Though it proved harrowing at times (and weather remained a problem), the Fayetteville-Manlius baseball team still added to its early-season win total, moving to 4-0 just before Easter.
It all got going last Monday afternoon, where the Hornets surrendered a big early lead but still prevailed by a run over Oswego, 6-5.
The Hornets scored four times in the bottom of the first inning, only to have the Buccaneers tie it, 4-4, in the top of the second. A third-inning exchange of runs followed before F-M sneaked across what proved to be the winning run in the fourth.
Josh Loeffler and Zach Rhea combined pitching duties for the Hornets, striking out eight between them as Loeffler went 3 1/3 innings to earn the win. Mike Hoalcraft had two hits and two runs scored as he, along with Loeffler, Nate Olson and Taylor Smach, earned RBIs.
When F-M visited Nottingham High School to face Syracuse East on Thursday afternoon, it didn’t start well, but one big inning turned things around, and the Hornets went on to earn a 16-10 victory.
Sean Brown pitched, but only lasted an inning as Syracuse East got to him for four runs in that opening frame. Another run in the second left F-M staring at a 5-0 deficit.
Just as quickly, though, the Hornets turned things around. In the top of the third, F-M got everyone up to the plate and, with nine runs, zoomed out in front, following it up with three-run rallies in the fourth and sixth innings, plus a run in the fifth.
Anthony Nucerino hit F-M’s lone home run and finished with three RBIs. Travis Nacrides went four-for-five, including three doubles, and drove in four runs.
Loeffler had an amazing day at the plate, going five-for-five as he, along with Nate Olson and Sean Bernstein managed two RBIs apiece. Brown and Smach each drove in one run.
Jackson Wheeler started, endured Syracuse East’s five-run fourth inning and still made it through 3 1/3 innings before John Schurman took over, giving the Hornets 2 2/3 innings of work and earning his first varsity win before Sean Brown pitched the seventh inning to earn the save.
Another tight game would follow on Saturday, when F-M went to Auburn’s Falcon Park and, with deft pitching and clutch hits, overcame an early deficit to beat the Maroons 3-2.
Both of Auburn’s runs came in the bottom of the first, and it threatened to do a lot more. But Loeffler, who gave up six hits and four walks, constantly escaped trouble and left after four innings with F-M only trailing 2-1.
The Hornets stayed patient and then, in the top of the seventh, finally got to Maroons starter Hunter Charles, tying it 2-2 on Nucerino’s single (his third hit of the game) that scored Olson, and then breaking that brief tie when Brown’s single brought home pinch-runner Ben Napierala.
In addition to his clutch work at the plate, Brown had also taken over in relief of Loeffler in the fifth inning. Going the rest of the way, he held Auburn to two hits and struck out six to earn the victory.
Now the Hornets are in the midst of five games in six days and it included some big home tests, including Tuesday’s visit from Cicero-North Syracuse and a Friday showdown with defending state Class AA champion Baldwinsville.
