FINAL: Anaconda 9, Smith 8 (11 inn.)

The American Legion New York State championship game between the Anaconda Indians and Smith Post will start at approximately 3 p.m.

I'm going to grab something to eat and will fill you guys in on the starting lineups and other game notes when I return...

UPDATE (2:58 p.m.): I just got re-settled in up here in the press box. The grounds did a great job of cleaning up the field while I was chowing down on some pizza at Tuscan Pizza in downtown Newburgh.

We're likely about 20-25 minutes from the first pitch of the state championship. Anaconda is taking its infield-outfield warmups as I type. Smith will follow.

UPDATE (3:05 p.m.): I spoke with Smith's Jason Nowicki during the break. Jason was a legion rookie in 2006 when I was in my last year with New Hartford. He was hanging out in the dugout and was sporting a very determined demeanor. The first thing he said to me was, "I'm not finishing second in the state two years in row."

I also found out that Kyle Richardson will be starting on the hill for Smith. Richardson threw six innings in Friday's 9-6 victory over defending state champion Melvin Roads. While he likely won't have his best stuff, Richardson is also very determined to top last year's second-place finish. Richardson can only pitch six innings as per American Legion rules (a pitcher can only throw a maximum of 12 innings in a consecutive three-day stretch).

When I asked Nowicki if Garrett Baker might be able to go if needed, before he could even answer, Baker who was sitting a few people down from Nowicki, said, "No way." Baker was rubbing some pain-relief cream on his arm after picking up the four-out save in today's semifinal game.

Nowicki did say that Smith will likely go with Ryan Kramer as the first reliever, followed by Dustin Colgan.

Starting lineups:
Smith (31-4-1)
1. Kyle Richardson, P
2. Ryan Kramer, SS
3. Nate Mallinder, CF
4. Zack Ciccotti, C
5. Jason Nowicki, LF
6. Joe Melioris, 3B
7. Ryan Marquette, 1B
8. Eli Hendrington, 2B
9. Ryan Cooke, RF
Pitcher: Kyle Richardson, RHP

Anaconda (41-9-1)
1. Aaron Pennings, 3B
2. Billy Nikolski, CF
3. Aaron Sapp, P
4. Bobby McLaughlin, 2B
5. Eddie Shivley, SS
6. Shawn Kennedy, 1B
7. Alex Massaroni, RF
8. Mike Center, LF
9. Mike Fischer, C
Pitcher: Aaron Sapp, RHP

*Anaconda's lineup today looks a bit different today than it did in last night's 4-3 loss to Smith. That's because normal right fielder, and No. 2 hitter, Jordan Pennings is suspended from today's game after being ejected in last night's contest. J. Pennings threw his bat after being called out on strikes to end last night's game. Under American Legion rules, any player who is ejected from a tournament game is automatically ineligible for the rest of the tournament (unless the tournament director decides otherwise).

*As has been the case for the entire tournament, Smith again has the bigger cheering section in this game. In fact, the Smith fans likely outnumber those of Anaconda at least two-to-one (if not three-to-one). And you could tell without even looking in the stands. The Smith fans are loud...really loud!

UPDATE (3:20 p.m.): We'll be underway in just a few minutes as the introductions for each teams have concluded. The American Legion code of sportsmanship will be performed, followed by the National Anthem, and then we'll kick off the state championship game.

*Smith will be the visiting team. And the chants of "Let's go Smith Post" have already started as the Smith fans belted it out on Richardson's walk up to the plate to lead off the game.

Top 1st: Richardson doubled to the gap in right-center to lead off. After failing to get a bunt down in fair territory, Kramer grounded out to Sapp (who checked Richardson back to second) for the first out. Mallinder grounded out 6-3 for the second out (Richardson advanced to third on the play). Ciccotti popped out to the catcher in foul territory for the third out.

Bottom 1st: Pennings got beaned in the shoulder to lead off. Nikolski popped up a bunt right to Richardson for the first out (Pennings just beat Richardson's throw back to first for the double play). A goose just landed in left field and caused a short pause in the game as one of the umpires had to chase it off the field. Sapp grounded into a 6-4 fielder's choice for the second out. McLaughlin was retired on a broken bat fly out to Nowicki in left to end the inning.

