FINAL: Smith 2, New Hartford 0 (15 innings)

I’m here at Joe Corr Memorial Field for the continuation of yesterday’s suspended game between Smith and New Hartford.

Here’s a quick recap of yesterday's action: Smith’s Joe Melioris and New Hartford’s Alex Giovannone were each brilliant in pitching eight shutout innings apiece. Melioris allowed just one hit while Giovannone surrendered five. Only six runners reached base for Smith to New Hartford’s seven and each team reached third base only once (both in the sixth inning). The game was suspended due to darkness after eight innings and scheduled to resume in the top of the ninth at 6 p.m. today.

Here’s where we'll pick up today: Smith’s 4-5-6 hitters are coming to the plate in the top of the ninth with New Hartford’s 3-4-5 batters due up in the bottom half. Replacing Giovannone on the mound for New Hartford is lefty Eric Verbickas. Hard-throwing lefty Garrett Baker is the new pitcher for Smith.

*A noteworthy update before we resume play: New Hartford will be without starting catcher Mike Doyle when play resumes today due to a broken nose. The injury occurred in the bottom of the seventh inning last night when Doyle, who is also the starting quarterback on the New Hartford High School football team, took a pitch off the face.
With the count 0-2, Smith pitcher Joe Melioris lost the handle on a fastball that sailed high and inside, ricocheting off Doyle’s shoulder and into his nose. Doyle was dazed for a few seconds, but he quickly shook it off and took his base. He was forced out at second when the next batter hit into an inning-ending double play (Doyle was actually called for interference on his slide into second, causing the double play).
The tough-nosed (no pun intended) Doyle fought through the pain, remaining in the game to catch the eighth inning for his team. However, the pain persisted and became worse once Doyle arrived home after the game. His parents brought him to the hospital to have it checked out only to find out that his nose was indeed broken.
This is sure to be a huge loss for New Hartford not only today, but for the next couple weeks as they will be without one of their best players for 10-14 days (according to coach Greg Jones). A look at New Hartford’s schedule reveals that Doyle will likely be out anywhere from six to 13 games depending on how quickly he recovers. Replacing him while he’s out will be first-year player Tim Whalen. It will good for Whalen to gain the experience so early in his career, but he is sure to experience some growing pains as he will be making the jump from JV ball to Legion. It will be worth watching how Whalen adjusts and how Doyle’s injury affects New Hartford over the next two weeks.

*Changes for New Hartford: Tim Whalen will bat in the six hole and catch (replacing Doyle). DH Chandler Evans, the nine hitter, will move to first base. Verbickas will move from first to the mound.

*Changes for Smith: Garrett Baker will come in to pitch for Melioris, who will move to third base in place of Eli Hendrington. Baker will bat in Hendrington's spot in the order (eighth) and Melioris will stay in the six spot.

Top 9th: Jason Nowicki reached on an error as Chandler Evans dropped a throw at first from third baseman Joe Desens. Zack Ciccotti laid down a bunt on the next pitch and beat it out for an infield single after some miscommunication by the NH infielders. Joe Melioris grounded into a 6-4-3 double play for the first two outs, but Nowicki advanced to third on the play (runner on third, two outs). Ryan Marquette popped out to Joe Betar at short for the third out.

Bottom 9th: Betar flew out to right field for the first out. Garrett Baker then struck out Mike Matt and Eric Verbickas, both swinging, to end the inning.

New Hartford 0, Smith 0

Top 10th: Baker flew out to deep right field for the inning's first out. Mike Stevens, the nine hitter, reached on a single that was just out of the reach of a diving Matt in center field. Kyle Richardson reached on a infield single on a dribbler to third. Stevens went all the way to third on the play as Desens throw scooted away from Evans at first. Richardson stole second to put runners at second and third with one out. Ryan Kramer hit a weak grounder to Verbickas who held the runner at third and threw to first, but the throw was off-target, allowing Kramer to reach safely (bases loaded, one out). Nate Mallinder hit a groundball at Betar at short who made the play of the game thus far, starting a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning and escape the bases loaded threat (Evans made a good scoop at first on a low throw from Carcone).

