WINTERHAVEN, FLA. – The SUNY Poly baseball team won their first two games of the season over Colby-Sawyer. The Wildcat offense had their first game adjustment period in game one, managing only five hits, but pushing across five runs. The bats came alive in game two as the Wildcats more than doubled up the hits with 13. The final scores were 5-4 and 7-3.
GAME 1:
Jeremiah Horton (Broadalbain, N.Y.) took the mound for the Wildcats in game one. The senior went five and two thirds, striking out seven Chargers and allowing two earned runs. Noah Valvo (Town of Wright, N.Y.) came in to finish the game, earning the win as the Wildcats took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. He threw an inning and a third and allowed just one hit. The Wildcats won the game 5-4 to earn the
TURNING POINT:
In the bottom of the sixth with his team trailing by two runs, junior Dean Natalizio (Greenville, N.Y.) roped a double down the right field line to drive in Seth Vanderbeck (Saugerties, N.Y.) tying the game at four. Jake Montrose (Whitesboro, N.Y.) would drive in the game winning run with a single that sent Natalizio in from second. Noah Valvo would shut the door in the seventh to secure the win.
NOTABLES:
- Jake Montrose finished the game 2-4 with a double and an RBI.
- Dean Natalizio went 1-4 in game one with a double and an RBI
- Jeremiah Horton threw five and two thirds of an inning. He allowed six hits and gave up two earned runs. He also struck out seven batters and walked three.
- John Andrews (Apalachin, N.Y.) went 1-3 in the game with an RBI.
- Noah Vanderbeck (Saugerties, N.Y.) also had an RBI for the Wildcats. He went 1-4.
- Seth Vanderbeck walked three times in the game.
- For Colby-Sawyer, AJ Cavossa went three and two thirds innings in the starting role. He struck out seven, walked six, and allowed an earned run.
- Kyle McShera was the losing pitcher. He threw two innings and allowed three earned runs.
- Charlie Danaher went 1-4 with the Chargers lone extra base hit and a RBI.
- Jack Cahil and Danny McCrystal also drove in a run each for Colby-Sawyer.
GAME 2:
The Wildcats were down 1-0 early after the Chargers scored a run in the bottom of the first inning. Poly would take the lead back in the fourth inning, scoring three runs. Colby-Sawyer would tie it up in the bottom of the fourth, but the Wildcats built up a four run lead in the fifth and sixth. Starting pitcher Jake LaFerriere (Troy, N.Y.) went three and two thirds innings allowing two earned runs. He struck out five batters and walked four. Brett Flint (Amsterdam, N.Y.) was credited with the win, pitching an inning and a third of shutout baseball. Devin Turrell (Cicero, N.Y.) came in and shut the door with a two inning hold.
TURNING POINT:
With the score tied at three in the top of the fifth, Bradley Dietz (Phoenix, N.Y.) roped a double into the center field gap, driving in the go-ahead run. The Wildcats would extend the lead in the top of the sixth on a Dean Natalizio RBI double and a two RBI single by Nick LaBella (Utica, N.Y.).
NOTABLES:
- Jake Montrose had another great game at the plate. The freshman went 3-4 with three singles and three runs scored.
- Nick LaBella went 2-3 in the game with a game high three RBIs.
- Alex Winchell (Vernon, N.Y.) also went 2-3 in the game. He also scored a run.
- Dean Natalizio had another extra base hit for the 'Cats. It was an RBI double in the top of the sixth inning.
- Bradley Dietz drove in a run in the top of the fifth inning. He went 1-2 with a walk.
- Seth Vanderbeck had another two walks in the second game, giving him five on the day.
- Tim Unczur had three hits in four at-bats. He drove in a run and had the Chargers lone stolen base.
- Kristian Viljanen was tagged with the loss. He went an inning in relief, walked two, and allowed a run.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will take on Ursinus on Monday morning at Lake Myrtle Park. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 10:15 am. Game two will start at the conclusion of the first.
