FIGHTING TIGER BASEBALL DOWNS RPI JUNIOR VARSITY 15-4

It’s no secret that in past seasons that the RPI Junior Varsity has been a thorn in the side of the SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tiger men’s baseball program. However on Saturday the Fighting Tigers annual trip to Troy, NY held a different result as Cobleskill exploded for 13 runs over the last three innings to handily defeat the Red Hawks by a 15-4 margin. With the victory Cobleskill moves to 5-11 on the season with a sparkling 5-1 record since returning from the team’s annual spring trip.

“It’s good to get RPI off our backs and get the win in the books, now hopefully this will help us build momentum going into Adirondack on Wednesday and Hudson Valley on Friday,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Bill Makarowski. “I don’t want to sound repetitive but we’re hitting the ball well with 21 hits today and I think everyone who played had a hit. Kyle Claypool pitched a great game and our defense continued to be very solid. Now we’ve got to continue to keep moving in the right direction.”

Offensively the big bats of Cobleskill were led by senior first baseman Matt Young, Delmar, NY, Bethlehem High School, who was 4-for-6 with two RBI and three runs scored while senior third baseman Mike Disarno, Grand Island, NY, Grand Island High School, also went 4-for-6 on the afternoon with five RBI and two runs scored. The Fighting Tigers Long Island connection of freshman outfielder Rob Schmalz, Ronkonkoma, NY, Sachem High School, and senior shortstop Ron Smalling, Yaphank, NY, Longwood High School, proved lethal to the Red Hawks as Schmalz went 3-for-4 with three RBI and Smalling was 3-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored. Freshman outfielder Danny DiLoreto, Tappen Zee, NY, Rockland High School, also contributed going 2-for-5 with a three runs scored and an RBI.

The Fighting Tigers received another strong outing from freshman Adam Cernauskus, Cobleskill, NY, Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, who was 2-for-6 at the plate with an RBI and who throw a scoreless ninth inning on the mound. Senior catcher Tyler Hibsch, Strykersville, NY, Pioneer High School, went 2-for-6 at bat with two runs scored while exercising his usual steadying influence on the Fighting Tiger pitching staff.

On the mound, freshman pitcher Kyle Claypool, Arcade, NY, Pioneer High School, was dominate allowing no runs in six innings of work striking out seven while walking five to pick up the victory.

Cobleskill will next be in action on Wednesday April 12th when they host the Timberwolves of Adirondack Community College for a Mountain Valley Conference doubleheader beginning at 3:00 PM.