FIGHTING TIGER BASEBALL POUNDS HOLYOKE IN HOME OPENER 17-6

The smile on SUNY Cobleskill Head Men’s Baseball Coach Shawn Noel’s face after his Fighting Tigers manhandled Holyoke Community College by a 17-6 margin in the team’s home opener on Friday was a big one. “I have to tell you that it felt real good to 10 run someone for a change and this is the reason we opened up in Arizona,” said Noel. The victory game the Fighting Tigers a two game winning streak and a 2-10 overall record on the season.

“We went to Arizona and we learned a lot about how to play,” said Noel. “The defense made plays today and the offense finally believed. Everything was positive and we started executing.”

Freshman first baseman Matt Young, Delmar, NY, Bethlehem High School, provided the Fighting Tigers the necessary firepower on the afternoon going 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and three RBI in the victory. Senior shortstop Ryan Larabee, Cheshire, MA, Hoosac Valley High School, also turned in a big day at the plate posting a 2-for-5 outing with a double and three RBI on the afternoon.

Fighting Tiger starting pitcher senior Paul Palazzo, Bethpage, NY, St. John the Baptist High School, earned the win by allowing three earned runs in six innings while freshman hurler Alex Getty, Vestal, NY, Vestal High School, picked up his first career save striking out three in two innings of work.

Perhaps the key moment in the Cobleskill victory was delivered by senior right fielder Nick Poquette, Schoharie, NY, Schoharie High School. With the Fighting Tigers leading 9-6 with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the seventh inning Poquette made a spectacular diving catch on a ball hit to the right-center gap which could have tied the contest.

The Fighting Tigers will next be in action on Thursday April 7th when they travel to Troy, NY to meet the RPI Junior Varsity beginning at 3:00 PM for a single game.