Back at the Gillete complex 24 hours after opening with a win at Rome Free Academy, the Cicero-North Syracuse baseball team used one big rally as the foundation for a 5-4 victory over the Maroons. Entering the bottom of the fourth, CNS trailed 3-0, having done little against Auburn pitcher Mike Ferlenda. But all that would change. The Northstars loaded the bases, bringing Blake Monday to the plate. All Monday did was smash Ferlenda’s offering nearly 400 feet, clearing the left-center field wall with ease for a grand slam that instantly gave CNS a 4-3 lead. Shocked, the Maroons then saw Matt Dykeman triple, setting up Riley Moonan’s RBI single that, in time, proved to be the difference-maker. Auburn closed back within one with a run in the sixth, but Rob Renaud, pitching in relief of sophomore left-hander Kyano Cummings, got the final outs to preserve the win. At the same time, the CNS softball team had its own close encounter with Oswego, but beat the Buccaneers 3-2. Combined, pitchers Lindsay O’Hara and Sarah Salamone blanked the Buccaneers for five innings, but Oswego’s Laura Miceli did the same, adding to the tension. In the top of the sixth, Oswego scored, Devynn Wilder driving in the run. But CNS countered with two runs off Miceli, driven in by O’Hara and Sydney Harbaugh. Salamone would get the final three outs in the seventh to earn the win. Both CNS teams have key games against Baldwinsville on Thursday – the baseball side at B’ville, the softball side once again at Gillette.