Baseball wins thriller
By Jim Krencik
SPORTS EDITOR
It was a non-league game late in the season, the kind that looks forgettable on the schedule, but after nine innings of drama, blown leads and wild comebacks, there is no doubt that the College at Brockport baseball team will remember their 15-14 win over Hilbert.
Jake Privitera punctuated the back-and-forth game with a bases-loaded single past a diving second baseman in the bottom of the ninth, sending his teammates racing toward first and the opposition into grief. Privitera’s game-winner was part of a three-run ninth.
“I’m real happy with him,” Brockport head coach Justin Beach said. “He’s the definition of a team player.” Privitera has only started four games this season, but the freshman shortstop looked like a veteran at the plate with the game on the line.
The Golden Eagles tied the game after Mike Meola and Joe Zaccardo drew bases-loaded walks with two outs. Brockport entered the ninth down 14-12, after Hilbert scored three runs of their own in the top half of the inning.
There were five lead changes in the game, including two each in the ninth and eighth innings.
“They fought hard,” Beach said. “I was happy that we fought back. Guys came off the bench to come through in the clutch and that’s great to see.”
Brockport had to fight back from a 6-0 deficit, but a three-run third inning set the Golden Eagles up to accomplish the first of many comebacks. They took the lead for the first time during a five-run fifth inning. Both innings started with singles by Privitera. Kris Gentze tied the game with a home run that flew over the left-field wall and the Brockport bullpen.
The Golden Eagles fell behind early, as three of the first four Hilbert Hawks reached base. All four were lefties, and it looked like starting pitcher Mark Caruana, who had pitched only 2.1 innings this season prior to the game, had trouble preventing line-drive hits. Kevin MacFadden came in to pitch next, but it was Dan Ferraro who kept the Hawks in check. He pitched 4.1 strong innings in relief before succumbing in the eighth.
The win gives Brockport a 16-15-1 record, although the more important mark is the Golden Eagles’ 5-7 record in SUNYAC play. Only four teams make the SUNYAC playoffs and Brockport is in fifth place currently, with Fredonia (5-5 with a doubleheader left against Cortland) and Oswego (6-6) tied for third place. Oswego will come to the Clark V. Whitted baseball complex Sunday, April 27 for a de-facto play-in game.
“We’re going to need to get those wins against Oswego first,” Beach said before warning the SUNYAC. “But if we get into the tournament we’ll be scary.” |
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