Having secured a winning mark for 2010, the West Genesee baseball team could now look forward to what could happen during this week’s Section III Class AA playoffs.
WG reached double digits in the win column during last Monday’s game against Oswego (made up from a May 11 rainout), leading all the way in a 9-2 decision over the Buccaneers.
Against Oswego pitcher Adam Clawson, the Wildcats struck for two runs in both the second and third innings, then chased him with a four-run outburst in the fourth that made it 8-2.
Brian Burns had three of WG’s 12 hits, as he and Greg Wadach both doubled and earned a pair of RBIs. Justin Capella, Eric Spencer, Erik Krohl, Nick Woytan and Mike Sgroi each drove in one run as Capella and Krohl scored two runs apiece.
On the pitching side, Matt Naton went most of the way, as he and Burns combined to hold the Bucs to five hits and a pair of runs, both of them scored in the fourth inning.
Hosting Corcoran a day later, the Wildcats kept up its good play, as Spencer and Turner Parry led the charge in a 7-1 win over the Cougars.
Spencer went two-for-three at the plate, smashing a home run, scoring twice and earning three RBIs as WG got all of its runs in the second, third and fourth innings and never trailed. Burns and Naton also drove in runs as Krohl scored twice and Woytan got a pair of hits.
Meanwhile, Parry was a steady, strong presence on the mound, the right-hander limiting Corcoran to five hits, one walk and a single third-inning run while earning five strikeouts.
WG’s league schedule concluded Thursday, at Central Square, as it again got stellar pitching, this time from Spencer, and beat the Red Hawks 8-1 to improve its regular-season mark to 12-6.
Spencer limited Central Square to a scant two hits and did not surrender a walk on his way to seven strikeouts. Only a solo home run by Dylan Catlin in the bottom of the seventh inning prevented a shutout.
WG helped Spencer with single runs in the second and third innings, then scored five times in the top of the sixth to provide a cushion. Tyler Carr supplied the big blow with a home run and finished with three RBIs as Woytan and Parry also drove In runs. Krohl doubled and scored twice.
The Wildcats also beat Utica-Notre Dame 11-1 Saturday, making up for a May 17 tournament UND was set to host at DeLutis Field in Rome before weather forced a cancellation.
A seven-run sixth inning put it away as Spencer finished
with three hits and five RBIs and Krohl drove in two runs.
On the softball side, WG blanked Corcoran 10-0 last Tuesday afternoon, reaching double digits despite getting just five hits. Deanna Apps, Mackenzie Glynn, Rachel Hayden and Lexie Myers each scored two runs as the Wildcats took advantage of the 10 walks the Cougars issued.
Meanwhile, Ashley Amidon pitched five innings, with Hayden going the rest of the way as they combined for 11 strikeouts against four hits and three walks allowed.
The Wildcats tripped up on Thursday, though, losing a 1-0 decision to Central Square that nearly went beyond regluation.
WG’s hitters struggled against Red Hawks ace Mackenzie Sherlock, only getting three hits (one each from Apps, Glynn and Christina Sakran) as Sherlock struck out 12 and walked just one.
Amidon kept pace most of the way, with six shutout innings and seven strikeouts. But with two out in the bottom of the seventh, Central Square’s Holly Loveless tagged a double, bringing home pinch-runner Ashley Sabouris and winning the game for the hosts.
On Friday, the Wildcats lost again, 10-5, to Oswego, who zoomed in front with six runs in the bottom of the third inning against D’Avirro, then added four runs in the fifth.
Trish Andrews, in defeat, had four of WG’s 12 hits, including a double, scored twice and earned an RBI as Apps earned two hits and two RBIs. Gabby Rivers also drove in a run.Erika Lazzaro led Oswego with three RBIs.
Thus, the Wildcats closed the regular season at 13-4, but it still earned the no. 4 seed for the Class AA tournament and will face no. 5 seed Baldwinsville in the quarterfinals.
Despite its fast finish, WG’s baseball team still had to settle for the no. 6 seed in a 10-team AA bracket, and it will visit no. 3 seed Fayetteville-Manlius in Thursday’s quarterfinals, looking to avenge a 1-0 loss to the Hornets back on May 10.