Bottom 10th: Whalen grounded out for the first out on a nice play up the middle by the shortstop Kramer. Pat Calli struck out swinging for the second out. Steve Bieganowski was caught looking for the last out.

New Hartford 0, Smith 0

*Erik Sheridan replaced Bieganowski in left field.

Top 11th: Nowicki popped out to Carcone at second for the first out. Ciccotti lined a one-out double off the right field wall. WAIT A SECOND - NH appealed to first, saying that Ciccotti missed first and apparently he did - the home plate umpire called him out (for a 1-3 putout in your scorebooks). Verbickas then got Melioris swinging for the third out.

*Smith has had a chance to win in each of today's extra innings, but somehow NH has managed to escape the jams. One run wins it for them here with the 9-1-2 hitters due up.

Bottom 11th: Baker struck out Evans for the inning's first out, but it took some work. Evans fouled off eight pitches and worked a 14-pitch at-bat before going down swinging. Carcone and Desens hit back-to-back groundouts to Kramer to end the inning.

New Hartford 0, Smith 0

Top 12th: Marquette grounded out to Carcone for the first out. Verbickas got his counterpart, Baker, swinging on a curveball for the second out. Stevens lined a two-out single to center field for his second hit today (and third of the game). Richardson popped out to Betar to end the inning.

Bottom 12th: Betar popped out to Nowicki in right for the first out. Matt struck out looking for the second out. Verbickas grounded out to Baker for the inning's final out.

New Hartford 0, Smith 0

Top 13th: Kramer flew out to Matt in center for the first out. Mallinder grounded out to Desens at third for the second out. Nowicki reached on a two-out infield single (nubber up the middle). Ciccotti grounded out to Carcone for the third out.

Bottom 13th: Baker struck out Whalen for the first out. Calli grounded out to Baker for the second out. Erik Sheridan grounded out to second to end the inning.

New Hartford 0, Smith 0

*Somebody call ESPN - this is an Instant Classic without a doubt.
*In five innings pitched, Smith's Baker has not allowed a hit and has retired the side in order every inning. Between Melioris yesterday and Baker today, New Hartford has managed only one hit in 13 innings.

Top 14th: Melioris walked to lead off the inning (the NH fans were not happy with the umpire - there were some close pitches that didn't go their way). Ryan Cooke came in to pinch-run for Melioris. Marquette gave himself up for the first out, laying down a picture perfect bunt to thirdm advancing Cooke to second. Baker grounded out to Carcone for the second out. Cooke went to third on the play. Stevens struck out swinging for the third out, stranding Cooke at third base.

Bottom 14th: Evans grounded out to Marquette for the first out. Carcone lined out to Nowicki in right for the second out. Desens drew a two-out walk (the first batter to reach base against Baker). Betar then hit a grounder at the second baseman that looked like it would end the inning, but Stevens throw to first sailed over Marquette's head, allowing Desens to go to third and Betar to move to second. Matt flew out to left on the first pitch he saw to end the inning, stranding two runners in scoring position.

New Hartford 0, Smith 0

Top 15th: Richardson led off with a single to center. Kramer singled to right field on a perfectly executed hit-and-run, allowing Richardson to go all the way to third. Kramer stole second to put two runners in scoring position. With New Hartford's infield drawn in, Mallinder hit a sharp grounder at Betar who threw home trying to cut down Richardson at the plate. But his throw was low and couldn't be handled by Whalen, allowing Richardson to score the game's first run. Smith 1, NH 0. With runners on the corners, Nowicki flew out to right, but Calli's throw sailed over the head of the cutoff man and past Whalen, allowing Kramer to score from third and Mallinder to get to second. Smith 2, NH 0. Ciccotti grounded out to Carcone for the second out (Mallinder went to third on the play). Verbickas struck out Cooke for the third out.

Bottom 15th: Verbickas struck out looking for the first out. Whalen grounded out to Marquette at first for the second out. Calli hit a hard groundout to third for the third out, ending the game.

FINAL: Smith 2, New Hartford 0