CENTRAL NEW YORK – Essentially, the Fayetteville-Manlius baseball team found itself exactly where it was in 2022 going into the Section III Class AA playoffs – and hoping for the same unlikely results.
Getting it required the Hornets to upend no. 2 seed Christian Brothers Academy in Tuesday’s sectional quarterfinal, but instead of a repeat of last year’s magic, it instead got a quick exit.
The Brothers’ 6-0 victory was, by itself, not a surprise, but CBA was the only home team to win in the quarterfinal round in Class AA as top seed West Genesee, no. 3 seed Utica Proctor and no. 4 seed Liverpool were all ousted.
This means that, in Thursday’s semifinals at Onondadga Community College, CBA will face Cicero-North Syracuse, who knocked out Proctor, the winner to get Baldwinsville or Liverpool in Sunday’s title game at 6 p.m., also at OCC.
What helped the Brothers avoid the upsets that happened elsewhere was having pitcher Luke Boule on hand. From the outset, Boule frustrated most of F-M’s lineup, holding them to four hits, two each by Sam Kuss and Tom Woodbridge.
Just as important was the early run support. Against Kuss, F-M’s starter, CBA struck for three runs in the bottom of the first inning, plus a run in the second and two runs in the fourth before Seth Albert took over in relief.
Will Harrigan displayed the power with a home run, adding a single and getting three RBIs. Cooper Marko added two hits and Mike Giamartino joined Boule with single RBIs.
F-M had earned that shot at CBA by going to no. 7 seed Syracuse City in Monday’s opening round and earning a 9-4 victory.
A trio of first-inning runs got the Hornets in front, where it stayed, further helped by a four-run sixth as Woodridge doubled, singled twice and earned two RBIs and Nolan Merrow drove in three runs.
Woodridge, Albert and Kuss each scored twice as, on the mound, Max Danaher pitched five innings, only giving up two hits while striking out six. Max Werde worked the last two innings in relief.
In the opening round of the Class B playoffs, Bishop Grimes, the no. 13 seed, proved successful against no. 20 seed Holland Patent, outscoring the Golden Knights 9-6.
Accumulating 12 hits, the Cobras saw Bruno Kinsey go three-for-three and score twice, while pitching 3 2/3 shutout innings and splitting those mound duties with Will Markwood, who struck out five to overcome six walks.
Frank Sgroi drove in four of Gimes’ runs, with Aaron Nuzzo adding a double and two RBIs. Tristan Mancari added two hits and an RBI.
Now Grimes faced no. 4 seed Cortland a day later, and saw its season conclude with a 9-1 defeat to the Purple Tigers, who earned three runs in the first and used a six-run third inning to get away.
Owen Tierney took the loss, sharing pitching duties with Frank Sgroi. Avery Pankow drove home Brett Helmer with Grimes’ lone run in the top of the seventh to break up Cortland pitcher Ethan Johnson’s shutout bid.
East Syracuse Minoa drew the no. 9 seed in the Class A sectional playoffs and, playing a first-round game at no. 9 seed Central Square, got a pitching gem from Carter Stewart as it beat the Redhawks 6-1 and earned a shot at top seed Whitesboro in the quarterfinals.
The two sides traded first-inning runs, but from there Stewart shut down Central Square, only allowing three hits overall and earning eight strikeouts.
It wasn’t until the top of the fifth that the Spartans broke the 1-1 tie, scoring twice, then adding three insurance runs in the seventh. J.J. Reale, Nick Commisso and Trey Bova had three hits apiece, with A.J. Graham, Joe Federico and Kevin Stewart each getting an RBI.
