FINAL: New Hartford 9, Whitestown 7

Hey guys. I'm here at Joe Corr Memorial Field for today's game between New Hartford and Whitestown. This is Whitestown's first league game of the season (they dropped three games this weekend in UP's Father's Day Classic tournament and will be looking to get back on track against their biggest rival). New Hartford is 2-0 and sits atop the Gold Division.

As always, feel free to share any thoughts, comments or questions in the comment section - whether you want to talk today's game, the league in general, the College World Series or anything else.

Starting Lineups:
New Hartford (2-0)
1. Joe Carcone, 2B
2. Steve Bieganowski, DH
3. Joe Betar, SS
4. Mike Matt, CF
5. Eric Verbickas, 1B
6. Mike Doyle, C
7. Pat Calli, RF
8. Joe Desens, 3B
9. Erik Sheridan, LF
Pitcher: Alex Giovannone, LHP

Whitestown (0-0)
1. Connor Flisnik, SS
2. Jim Klauser, CF
3. George Hajjar, RF
4. Alex Ferenti, DH
5. Tyler Beck, 2B
6. Chris Flynn, 1B
7. Jim Engler, LF
8. Matt Wilk, 3B
9. Chris Vomer, C
Pitcher: Zack Swider, RHP

Top 1st: Whitestown leadoff man Connor Flisnik reached on a groundball that took a huge hop over NH second baseman Joe Carcone. Alex Giovannone struck out the next batter, Jim Klauser, on three straight pitches (he swung at all three). George Hajjar took a two-strike pitch the other way for a groundball single through the hole between first and second (runners on first and second, one out). Alex Ferenti singled to left to load the bases. Tyler Beck hit a sharp grounder on the first pitch he saw that NH shortstop Joe Betar made a great play to snag, but his throw sailed wide of Carcone at second, allowing Hajjar to score from second (in addition to Flisnik scoring from third) and Ferenti to reach third. Whitestown 2, NH 0. Giovannone picked up his second strikeout for the second out, getting Chris Flynn to whiff at a high fastball. Jim Engler then flew out to center field to end the inning, stranding runners at first and third.

Bottom 1st: Joe Carcone led off with a line drive single over the shortstop, but he was thrown out at second trying to stretch it to two when Klauser bobbled the ball in center field. Klauser picked it up and hit the relay man who got it to second to record the first out. Steve Bieganowski was hit by the next pitch. Betar followed with a single to left (runners on first and second, one out). Mike Matt hit the second pitch he saw right at Matt Wilk, the third baseman, who tagged Bieganowski and fired over to first to get the double play to end the inning.

Whitestown 2, New Hartford 0

Top 2nd: Wilk, the eight hitter, popped out to NH catcher Mike Doyle for the first out. Chris Vomer hit the first pitch he saw for a single down the left field line, just out of the reach of diving NH third baseman Joe Desens. Flisnik drew a walk (runners at first and second, one out). Klauser popped out to Matt in center for the second out. Giovannone got Hajjar swinging on a curveball for the third out, stranding two Whitestown runners for the second straight inning.

Bottom 2nd: Eric Verbickas led off with a bloop single into center field. Doyle was hit by a 2-2 pitch, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Pat Calli struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch for the inning's first out. Dave Desens followed with a two-strike single up the middle to load the bases with one out. Nine-hitter Erik Sheridan then worked a seven-pitch walk, picking up an RBI and keeping the bases loaded with one out. Whitestown 2, NH 1. Carcone ripped a liner right at Engler in left for the second out, but Doyle tagged from third to tie the game. NH 2, Whitestown 2. The runners moved to second and third on a wild pitch. Bieganowski struck out looking for the third out, stranding runners on second and third.

New Hartford 2, Whitestown 2

Top 3rd: Ferenti reached on an errant throw by Carcone to lead off. Beck popped out to Carcone for the first out. Flynn popped out to Betar at short on the next pitch. Giovannone struck out Engler for his fourth K and the inning's final out.

