Smith coach Tony Abone Jr. told me yesterday that he did not know who would start on the hill for his team, but did say that ace Garrett Baker would definitely pitch at some point. Whether he would start or not, Abone Jr. did not know. Well, his mind is made up now as Baker is the starter on the lineup card. It will be a lefty-lefty matchup as Erik Sheridan will start for New Hartford.
Abone Jr. said his players were feeling better yesterday after Friday's heartbreaking loss.
"They're in a better frame of mind right now," he said. "Another day of rest, getting every a little more healthy, I'm sure is going to help."
It apparently helped center fielder and leadoff man Kyle Richardson as the tough do-all player will play today after dislocating his shoulder in the ninth inning of Game 1.
Now, let's get going with today's game. Smith is the home team after winning a pre-game coin toss. With a win, New Hartford advances to the NYS championship tournament. If Smith takes Game 2, a third-and-deciding Game 3 will follow to determine who moves on to Newburgh.
Starting lineups:
Smith (25-3-1)
1. Kyle Richardson, CF
2. Ryan Kramer, SS
3. Nate Mallinder, LF
4. Jason Nowicki, 3B
5. Zack Ciccotti, C
6. Rocco DeBlasiis, DH
7. Ryan Marquette, 1B
8. Eli Hendrington, 2B
9. Ryan Cooke, RF
Pitcher: Garrett Baker, LHP
New Hartford (21-9)
1. Erik Sheridan, P
2. Joe Carcone, 2B
3. Mike Matt, CF
4. Eric Verbickas, 1B
5. Joe Desens, LF
6. Dan Nelson, 3B
7. Pat Calli, RF
8. Mike Doyle, C
9. Joe Betar, SS
Pitcher: Erik Sheridan, LHP
Top 1st: Sheridan led off with a bomb of a double that one-hopped the fence in left-center field. Carcone laid down a sacrifice bunt for the first out, moving Sheridan to third. Matt drew a walk to put runners on the corners with one out. Verbickas was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Desens struck out swinging on a full-count change up for the second out. Nelson struck out swinging on a high fastball for the third out, stranding the bases loaded.
Bottom 1st: Richardson flew out to center for the first out. Kramer hit a high chopper to the hole on the left side of the infield for an infield single. Kramer was hosed out by Doyle on a steal attempt for the second out. Mallinder walked on a full-count fastball in the dirt. Nowicki drew a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs. Ciccotti ripped a single to right field to load the bases (Calli threw a perfect strike to the plate to keep the runner on second from scoring). DeBlasiis pulled the first pitch he saw through the hole between short and third and into left field for a two-RBI single (runners on first and second, two outs). Smith 2, NH 0. Marquette hit a grounder right at Sheridan and the pitcher made a nice diving stop and threw to third for the force out to end the inning.
Smith 2, New Hartford 0
Top 2nd: Calli hit a leadoff single that just squeaked under the glove of a diving Marquette. Doyle laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Ciccotti bobbled it, allowing Doyle to reach safely on an error (runners on first and second, no outs). Betar bunted toward third, but he hit it too hard as Nowicki scooped it up and touched third base on a dive for the first out (runners on first and second, one out). Sheridan struck out looking for the second out. Carcone drew a two-out walk to load the bases. After a first-pitch ball to Matt, Smith coach Tony Abone Jr. came out to the mound for a short chat with his pitcher. Baker struck out Matt on a 2-2 pitch for the third out as New Hartford stranded the bases loaded for the second straight inning.
Bottom 2nd: Hendrington lined out to Calli, who was playing shallow, for the first out. Cooke lined out to Matt in center for the second out. Richardson hit a two-out groundball single to left. Kramer lined out to left to end the inning.
Smith 2, New Hartford 0
*While New Hartford hasn't been able to score on Baker yet, its made the hard-throwing lefty work hard as he's already thrown 49 pitches through two innings. This will be something to watch as Baker is going on just three days rest after throwing a complete nine-inning game on Wednesday night. New Hartford's Sheridan, going on a full week's rest, has thrown 43 pitches.
Top 3rd: Verbickas flew out to left for the first out. Desens hit a nubber down the third baseline for an infield single. Nelson hit the first pitch he saw for a bloop single into center to put runners on first and second with one out. Calli struck out looking for the second out. Doyle hit a deep fly ball to left on the first pitch from Baker, but it was settled under by Mallinder for the third out.
*New Hartford has now stranded eight runners in scoring position in its three at-bats. Five of those runners were in scoring position.
*The last half inning was a good one for Baker as he only needed nine pitches to retire the side. His pitch count is now at 58 through three innings.
Bottom 3rd: Mallinder flew out to Desens in left on the first pitch from Sheridan. Nowicki ripped a line-drive single down the left field line (Desens made a nice play to cut it off and throw it in to keep Nowicki from getting extra bases). Ciccotti hit the first pitch he saw at Betar who turned the grounder into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Smith 2, New Hartford 0
*Sheridan needed only four pitches in the bottom of the third. He's now thrown 47 pitches.
Top 4th: Betar flew out to Richardson for the first out. Sheridan took a fastball the opposite way to right field for a line-drive single. Carcone ripped a first-pitch curveball from Baker for a groundball single to left (runners on first and second, one out). Matt ripped a one-hop liner past Nowicki for an RBI single to cut the lead in half. Smith 2, NH 1. Carcone went from first to third on Matt's hit, just beating Mallinder's throw to third. Matt advanced to second on the throw (runners on second and third, one out). Verbickas was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Desens hit a sac fly to deep left to score Carcone from third and tie the game. NH 2, Smith 2. Nelson grounded out 4-6 to end the inning.
