When another snowstorm hit Central New York early on April 1, the idea that there would be high school baseball just one day later seemed ridiculous.
But a lot of sunshine, and slightly warmer temperatures, dried out the fields enough so games could start, and Cazenovia took to the diamond last Tuesday afternoon at the Sean Googin Sports Complex to open 2019.
For its first assignment, the Lakers welcomed Bishop Grimes, and proceeded to get a complete-game pitching gem from Aedon Berson in the course of a 7-1 victory over the Cobras.
Going all seven innings, Berson allowed just three hits and three walks, striking out seven and surrendering his lone run in the sixth inning, long after Cazenovia had gone in front.
The Lakers took charge with a three-run rally in the bottom of the second, adding single runs in the next two frames before scoring twice in the fifth while recording 11 hits.
Patrick Linck had three of those hits, with Berson scoring three times as he and Tripp Clarke earned two hits apiece. Clarke and Ryan Wozniak both drove in a pair of runs as Linck, Dylan McCrink and Dan Hammond each had one RBI.
This made Saturday’s 10-1 defeat to Skaneateles a bit easier to take. Those other Lakers tore out in front with six first-inning runs, and a trio of Skaneateles pitchers (Cregg Scherrer, James Musson and Joe Bruna) held Cazenovia without a hit, though McCrink did score a run in the top of the fifth.
Still, the fact that the Lakers did win its opener proved quite a contrast to Chittenango on Thursday afternoon, the Bears overwhelmed by visiting Solvay in a 20-1 defeat that lasted just five innings.
A six-run first inning set the tone for the Bearcats, who proceeded to earn 17 hits and take advantage of 10 Chittenango errors. Seth Kimball drove in Tavian Albertson for the Bears’ lone run in the fourth inning as Josh Florczyk paced Solvay with five RBIs.
However, Chittenango’s softball team did win its opener on Saturday, topping Canastota 8-2 as it used four runs in the fourth inning to erase a 1-0 deficit and then scored three times in the seventh to pull further away.
Cassidy Kelly struck out 11 Raiders and held them to just three hits. Madison Wagner recorded three hits as Abbie Austin doubled, singled and drove in two runs, Avery Salce also getting a pair of RBIs. Lily Callahan and Savannah Penoyer drove in single runs.
