FIGHTING TIGER BASEBALL SWEEPS SCHENECTADY 7-5 & 11-10

Throughout the United States; April 15th is the deadline for citizens to file their federal and state income tax forms. If one performed an audit of the score cards from Tuesday’s Mountain Valley Conference doubleheader between the Schenectady Community College Royals and SUNY Cobleskill; the Fighting Tigers sweep of the visitors by scores of 7-5 and 11-10, would not add up. The wins push the Cobleskill season record to 11-10 overall with a 5-1 mark versus league opponents while the Royals fall to 13-7 overall with a 2-3 record in MVC play.

Trailing 4-2 in the opener, the Fighting Tigers struck for three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning then tacked on a pair in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 7-4 lead into the top of the seventh. Senior reliever Matt Hansen, Southold, NY, Southold High School, then, with a run in and runners on first and third, fanned the Royals clean-up hitter to record a three inning save and give Cobleskill the victory. Hansen allowed one run, striking out three while walking only one to make a winner out of freshman Tom Wiener, Montrose, NY, Hendrick Hudson High School, who worked the opening four frames.

Senior third baseman Nick Poleto, Albany, NY, Colonie High School, went 3-for-4 in the contest with an RBI complemented by senior right fielder Matt Guerrido, Goshen, NY, Warwick Valley High School, who was 3-for-4 on the day with an RBI and Matt Hansen who was 2-for-4 on the afternoon with an RBI. Freshman shortstop Matt Greene, Albany, NY, Colonie High School, scored a pair of important runs hitting in the lead-off spot going 1-for-4 with an RBI while senior leftfielder Tristan-Massalay-Ellis, Flushing, NY, John Bowne High School, contributed a 1-for-2 effort with a triple and an RBI.

It was in the day’s second game things don’t quite add up for baseball purists trying to make sense out of Cobleskill’s dramatic 11-10 come-from-behind victory. In the game the Fighting Tigers: made eight errors, had three runners throw-out or picked-off, threw two wild pitches, misplayed a pair of pop-ups in foul territory which led to Royal rallies and allowed Schenectady to hit three home runs in the contest. However in the end when all was reported; it was Cobleskill that received a “refund” of sorts, and posted the win.

Trailing 9-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning the Fighting Tigers exploded for six runs in the inning to take a 10-9 lead into the seventh. After the Royals tied the contest with a run in the top of the frame, the Orange & Black had one more opportunity to claim a victory.

Nick Poleto led of the inning with a walk off Schenectady closer D.J. Davis. Freshman centerfielder Tim Capitummino, Schenectady, NY, Niskayuna High School, then grounded softly back to the mound forcing Poleto at second base for the first out and brought up freshman catcher Nate Shelton, Walton, NY, Walton High School. Shelton shocked the Royal infield by dropping a perfect bunt for a base hit down the third base line. With runners on first and second and one out, Fighting Tiger Head Coach Bill Makarowski gambled and had freshman shortstop Sebastian LaMountain, Cobleskill, NY, Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, lay down a sacrifice bunt advancing the runners to second and third with two-outs. With the game on the line rookie Matt Greene stepped to the plate and promptly lined the second pitch into centerfield for a single, scoring Capitummino and giving the Fighting Tigers the game.

The heroes were many for Cobleskill in the contest as: Matt Greene finished the day 3-for-4 with two RBI, Nick Poleto was 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI, Tristan-Massalay-Ellis had a 2-for-4 day with a double and two RBI while Nate Shelton went 2-for-4 with an RBI at the plate throwing our two would-be base stealer in the game, four for the doubleheader.

But for all of the home team’s offensive heroics; it was senior pitcher Dan Beck, Colonie High School, Rotterdam, NY, Schalmont High School, who working on short rest, gutted things out on the mound allowing only three earned runs, of the 10 allowed, posting a much needed complete game, striking out four Royal hitters, who proved to be the catalyst in the victory.   

“We’re looking at playing eight games in four days from Thursday through Sunday so when they hit those homers in the sixth to go up 9-4, after we misplayed a couple of balls; I asked Dan if he wanted out, and he told me that he wanted the ball,” said Coach Makarowski. “When they tied it up in the seventh; I went out and asked Dan if he could finish, and he told me that he wanted the ball. Dan not only gave us a chance to win today but he has kept our rotation as much in order as we could hope for going into the weekend.”

The Fighting Tigers will next take to the road on Thursday April 17th when they will travel to Herkimer Community College in Herkimer, NY for a Mountain Valley Conference doubleheader at 3:00 PM, followed on Friday April 18th, by a conference doubleheader at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, NY at 3:00 PM, then will travel to Utica, NY, for a conference doubleheader versus Mohawk Valley Community College on Saturday April 19th at 1:00 PM before returning home on Sunday April 20th for a non-conference doubleheader against Clinton Community College starting at 1:00 PM.