Getting through its first test in the Section III Class B-2 playoffs, the Cazenovia baseball team went to Ilion Thursday afternoon and knocked out the Golden Bombers 5-1.
The Lakers’ late-season surge translated into a no. 5 seed in an eight-team B-2 bracket. At stake in the quarterfinal game at Ilion was a date against top seed and defending champion Clinton, who knocked off Hannibal by that same 5-1 margin in its quarterfinal game.
Quickly, Cazenovia went in front, 1-0, in the top of the second inning, but saved its real damage for the third, when it got to Ilion pitcher Tyler Brien for four runs, and tacked on another run in the fourth to make it 6-0.
David McEntee provided ample support to his own pitching cause with a single, double and three RBis. Brian Gara, Alex Szlamczynski and Liam Rogers also drove in runs as Chad Warren added a pair of hits.
Staked to that big early margin, McEntee worked four innings, where he recorded three strikeouts and allowed two hits and two walks. Chris Matteson worked two innings in relief, also striking out three, and Jack Malmsheimer struck out the side in his single inning on the mound.
As this went on, Cazenovia’s softball team saw its season end, the no. 14 seed Lakers beaten 3-1 by no. 3 seed General Brown in Dexter.
As this went on, a big story unfolded at Chittenango, where the Bears, the no. 1 seed in Class A, were stunned at home by no. 8 seed Oneida by a 10-4 margin.
And all the damage occurred in the first two innings as the Indians got four runs in both frames to seize an 8-0 lead and knock out pitcher Sean Cliff. Chittenango never fully recovered, though Greg Jasek did have two doubles and two RBIs as Wes Burghardt added two hits and an RBI. The Bears finished its season with a 14-5 mark.
