FINAL: Utica 12, Clonan 1

Hey legion fans. I'm here at Murnane Field at Donovan Stadium to cover today's Gold Division match-up between Clonan Post 1000 and Utica Post 229. Clonan comes into the game with an 0-3 league record. Utica sits at 2-0, just half a game behind first place New Hartford.

I'll be providing live updates again today and, as always, feel free to chime in with any thoughts, questions or comments in the comment section. Also, be sure to check out my post from yesterday. It includes my thoughts on what I've seen from the areas legion teams to this point. I'd also like to hear your thoughts on the discussed topics. Check it out here: http://adonovan-uticaod.blogspot.com/2008/06/some-notes.html

Today's game is pretty cool for me. It marks the first time that I'll be covering a game at the stadium named after my late grandfather, Senator James H. Donovan. I've been to games here in pretty much all other capacities. I used to come to plenty of Utica Blue Sox games each summer as a fan of our local team back when they were in town. We had season tickets behind home plate. Those games were a blast. I've also been here multiple times as a player. The last time I played on this field was surely the most memorable. It was the day, as a member of New Hartford Post, my team won the state championship in 2006. I've been here as a reporter once before as well. It was last summer when I interviewed former MLB All-Star Dave Cash and broke the story on the cancellation of the less-than-one-month-old New York State Professional Baseball League. But, today will be the first time I'm covering a game as a reporter. It's pretty cool thinking back on all the different roles I've played inside this stadium.

But, enough about me already. Let's get going with today's game.

Starting lineups:
Utica (2-0)
1. Devin Warmack, CF
2. Mike Scotellaro, 1B
3. Mark VanDreason, 2B
4. Ryan Donovan, P
5. Joe Perrotta, SS
6. Joe Mazzara, RF
7. Mike King, 3B
8. Vin Gaetano, LF
9. Mike Obernesser, C
Pitcher: Ryan Donovan, RHP

Clonan (0-3)
1. Adam Dee, LF
2. Ryan Critelli, 2B
3. Gary Puleo, 3B
4. Brian Gaskell, P
5. Steve Ball, CF
6. Ed Constantine, C
7. Dominick Masi, 1B
8. Nick Critelli, SS
9. Brandon O'Conner, RF
Pitcher: Brian Gaskell, RHP

Top 1st: Adam Dee struck out looking at a 3-2 curveball for the first out. Ryan Critelli looked a third struck for the second out. Gary Puleo drew a two-out walk. Brian Gaskell grounded out to Mike Scottelaro at first for the inning's final out.

Bottom 1st: Devin Warmack led off by beating out a grounder to the shortstop for an infield single. Scotellaro walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. Mark VanDreason hit an RBI single up the middle, scoring Warmack. Utica 1, Clonan 0. Scotellaro went to third on the play. VanDreason stole second to put runners on second and third with no outs. Donovan hit a grounder at third and Puleo tried to cut down Scotellaro at home, but the throw was low, allowing Scotellaro to score and Donovan to reach on a fielder's choice (VanDreason went to third). Utica 2, Clonan 0. Joe Perrotta grounded out to short for the first out, but picked up an RBI as VanDreason scored from third. Utica 3, Clonan 0. Joe Mazzara grounded out to short for the second out. Mike King reached on an error by the second baseman, putting runners at first and third with two outs. Vin Gaetano struck out swinging to end the inning.

Utica 3, Clonan 0

Top 2nd: Donovan struck out Steve Ball swinging for his third strike out of the game and the inning's first out. Ed Constantine drew a one-out walk. Dominick Masi grounded into a routine 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd: Mike Obernesser hit a single up the middle to lead it off, bring up the top of the order with no outs. Warmack hit a line drive single to left. A passed ball allowed the runners to move up to second and third (Constantine, Clonan's catcher, looked distracted by Scotellaro squaring to bunt). Scotellaro drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. VanDreason hit a sac fly to right field to score Obernesser. Warmack went to third and Scotellaro advanced to second as the right fielder's throw flew way over the cut off. Utica 4, Clonan 0. Donovan struck out looking for the second out. Perrotta then hit a two-RBI single up the middle. Utica 6, Clonan 0. Perrotta stole second and then scored on a Mazzara RBI single. Utica 7, Clonan 0. King hit a single through the left side of the infield to put runners on first and second with two outs. Gaetano grounded out to short to end the inning.

