In one of the season’s most exciting games, the Jamesville-DeWitt and East Syracuse-Minoa baseball teams needed eight innings, 31 runs and 32 hits to settled matters Thursday before the Red Rams, with one last comeback, beat the Spartans 16-15.
At first, it looked to be a J-D rout as, ahead 1-0, it sent ESM pitcher Mikey Para out by putting up nine runs, and a third-inning exchange meant that it was 11-1.
But ESM would fight back, getting six runs in the top of the fourth and, with a four-run rally in the sixth (afer J-D got two in the bottom of the fourth), pulling even closer at 13-11.
Then, in the seventh, the Spartans got three runs and moved in front, 14-13, but could not seal the comeback as the Rams tied it, forcing extra frames.
Again, in the eighth, ESM moved ahead. Again, J-D fought back, this time getting the tying and winning runs in the bottom of that inning to prevail.
Tom Driscoll had four RBIs to lead the Rams, while Kenny Schunck, Mick Cariseo and Eric Schwartz each drove in two runs. Tyler Kirwin added an RBI.
On ESM’s side, Para overcame his rough stint on the mound to earn a home run and four RBIs. as Travis Oot, Kevin Shaughnessy and Pete Gigliotti got two RBIs apiece. Jake Fletcher added an RBI.
In its next game, the Spartans would again go to eight innings, but this time prevail as it beat Mexico 6-5. It blew a 4-0 lead when the Tigers got four runs in the fourth inning, but after a late exchange, ESM moved ahead for good in the eighth.
Gigliotti went deep this time, also doubling as he picked up an RBI. Shaughnessy, C.J. Meech and Billy Sullivan also drove in runs as Fletcher worked in relief and earned the win.
J-D had double-digit runs in all of its games this week. Back on Wednesday, J-D’s baseball team beat Fowler 32-3, the carnage including at least six runs scored in every inning from the second through the fifth and 28 hits.
Justin Marzella twice smacked home runs, earning six RBIs. Tom Driscoll doubled and drove in five runs as Mike Gianni and Anthony Dunn each got four RBIs. Eric Thompson had two RBIs as Tyler Kirwin, Jamie Shibley, Josh Paduano and Mason Schoeneck earned single RBIs.
Right after the ESM classic, J-D had an easier time in Saturday’s game at Fulton, blanking the Red Raiders 14-0 to improve to 6-4 on the season.
Schunck could not be stopped at the plate, as he went deep for a home run and earned five RBIs as J-D moved ahead 5-0, then got six runs in the fifth to put it away.
Dunn and Eric Schwartz each drove in two runs to support Schunk as Thompson and Paduano got single RBIs. Meanwhile, three Rams pitchers — Marzella, Gianni and Schwartz — combined to limit Fulton to just two hits and kept them off the board.
J-D would get its shot at Mexico Tuesday before a non-league game against Fayetteville-Manlius on Friday. ESM will face Homer and Chittenango.