to move within 7-6, then getting the tying and winning runs in the seventh as Gavin Annable scored three times.
