FIGHTING TIGER BASEBALL WINS 14-11 SLUGFEST OVER CGCC

It was not the prettiest exhibition of baseball that SUNY Cobleskill has displayed this season and while some old-time baseball people may have tagged it “winning ugly” the bottom line was that the Fighting Tigers defeated the visiting Twins of Columbia-Greene Community College yesterday posting a come-from-behind 14-11 Mountain Valley Conference win in the friendly confines of Fighting Tiger Field. The victory pushes the Cobleskill overall record to 12-14 on the season with a 9-3 mark in league and NJCAA Region III Division III play.

“That was an ugly one and we certainly have to play much better this weekend against Morrisville State and Corning if we want to stay in the play-off race,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Bill Makarowski. “However we can’t be too disappointed considering we won the game. There are no style points in baseball only wins and losses and given the number of teams fighting for regional tournament bids we needed to put this one in the win column.”

After an eight-run fifth inning put the Twins up by an 11-8 margin the Fighting Tigers handed the ball to senior southpaw Matt Aker, Nelliston, NY, Fort Plain High School, who promptly shut the visitors out over the last four innings to record the victory.

After cutting the lead to 11-10 in heading into the bottom of the eighth inning; the Cobleskill comeback began with freshman left fielder Danny DiLoreto, Rockland, NY, Tappen Zee High School, doubling to lead-off the frame. Then freshman right fielder Adam Cernauskus, Cobleskill, NY, Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, promptly doubled home the tying run. The Twins then elected to pitch to senior first baseman Matt Young, Delmar, NY, Bethlehem High School, with first base open and no outs. The All-Mountain Valley Conference performer didn’t disappoint the home fan singling home the go-ahead run. Cobleskill added two insurance runs in the inning and never looked back as Aker set the Twins down in the ninth.

The offensive heroes were many led by the duo of Matt Young who went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored and Adam Cernauskus who went 3-for-3 with an RBI and four runs scored. Senior third baseman Mike Disarno, Grand Island, NY, Grand Island High School, posted an impressive 4-for-4 day at the plate with an RBI and three runs scored while freshman shortstop Jake Wilkinson, New Haven, VT, Mt. Abraham High School, made the most of his start going 2-for-4 with two RBI in the contest.

The Fighting Tigers will next travel to Morrisville, NY, on Friday April 28th when they meet Morrisville State College in a Mountain Valley Conference doubleheader beginning at 3:00 PM. Cobleskill will then host Corning Community College on Saturday April 29th beginning at 2:00 PM at the Cobleskill Baseball Complex.