County Playoffs: Tuesday Preview

Game 5: (1) Smith vs. (5) Adrean at Bill Vinci Field, 5:30 p.m.
Smith and Adrean went at it twice this season with Smith taking both meetings. Smith won the first game, all the way back on June 13th, 11-8 in six innings (suspended due to darkness). It was just the second game of the season for each team. The second game, played just 10 days ago, was a 7-4 decision in favor of Smith. Adrean managed to get to Smith ace Garrett Baker in the second game, scattering nine hits off the Division I recruit, but ran themselves out of the game with some poor base running.

Adrean (12-7) was likely the team to come closest to beating undefeated Smith (19-0) in the regular season. Both games were very competitive and emotional. As Ed O'Brien said in his radio broadcasts of each game - Smith and Adrean have been going at it for years and each team badly wants to have bragging rights in the heated rivalry.

As for today, a lot depends on the pitching. Smith still has two of the leagues best, if not the best, pitchers waiting in the wings. With Kyle Richardson throwing last night for the Romans (by the way, he only threw three innings which should come up big later in the tournament), Baker and Joe Melioris are available on full rest. I would expect Smith to go with Baker in this one. Adrean will likely have Steve Campbell on the mound. He pitched against Smith in the last match-up between the two teams and, despite surrending 10 hits and seven runs, he did a pretty good job against the league's top team.

Prediction: Smith. But, this one wasn't easy. A lot is pointing to Adrean for me - its bats, the difficulty of beating a team three times in a row and its experienced coaching. But, Smith is still undefeated and it still has its top two pitchers ready to go. I expect either Melioris or Baker to come out and do a good enough job to get his team the win. Smith coach Tony Abone Jr. will have the guys ready to go and remind them of the competitiveness of the last two meetings.

Game 6: (2) New Hartford vs. (3) Whitestown at DeLutis Field, 7 p.m.
New Hartford topped Whitestown 9-7 the only time the two teams met back on June 17th. New Hartford used a balanced offensive attack - seven batters had at least one hit, six players recorded an RBI, and eight players scored - and a seven-run third inning on its way to that win. New Hartford's Alex Giovannone picked up the win, striking out six while scattering 13 hits and two walks, and allowing six earned runs. His counterpart, Whitestown's Zack Swider allowed 11 hits and nine runs in just three innings.

Today's game is a bit different than the last time these two rivals squared off. Whitestown (14-5) was reeling on its way to an 0-5 overall start to the season at thatm point and it was still very early in the season for both teams. This time around, both teams are hot - the league's two hottest other than unbeaten Smith. Whitestown is winners of 14 of its last 16 leagues, while New Hartford (13-5) is riding an eight-game league winning streak.

While the first game was an offensive show, this game should hinge a great deal on pitching and defense. Neither Whitestown nor New Hartford has been putting up great offensive numbers in recent games. Rather, they are winning with sound defense and solid pitching. Whitestown had seven hits in last night's first-round win over Roberts, with New Hartford managing just four in it's win over Sherrill.

Prediction: Push. This one could go either way. I'm expecting a rematch of the first game's pitching match-up between Giovannone and Swider. Both are college players with the experience and composure that both team's coaches want in this type of game. Both team's have considerable playoff experience. Whitestown has 15 players back from last year's team that finished third in New York State, and seven players from New Hartford's 2006 state championship and Mid-Atlantic regional runner-up team are still on its roster. Now that you've read through all that, you didn't really think I was going to leave you with a "push" prediction in this - the day's most compelling game - did you? Well, despite the bantering I received for taking Sherrill over my former team yesterday, I'm about to do it again. Tight playoff games like this often come down to a couple key hits or a costly defensive miscue (knock on wood), and I think that's what will happen tonight. I'm taking Whitestown in a close one. Don't be surprised if you see this one posted in the New Hartford dugout tonight - I've been told yesterday's preview made an appearance.

Game 7: (4) Utica vs. Love at Murnane Field, 6 p.m.
Love beat Utica twice in a span of four days in two very close games during the regular season. The first was a 1-0 decision on July 7th at Murnane Field, with the second a July 10th 2-1 nail bitter in Boonville. The difference in Game one was a fourth-inning Love run. Game two wasn't decided until the very last inning when Love (9-9) scored a walk-off victory with a run in the bottom of the seventh.

Let's just say this, Love is a huge part of the reason why Utica (12-7) finished a game behind New Hartford for the Gold Division title. I'm sure none of Utica's players have forgotten those two losses and will be looking for revenge in a big way. Also, the season's over for the loser of this game. Win or go home. Expect both team's to pull out all the stops.

Prediction: Utica. There's just too much determination from the Utica players, and too little experience from Love's. While Utica's heartbreaking 4-3 eight-inning loss in last night's first round might be hard to recover from, I don't think it will hold them back in this one. Love is coming off a 12-0 mercy-rule loss to Smith, which is pretty crushing in itself. I expect Utica to win relatively easily in this game and bounce Love from the tournament.

Game 8: (6) Roberts vs. (7) Sherrill at Holland Patent H.S., 5:30 p.m.
Sherrill won the only regular-season meeting between these two teams 9-2 back on July 1st. Sherrill banged out 13 hits and benefited from three Roberts' errors. Mitch Iseneker pitched a complete game five-hitter for Sherrill, striking out 10 on no walks and two earned runs.

I'm not sure who we'll see on the mound for either team today. Sherrill (9-9) will probably go with Iseneker or Mark Dixon (or Steve Davis if available) while Roberts (10-9) could turn to any one of three capable arms - Geoff Ogden, Cody Crego or Kevin Quesnell. Regarless, this game is another win-or-go-home situation. Neither team will be hesitant to pull its pitcher if he runs into any sort of trouble.

Prediction: Roberts. Like Whitestown and New Hartford, this is another compelling match-up that is tough to predict. Neither team is playing its best baseball as Roberts has dropped seven of its last 10 league games and Sherrill is losers of four in a row. Having said that, both team's have some offensive firepower at the top of the lineup (though it didn't show last night - Roberts managed just two hits to Sherrill's five). While I could go either way on this one, I'm going to take Roberts on a hunch that Matt Hammill and Devin Frye will have good performances at the plate to lead their team to the win.