Smith 0, Anaconda 0

*If the first inning was any indication of what we can expect in this championship game, we're in for quite the treat. Why? Well, not only did we have a goose roaming around left field, but an aluminum bat broke cleanly in half - those two things don't happen all that often, much less in the same half inning.

Top 2nd: Nowicki singled through the hole on the left side of the infield to lead off. Melioris took the first pitch through the hole on the right side of the infield for another single, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Marquette dropped down a beautiful 1-3 sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third with one out. Hendrington fought off an inside fastball for an RBI single to right, scoring Nowicki from third (runners on the corners, one out). Smith 1, Anaconda 0. Cooke hit an RBI single to right to score Melioris from third. Smith 2, Anaconda 0. Hedrington was cut down by the right fielder, trying to go from first to third, for the second out. Richardson popped out to the shortstop for the third out.

Bottom 2nd: Shivley grounded out 6-3 for the first out. Kennedy grounded out to Melioris at third for the second out. Massaroni bombed a two-out triple to the gap in left-center. Massaroni came on an error as Center's groundball squeaked through the legs of Melioris at third. Smith 2, Anaconda 1. Fischer popped out weakly to Kramer to end the inning.

Smith 2, Anaconda 1

Top 3rd: Kramer struck out on a check swing that was appealed to the first baseman (who said he went) for the first out. Mallinder struck out swinging on a nice offspeed pitch from Sapp for the second out. Ciccotti reached on a bloop single to center that was just out of the reach of the diving second baseman. Nowicki lined a single up the middle (it nearly hit Sapp in the back) into center to put runners on first and second with two outs. Melioris grounded out 4-3 for the third out.

Bottom 3rd: Pennings struck out swinging for the first out. Nikolski reached on an infield single as his hard-hit grounder ricocheted off Richardson and toward Kramer, but Kramer's throw to first was just late. Sapp struck out looking for the second out. Nikolski stole second, but McLaughlin struck out swinging on the next pitch to end the inning.

*The Anaconda fans (who seem to have grown a bit since the game's start) have started a chant of their own. They're doing the well-known Florida State Seminoles and Atlanta Braves war chant. As a Miami Hurricane, you can rest assured that I cannot stand that chant! I don't like it when the Seminoles do it, and therefore I'm not really enjoying it right now.

Smith 2, Anaconda 1

Top 4th: Marquette doubled to right-center to lead off. Hedrington laid down a 3-4 sacrifice bunt, moving Marquette to third with one out. Cooke hit an RBI single (his second of the game) to left, scoring Marquette from third. Smith 3, Anaconda 1. Richardson reached on a bad-hop single that shot past the third baseman, putting runners on first and second with one out. Kramer struck out looking on a full-count fastball that caught the inside corner for the second out. Mallinder grounded out 4-3 for the third out.

Bottom 4th: Shivley roped a single to right on the first pitch to lead off. Kennedy flew out to center for the first out. Massaroni struck out looking for the second out. Center dropped a base-hit into left-center to put runners on first and second with two outs. Fischer flew out to Nowicki just in front of the warning track in left to end the inning.

*Dustin Colgan was throwing in the bullpen for Smith during the last half inning. Ryan Kramer went down to the pen upon returning from the field and is now throwing.

Smith 3, Anaconda 1

Top 5th: Ciccotti grounded out to the third baseman for the first out. Nowicki grounded out 6-3 for the second out. Melioris flew out to center for the third out.

Bottom 5th: Pennings lined out to Hedrington for the first out. Nikolski blooped a single to shallow left field. Sapp flew out to Cooke in right for the second out (runner on first, two outs). McLaughlin reached on a fielding error by Melirois (his second of the game) to put runners on first and second with two outs. Shivley hit a check-swing blooper down the first baseline that Marquette made a nice diving catch on to end the inning.

Smith 3, Anaconda 1

*Reminder: While Richardson is pitching very effectively - he's allowed only four hits and one run (it was unearned) through five - he can only pitch one more inning today as per American Legion pitching rules.

Top 6th: Marquette singled to right to lead off. Hedrington popped up a bunt to Sapp for the first out. Cooke chopped a grounder to the second baseman for the second out (Marquette went to second on the play). Anaconda manager Jim DeMidio just went out to the mound to have a conference with his pitcher and infielders. Richardson hit what looked to be an RBI single up the middle, but McLaughlin made a great diving stop and throw to save a run and end the half inning.

