Just like the rest of the diamond scene, the Baldwinsville baseball team found it impossible to get on the fields during March, waiting for all of the snow to melt and the temperatures to warm up.
But unlike many of them, the Bees would get away from the vigil and travel to Florida to get its season underway – specifically, the Disney Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando.
And even as one-time ace Scott Blewett tries to continue to rise up the organizational ladder for the American League champion Kansas City Royals, B’ville moved on and won its opener at Disney, defeating St. Joseph’s (Buffalo) 4-2.
No big rally was needed. Instead, the Bees scored single runs in each of the first three innings and tacked on a run in the fifth to make it 4-0. From there, B’ville maintained the shutout until the seventh, when St. Joseph’s scored twice, but could not catch up.
Cody Kaestle pitched six strong innings, only giving up one hit and one walk while striking out four before Nick Borek took over in relief. Charlie McAllister and Pat Dubiel each had one RBI, with Billy Clifford, Niko Mirizio, David Marsell and Andrew Chajkowski scoring the runs.
B’ville won again last Tuesday, against Milwaukee-Hamilton (Wisconsin) this time taking a 5-2 decision as Kaestle and Billy Clifford, splitting the pitching duties, held Hamilton to two hits and combined for 10 strikeouts.
Despite that, Hamilton notched both of its runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game, 2-2, before B’ville answered with three decisive runs in the bottom of the fourth. McAllister went deep for a home run as he, along with Marsell, Mirizio and Sam Mahar, drove in one run apiece.
More games followed, and by the time the Bees came home, it was ready to tackle the tough CNY Counties League slate, which starts this week with games against defending Section III Class AA champion Auburn and the newly combined Syracuse city squad before a Friday visit from Fayetteville-Manlius.
