Sunshine, stellar pitching and active bats made everything quite enjoyable for the Baldwinsville baseball team, before and during the school break.
Having swept a twin bill against Syracuse and Fayetteville-Manlius on April 21, the Bees turned its attention to Cicero-North Syracuse last Monday and settled matters in the first inning of a 10-1 romp over the Northstars.
B’ville lit up C-NS pitcher Mason White for six runs in the bottom of the first inning, more than enough for pitcher Jacob Marshall, who only allowed one hit (to Tim Schinto) and two walks while striking out nine.
More than half of the Bees’ 11 hits came from the trio of Jack Andres, Pat May and Matt Mercurio. Andres joined Jeb Farneth and Lucas Robinson as they each got a pair of RBIs, with May and Mercurio both getting an RBI and two runs scored.
A trip to Corning was next on Tuesday afternoon, and while it wasn’t a league game, what took place here might have as great an impact on the Bees’ season as any other result.
It wasn’t just that B’ville prevailed 11-6 over the Hawks. It was the way the game unfolded, Corning scoring five times in the first two innings and then extending its lead to 6-0 by the end of four.
Facing its biggest deficit of the season, the Bees stayed patient and, in the top of the fifth, nearly caught up with five runs. Then it tied the game 6-6 in the sixth and completed its rally by putting together a five-run seventh inning.
Jason Savacool led the comeback with a double, triple and three RBIs. Dan Coogan doubled as he and Cam Williams each drove in two runs. Andres added a double, triple and RBI, while Mercurio drove in a run and scored twice, as did May.
Just as important was the relief work done by the Bees on the mound. Zach Monica only lasted 1 2/3 inning and Chris Dwyer one inning, but Nate Johns, Casey Collins and Matt Starczewski combined for 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, only allowing two hits and three walks between them.
Enough rain fell to keep B’ville from facing Rome Free Academy last Thursday, but it got made up Saturday at DeLutis Field and the Bees were stretched to 10 innings, but still beat the Black Knights 4-2.
Collins picked up his second win of the week, tossing three innings of scoreless relief after stints by Savacool, Andres and Marshall. B’ville got 10 hits, two each by May and Frank Levanti as Nate Ray earned an RBI. Robinson, Levanti, Farneth and Trey Blasi each scored a run.
Another big series for the Bees awaits this week as it takes on West Genesee, a clash of the two sides atop the early standings in the Salt City Athletic Conference Metro division.