Bottom 6th: Kennedy reached on a double to the left-center field gap on what was nearly a stellar diving catch by Nowicki. Massaroni fought off an inside fastball for an RBI single into center, scoring Kennedy from second. Smith 3, Anaconda 2. Center laid a perfect bunt down the third baseline and beat Melioris' throw to first. Massaroni was hustling the entire play and went all the way from first to third (runners on first and third, no outs). Smith manager Tony Abone Jr. just trotted out to have a talk with his pitcher and infielders. The "Let's go K. Rich" chants have started from the Smith Post cheering section. Fischer laid down a 1-3 sacrifice bunt (it might have even been a safety squeeze), putting runners on second and third with one out and the top of the order coming to the plate. Pennings struck out swinging for the second out. Nikolski ripped a liner to left-center that looked like it might be the third out, but Mallinder slipped on the wet outfield surface and the ball went past him and all the way to the wall for a bases-clearing, two-RBI triple. Anaconda 4, Smith 3. Abone Jr. just came out and relieved Richardson in favor of Garrett Baker. Richardson went to center field, Mallinder moved to left and Nowicki shifted to right. Baker will take Cooke's spot in the batting order. Sapp popped out to Baker to end the inning.

Anaconda 4, Smith 3

Top 7th: Kramer walked on seven pitches to lead off. DeMidio just came out and relieved Sapp in favor of tall right-hander Dave Filak. Shivley will take over at third base, taking Pennings out of the game. Sapp will take Shivley's spot at shortstop. Filak will bat in Pennings' place. Mallinder greeted Filak with a hard-hit groundball single up the middle to put runners on first and second with no outs. Ciccotti hit into a grounder to the third baseman who stepped on third for the first out and then threw to first in an attempt to turn the double play, but his throw was low and skidded past the first baseman, allowing Mallinder to go from first to third and Ciccotti to reach second. A wild pitch from Filak allowed Mallinder to score and tie the game (Ciccotti went to third). Smith 4, Anaconda 4. After a conference on the mound with his coach, Filak threw a second straight wild pitch, bringing Ciccotti home from third and giving the lead back to Smith. Smith 5, Anaconda 4. Nowicki drew a one-out walk. Melioris struck out swinging for the second out. Marquette walked (runners on first and second, two outs). DeMidio pulled Filak and brought in Center (he took the loss in last night's game against Smith). Billy Purtell came in to right field and Massaroni slid over to left. Hedrington grounded into a 6-4 groundout for the third out.

Bottom 7th: McLaughlin grounded out 5-3 for the first out. Baker was moving his throwing arm around in rapid circular motion after that out. He looks pretty tired and is likely going on nothing more than adrenaline and emotion right now. Shivley lined out to Melioris at third for the second out. The "Garrett Baker" chants have started up. Kennedy struck out looking at a backdoor curveball from Baker to end the inning.

Smith 5, Anaconda 4

*Melioris, who threw a complete game in last night's win over Anaconda, just went down to the bullpen.

Top 8th: Baker struck out looking at a filthy curveball from Center for the first out. Richardson walked on five pitches. Kramer grounded into a 6-4 fielder's choice and then advanced to second as the second baseman made an ill-advised errant throw to first that got away from the first baseman. Kramer went to third on passed ball. Mallinder walked to put runners on first and third with two outs. Ciccotti poked an RBI single past the diving third baseman and into left field (runners on first and second, two outs). Smith 6, Anaconda 4. Nowicki smoked the first pitch from Center for down the left field line for a two-RBI double that one-hopped the fence. Smith 8, Anaconda 4. Anaconda left fielder Alex Massaroni is down on the warning track in left field. A rabid Smith Post celebration was cut silent as Massaroni fell to the ground and did not get up after throwing Nowicki's hit back to the infield. Massaroni finally sat up after nearly five minutes with the Anaconda coaches and medical personnel. Massaroni was greeted by all of the Anaconda fielders upon sitting up. The Smith fans showed great sportsmanship, greeting Massaroni with cheers of "Let's go Alex" once he rose to his feet nearly 10 minutes after going down. It appears that Massaroni will stay in the game, moving back to right field (where he started the game). Sapp will replace Center on the mound (he was the original starter for Anaconda). Center went back to left field, Purtell moved to second base, and McLaughlin moved to shortstop. Melioris grounded out 4-3 for the third out of a very long inning.