*New Hartford standed two more in the 4th (one in scoring position), and has now left 10 runners on base in the game.
*Baker needed 19 pitches in the top of the fourth and is now at 77 pitches through four innings.
Bottom 4th: DeBlasiis grounded out weakly to Sheridan for the first out. Marquette grounded out 4-3 for the second out. Hendrington pulled a liner past a fully-extended Betar at short for a two-out single. Cooke ripped a liner over the head of Desens in left (he misplayed the ball, running in too far and allowing it to get over his head) to score Hendrington all the way from first and give the lead back to Smith. Smith 3, NH 2. Richardson hit a second straight two-out RBI-double to the gap in left-center to score Cooke from second. Smith 4, NH 2. Kramer hit the first pitch from Sheridan up the middle for a single. Richardson was held at third and Kramer advanced to second on Matt's throw to the plate (runners on second and third, two outs). Mallinder grounded out 6-3 to end the inning, stranding two runners in scoring position.
Smith 4, New Hartford 2
*Smith has scored all of its runs with two outs.
*Sheridan threw 15 pitches in the fourth and is now up to 62 for the game. New Hartford has double-barrel action going in the bullpen as Pat Derrane and Mike Bower are warming up.
Top 5th: Calli hit a bloop single to left to lead off. Doyle popped out to Marquette in foul territory for the first out. Betar ripped a liner to left on the first pitch from Baker that was caught on a dive by the Mallinder for the second out. Mallinder threw to Kramer who relayed it to Marquette at first to double up Calli who was caught off the base.
*That was a big half inning for Baker as he needed only four pitches. He is now up to 81.
*It was the first inning New Hartford hasn't left a runner standed.
*A third New Hartford pitcher has gone to the bullpen as right-hander Kris Kallay is warming up.
Bottom 5th: Nowicki grounded out 4-3 for the first out. Ciccotti flew out to center for the second out. DeBlasiis poked a two-out single to left. Marquette drew a full-count walk to put runners on first and second with two outs. Hendrington ripped a line-drive to right-center, just out of the reach of a diving Matt, for a two-RBI double. Smith 6, NH 2. Cooke bombed an RBI triple to the gap in left-center. Smith 7, NH 2. *New Hartford manager John Randall came out to relieve Sheridan. Right-hander Pat Derrane is now pitching for New Hartford. Richardson flew out to center to end the inning, stranding Cooke at third.
Smith 7, New Hartford 2
*Smith has scored all seven of its runs with two outs.
*New Hartford's Derrane will lead off at the plate next inning. It will be just his second at-bat all season.
Top 6th: Derrane struck out swinging for the first out. Carcone popped out on a nice running grab by Ciccotti in foul territory. Matt struck out looking for the third out.
*The sixth was just a nine-pitch inning for Baker. He is now at 90 pitches. Remember, he's throwing on just three days rest.
*There is a huge crowd on hand here at DeLutis Field. The grandstands are full and the other bleecher sections are packed as well. A bunch of kids are running around and playing catch behind the bleechers.
Bottom 6th: Kramer worked a 10-pitch walk to lead off. Mallinder chopped an infield single down the third baseline that looked like it was going to roll foul, but was picked up by Nelson in fair territory. Nowicki flew out to center for the first out. Kramer tagged and went to third on the play (runners on the corners, one out). Ciccotti poked an RBI single to left (runners on first and second, one out). Smith 8, NH 2. DeBlasiis reached on a fielder's choice as he grounded to Nelson who stepped on third for the force and the inning's second out. Marquette grounded out to Verbickas on a nice backhand stop to end the inning.
Smith 8, New Hartford 2
*Smith is crushing the ball today and has 14 hits through six innings. Marquette is the only Smith batter without a base hit.
Top 7th: Ciccotti made a great catch in foul territory to retire Verbickas on one pitch for the first out. Desens ripped a liner on the first pitch from Baker, but Mallinder made a sliding catch in left for the second out. Nelson popped up to Hendrington for the third out.
*Baker needed the minimum - three pitches - to get through the seventh. His pitch count is at 93 after needing only 16 pitches (and facing only nine batters) over the past three innings.
*New Hartford substitutions: Tyler Porter has replaced Verbickas at first. Tim Whalen has come on to catch in place of Doyle.
Bottom 7th: Hendrington hit a chopper over the head of Nelson for a leadoff single. Cooke popped out to Desens for the first out. Hendrington stole second on a pitch in the dirt. Richardson bombed a two-run homerun over the fence in left. Smith 10, NH 2. Kris Kallay has come on to relieve Derrane on the mound for New Hartford. Mike Bower has replaced Nelson at third base. Kramer walked on four pitches. Mallinder reached on an infield single as Betar fielded the ball in the hole toward third and couldn't get the throw to second in time to force out Kramer. Kramer stole third. Nowicki hit an RBI single to left to score Kramer (runners on first and second, one out). Smith 11, NH 2. IF MALLINDER SCORES FROM SECOND, THE GAME WILL BE OVER DUE TO THE MERCY RULE. Mallinder stole third and Nowicki stole second. Ciccotti hit a sac fly to center to score Mallinder and end the game.
FINAL: Smith 12, New Hartford 2 (7 innings)
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