CENTRAL NEW YORK – The irony that the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool baseball teams faced was that, in the week after returning from season-opening spring-break trips, the weather was even better back home.
Still, the Northstars only had two games scheduled, including last Tuesday’s home opener, where it shook off a rough start to rally and beat Syracuse City 9-4.
Syracuse got to C-NS ace Bryce Zicaro for four runs in the top of the first inning. From there, though, Zicaro and reliever Battista Wood pitched a shutout, Wood not allowing a hit in three innings.
A three-run rally in the bottom of the first was followed by two runs in the second and a four-run fourth as Lucas Crystal and Shacory Williams each got two RBIs. Chris Williams and Sean Lawler both scored twice, with single RBIs going to Zicaro and Mason Mingle.
Then, facing Rome Free Academy Friday at DeLutis Field, C-NS went back and forth with the Black Knights, but a late bit of scoring proved the difference in a 10-8 victory.
They were tied, 2-2, when the Northstars nearly batted around in the top of the third, netting five runs. Still, RFA absorbed this and, with a run in the third and four runs in the fifth, it pulled back even, 7-7.
It took C-NS scoring twice in the sixth and again in the seventh, along with three innings of strong relief pitching from Wood, to gain the win after Casey Gunnip started.
Williams led the Northstars at the plate, going three-for-five with two doubles as he and Hayden Staab both drove in a pair of runs. Zicaro, Crystal, Lawler and Carter King also earned RBIs.
Both C-NS and Liverpool have games this week (weather permitting) against Baldwinsville, who has roared out to a quick start with wins over Syracuse City and defending sectional champion Fayetteville-Manlius. The Warriors also meet a fast-starting West Genesee on Thursday afternoon.