CENTRAL NEW YORK – Few baseball teams arrived in 2024 more motivated than those at West Genesee and Westhill.
In the Wildcats’ case, it sprung from so many close calls in recent years when it had a chance to erase a Section III championship drought that dates back to 1977.
WG started strong on April 7 against Ithaca, blanking the Little Red 10-0 as it netted three runs in the first two innings and broke it open with seven runs in the bottom of the fourth.
As Wildcats ace Colin Crinnin allowed just one hit in five innings and struck out six, he saw Nick Meluni and Talon Eakins both single, double and drive in a pair of runs. Jason Clifton also got two RBIs as Meluni, Luis Garcia and Zach Elinich scored two runs apiece. Jacob Severson, Ryan Saroney and Kyler Chigaridis each had an RBI.
So began a stretch where the Wildcats were scheduled to play eight times in 12 days if the weather held. It did last Tuesday as WG went to Falcon Park and beat Auburn 4-1.
Two-run rallies in the fourth and fifth innings erased a 1-0 lead the Maroons established in the third, WG managing this despite getting just two hits all evening as Elinich scored twice, the other runs scored by Garcia and Chigaridis.
Landyn Shaw started and went four innings, but it was Charlie Searle who impressed in three scoreless innings of relief, only allowing one hits and one walk while striking out four.
Rained out Thursday against Syracuse City, WG hoped to play Saturday at Falcon Park against Section V’s Victor.
Westhill, unlike WG, has enjoyed a lot of recent success in the sectional playoffs and beyond, which made 2023 so frustrating in that it went 19-2, only to get ousted in the Class B semifinals by Cazenovia.
And just when the Warriors were poised to prevail in last Monday night’s opener against Christian Brothers Academy, it all fell apart in a 5-2 defeat.
A pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, scored by Dom Zawadzki and Peter Stroman, had Westhill up 2-0, seemingly enough for Mike Madigan, who blanked CBA through six innings and amassed 14 strikeouts.
But in the top of the seventh, the Brothers chased Madigan with a walk, single and two-run triple by Tim Scholl. Then Cooper Marko singled home two more runs and Mike Giamartino added an RBI double off reliever Ryan Campbell as Westhill could not answer in the bottom of the seventh.
A rematch Friday at CBA had a far different result, Westhill breaking out the bats and prevailing 9-1 in a game shortened to five innings by rain.
Down 1-0 in the top of the second, the Warriors scored three times, then added three more runs in the third to chase Jack Landau, the Brothers’ starting pitcher.
Campbell pitched and held CBA to one hit while striking out five. He also did well at the plate, joining Anthony Sampo and Trey Dillobaugh as they each got two RBIs, with Luke Pickett adding a triple and RBI. Kellen Pens also drove in a run.
