FIGHTING TIGER BASEBALL TAKES TWO OF THREE OVER WEEKEND

The SUNY Cobleskill men’s baseball team returned to the diamond over the weekend after a three-week hiatus following the team’s annual spring trip. The Fighting Tigers won two of three single game contests traveling to Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, MA on Friday to defeat their Region XXI hosts by a 14-6 score, dropping a 12-1 home decision at home on Saturday to nationally ranked NJCAA Division II program Community College of Rhode Island from Region XXI by a 12-1 margin, then coming back on Sunday to defeat visiting Sullivan Community College of Region XV by a score of 17-6. The victories push the program’s overall record to 2-11 on the season.

Fighting Tiger first-year head coach Bill Makarowski in his recap of the weekend was upbeat about the games and sees definite signs of improvement in the team’s future.

“On Friday, I thought for us to go on the road and hit the ball the way we did was very encouraging. We pretty much did whatever we wanted to offensively and it felt great to put a play on and see it work. Our pitching and defense got in line with our hitting and everything fell into place,” said the Fighting Tiger head coach. “Then on Saturday, we played an excellent baseball team and CCRI showed us what you have to do to be a nationally ranked program. Against Sullivan we had an epidemic of hitting and we pretty much did whatever we wanted to do at will. Hitting is contagious and everybody caught the bug on Sunday. If we can play like we did on Friday and Sunday we’re going to be a very formidable team.”

Freshman outfielder Adam Cernauskus, Cobleskill, NY, Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, led the way for the Fighting Tigers going 5-for-9 over the weekend with a pair of triples, a home run, four runs scored and five runs driven in. Cernauskus belted a home run, a triple and had four RBI in the win over CCRI. The talented rookie also took to the mound recording a save on Friday in the win over Holyoke. Fellow freshman outfield Ryan Rockefeller, Bolivar, NY, Bolivar-Richburg High School, also had a big weekend series for Cobleskill from the lead-off spot going 4-for-9 with a pair of runs scored and a pair of stolen bases.

Senior first baseman Matt Young, Delmar, NY, Bethlehem High School, went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI and four runs scored and freshman second baseman Bret Wrixon, Kingston, NY, Kingston High School, put together a 4-for-10 weekend with four runs scored and a pair of RBI. Cobleskill also received strong efforts from senior shortstop Ron Smalling, Yaphank, NY, Longwood High School, who went 3-for-6 with four RBI and three runs scored and from freshman outfielder Danny DiLoreto, Tappan Zee, NY, North Rockland High School, who was 3-for-9 with five runs scored and three RBI.

On the mound for the Fighting Tigers Kyle Claypool, Arcade, NY, Pioneer High School, recorded the win over Holyoke pitching six innings allowing three earned runs striking out four while walking only one. On Sunday senior Matt Aker, Nelliston, NY, Fort Plain High School, allowed three earned runs in five innings of work striking out eight while walking four on the afternoon.

Cobleskill will next be in action on Thursday April 6th when they open their NJCAA Region III schedule versus Mountain Valley Conference rival Fulton-Montgomery Community College beginning at 1:00 PM.