Bottom 8th: Massaroni (who was down for nearly 10 minutes in the last half inning) ripped a line-drive double down the left field line to lead off. Center reached on a freak single on an inside fastball - the ball tipped off the handle of his bat and into fair territory, and Baker's throw to first, which likely would have been late anyway, hit Center in the back (runners on first and second, no outs). Fischer hit an RBI single to left, scoring Massaroni from second (runners on first and second, no outs). Smith 8, Anaconda 5. Purtell laid down a 1-3 sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third with one out. Nikolski lined out to Hedrington for the second out. Sapp smoked a two-RBI double down the left field line (two-hopped the fence) to put Anaconda within one. Smith 8, Anaconda 7. McLaughlin blooped an RBI single to right to score Sapp from second and tie the game. Anaconda 8, Smith 8. Shivley grounded out 5-3 (Marquette made a nice pick on a low throw to first) to end the inning.

Anaconda 8, Smith 8

Top 9th: Marquette blopped a single to shallow left to lead off. Abone Jr. conferenced with his father, Smith manager Tony Abone Sr. and then decided to bring in Dustin Colgan to pitch run for Marquette. That could very well mean Baker will be moving to first base and Melioris is coming in to pitch in the bottom of the ninth (just a guess though, nothing definite). After two foul bunt attempts (just barely foul), Hedrington grounded out weakly 6-3 for the first out, but Colgan advanced to second. Baker ripped a single through the hole on the left, but it was hit to hard to score Colgan from second (runners on first and third, one out). Richardson got beaned in the back to load the bases for Kramer with one out. Kramer struck out swinging for the second out. Mallinder flew out to center for the third out, stranding the bases loaded.

*Just as I guessed, Melioris has come in to pitch and Baker moved to first base. Colgan will take over in right field and Nowicki is going to third base.

Bottom 9th: Kennedy flew out to left for the first out. Massaroni struck out swinging for the second out. Center hit a line-drive to right that tipped off Colgan glove and all the way to the wall for a two-base error. Fischer blooped a hit to center that was caught over-the-shoulder by Kramer to end the inning and send the state championship game into extra innings.

Anaconda 8, Smith 8

Top 10th: Ciccotti flew out to left for the first out. Nowicki hit a weak groundout to the pitcher off the end of his bat on the first pitch for the second out. Melioris ripped a grounder right back at the pitcher on the first pitch, but Sapp snagged it and threw him out at first for the third out.

*Sapp needed just five pitches to retire the side in the top of the 10th.

Bottom 10th: Purtell flew out to Mallinder in left for the first out. Nikolski grounded out to Baker at first on the first pitch from Melioris for the second out. Sapp flew out to Colgan in right to end the inning.

Anaconda 8, Smith 8

*Melioris threw just nine pitches in the bottom of the 10th.

*The 7-8-9 hitters (Colgan, Hedrington, Baker) are due-up for Smith in the top of the 11th.

Top 11th: Colgan struck out swinging for the first out. Hedrington grounded out to first on the first pitch from Sapp for the second out. Baker flew out to center for the third out.

*Anaconda has its 4-5-6 batters (McLaughlin, Shivley, Kennedy) due-up in the bottom of the 11th.

*This is the last inning Melioris can throw today after throwing nine innings last night (the American Legion pitching rule only allows a pitcher to throw only 12 innings in a three-day span).

Bottom 11th: McLaughlin poked a leadoff double that hit the line in right field. Melioris intentionally walked Shivley to set up the double play (runners on first and second with no outs). Kennedy dropped a 1-3 sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third with one out. The state championship winning run is just 90 feet away for Anaconda. Melioris intentionally walked Massaroni to load the bases with one out. Center hit a sacrifice fly to Mallinder and the left fielder's throw home was just a split second late, allowing McLaughlin to score the game-winning run.

FINAL: Anaconda 9, Smith 8 (11 innings)

*Anaconda is the 2008 American Legion New York State champions

*Check back later tonight as I'll post a new blog with the aftermath of today's state championship. I'll talk to several Smith players and share their thoughts with you guys. I'll always include my own thoughts on Smith's season.