Utica 7, Clonan 0

*QUICK NOTE: I just noticed that the field umpire is a former acquaintance (if you will) of mine. I'm sure my former NH Post teammates with appreciate this one. Back when I played for NH, I was batting in a game and this particular umpire just happened to be behind home plate. Well, I called timeout and stepped out to take a practice swing. As the umpire came out of his crouch to call time, he stepped directly into the end of my swing and my bat caught him right in the jaw. He dropped to the ground with a yell. It was a very scaring moment, but, thank God, it turned out that he was okay - no broken bones, just a bruised jaw. When he got up, he promptly turned to me and said, "You swing like a horse." That's a joke that still lingers with my former teammates today. But, don't think I'm that cold hearted - I called him at his home the next day to check in on him.

Top 3rd: Nick Critelli walked to lead it off. Brandon O'Conner popped out to the shortstop, Perrotta, for the first out. Dee then grounded into a 6-4 fielder's choice for the second out. Dee was caught stealing by Obernesser to end the inning.

*Lots of changes for Clonan: Ryan Critelli has come on to pitch. Justin Hall moved to second in his place. Gaskell went from the mound to first base (Masi is now out of the game). Craig Siuta came in at shortstop (in place of Nick Critelli). Dan Zayas came in to right field (in place of O'Conner).

Bottom 3rd: Obernesser led off with a walk. Warmack popped out to second for the first out. Scotellaro walked (he's shown a lot of patience at the plate - that's his third free pass of the game). VanDreason walked to load the bases. Donovan popped out to the pitcher for the second out. Perrotta hit groundball to third that looked like it would end the inning, but Puleo bobbled it and all the runners advanced safely, allowing a run to score and the bases to be re-loaded. Utica 8, Clonan 0. Mazzara ripped a bases-clearing triple to the right-center field gap to pick up three RBIs (he now has four on the day). Utica 11, Clonan 0. King hit a grounder to second, but Hall couldn't handle it, allowing Mazzara to come home and King to reach safely. Utica 12, Clonan 0. Gaetano walked to put runners on first and second with two outs. Clonan Post manager Mike McRorie just came out to the mound to relieve Ryan Critelli. Tyler Miles is the new Clonan pitcher. Miles induced an Obernesser pop out to second on his first pitch to end the inning.

Utica 12, Clonan 0

Top 4th: Miles gave Clonan its first hit of the game with a leadoff double that one-hopped to the fence in right-center field. Puleo drew a walk to put runners on first and second with no outs. Gaskell flew out to Mazzara in right for the first out. Ball got plunked in the head on a wild curveball from Donovan to load the bases for Clonan with one down. Donovan squashed Clonan's best chance to score thus far by getting back-to-back strike out of Constantine and Hall.

Bottom 4th: Mike Lackey entered the game, taking Warmack's place in the UP lineup. Lackey reached base on a groundball an error by the shortstop. Scotellaro reached on a walk (that's four walks in four at-bat for him). VanDreason flew out to right field for the inning's first out. Donovan popped out to the first baseman in foul territory for the second out. Perrotta grounded out to short to end the inning.

Utica 12, Clonan 0

*Clonan must score at least three runs this inning to avoid the game ending by the mercy rule.

Top 5th: Craig Siuta hit a double the other way, down the right field line, to give Clonan a runner in scoring position with no outs. Siuta then went to third on a wild pitch. Dan Zayas brought with runner home with an RBI single to center field. Utica 12, Clonan 1. Donovan struck out pinch hitter Keith Morgan to record the inning's first out and then got the next batter, Miles, looking for the second out. Puleo flew out to the right fielder to end the game.

FINAL: Utica 12, Clonan 1