Bottom 3rd: Betar struck out swinging for the first out. Matt reached on an error by Beck at second (he bobbled the ball then pulled the first baseman off the bag on the throw). Matt moved to second when Zack Swider tried to pick him off at first and threw it away (runner on second, one out). Verbickas sawed off another single into center field (almost identical to his first hit) and the speedy Matt came around from second to beat the throw to home to put New Hartford ahead. Verbickas went to second on the throw home. NH 3, Whitestown 2. Doyle struck out looking for the inning's second out. Calli then hit the first pitch from Swider deep to right field and off the wall for a two-out, RBI triple. NH 4, Whitestown 2. Desens smoked an RBI, line drive single to left to score Calli. NH 5, Whitestown 2. NH manager John Randall then put on the hit-and-run - Sheridan singled up the middle and Desens went from first to third (Sheridan advanced to second on Klauser's late throw to third). Carcone popped a foul ball toward the first base dugout, but the catcher dropped it, giving the batter new life. Carcone made Whitestown pay with an RBI infield single on the next pitch (runners on first and third, two outs). NH 6, Whitestown 2. Bieganowski drove a ball to the gap in right-center for a 2-RBI triple (NH's second triple of the inning). NH 8, Whitestown 2. Bieganowski scored on a wild pitch. NH 9, Whitestown 2. Betar, hitting for the second time in the inning, legged out an infield single on a chopper toward third. He then stole second on a curveball to Matt. Matt struck out swinging for the third out.

New Hartford 9, Whitestown 2

Top 4th: Wilk flew out to Sheridan in left for the first out. Vomer golfed a bloop single to left (I think it was a nine iron) to put a runner on for Whitestown. Flisnik drew a four-pitch walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Klauser loaded the bases with a fly ball single to center that was misjudged by Matt. Giovannone threw eight straight curveballs to Hajjar - after fouling off three with two strikes, Hajjar drove an RBI single to left. NH 9, Whitestown 3. With the bases loaded and one out, Ferenti hit a grounder to Desens at third. He stepped on third for the out, but his throw to first was late and Hajjar advanced to third. Flisnik scored on the play. NH 9, Whitestown 4. SORRY FOR THE DELAY - I HAD TO SEEK SHELTER FOR THE COMPUTER AS IT STARTED TO RAIN. Beck ripped a 2-RBI triple in the right-center field gap, scoring Hajjar from third and Ferenti from first. NH 9, Whitestown 6. Flynn flew out to right field for the third out.

Bottom 4th: Whitestown brought in M.J. Hajec to pitch. He induced a 1-3 groundout from Verbickas on his first pitch. Doyle reached on an error by the second baseman. Calli then grounded into a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning.

New Hartford 9, Whitestown 6

Top 5th: Engler doubled to lead it off. Giovannone struck out Wilk for the first out. Vomer then flew out to Matt in center. Flisnik grounded out to Desens at third, stranding Engler at second, for the inning's final out.

Bottom 5th: Desens grounded out to third for the first out. Sheridan reached first after being hit by the first pitch. Carcone grounded to the shortstop who threw to second to get the lead runner. The second baseman's throw to first for the double play was late, but Sheridan was called for interference at second, making Carcone out too and ending the inning.

New Hartford 9, Whitestown 6

Top 6th: Klauser led off with a line drive single down the left field line. Hajjar grounded to Desens on what looked like it might be a double play for New Hartford, but Desens throw to second was wide and allowed both runners to reach safely (first and second, no outs). Ferenti flew out to center for the first out. Beck grounded into a fielder's choice as Desens touched third for the force out (first and second, two outs). Hajec (batting for Swider) grounded out to Betar at short for the third out.

Bottom 6th: Bieganowski struck out swinging to start the inning. Betar flew out to right field for the second out. Matt drew a two-out walk and stole second on the first pitch to Verbickas. Verbickas lined out to Hajec for the third out.

New Hartford 9, Whitestown 6

Top 7th: 7-8-9 hitters coming up for Whitestown - they must score at least three to extend the game. Engler led off with a homerun over the left field wall on a 3-2 pitch. NH 9, Whitestown 7. Wilk grounded out to Verbickas at first on the first pitch he saw. Paris Rich entered the game to hit for Vomer. Rich singled to left field (runner on first, one out). Flisnik (leadoff hitter) grounded into a 4-6 fielder's choice. Flinisk advanced to second on a wild pitch - his 132 pitch of the game (runner on second, two out). Giovannone struck out Klauser swinging to end the game.

FINAL: New Hartford 9, Whitestown 7