Game 3 Final: Smith 18, NH 1 (7 inn.)

A third-and-deciding Game 3 will be played to decide who advances on to the New York State championship tournament in Newburgh.

Smith evened the series at 1-1 with a 12-2 (7 inning, mercy rule) victory in Game 2. New Hartford won Game 1 9-8 in 10 innings on Friday night.

I've just learned that this game will start at 3:45 p.m. So check back then to follow the action.

*Smith will use the exact same line up that it used in Game 2, including the pitcher. Garrett Baker will start Game 3 after throwing 93 pitches in today's first game. He will only be allowed to throw a maximum of five innings as per American Legion rules. Baker entered today on just three days rest after throwing nine innings on Wednesday.

*Chandler Evans will start on the hill for New Hartford. He is on nearly two weeks rest, not having thrown since the first game of the Oneida County playoffs back on Monday, July 21.

Starting lineups:
Smith (26-3-1)
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 (21-10)
1. Erik Sheridan, LF
2. Joe Carcone, 2B
3. Mike Matt, CF
4. Eric Verbickas, 1B
5. Joe Desens, DH
6. Dan Nelson, 3B
7. Pat Calli, RF
8. Mike Doyle, C
9. Joe Betar, SS
Pitcher: Chandler Evans, RHP

*Smith will be the home team for the second straight game after winning the coin toss.

Top 1st: Sheridan flew out to left for the first out. Carcone ripped a one-out double to the gap in left-center. Matt struck out looking for the second out. Carcone went to third on a passed ball that scooted away from Ciccotti. Carcone scored on the next pitch on a wild pitch from Baker. NH 1, Smith 0. Verbickas grounded out 4-3 for the third out.

Bottom 1st: Richardson flew out to center for the first out. Kramer grounded out 5-3 for the second out. Mallinder reached on an infield single up the middle. Mallinder went from first to third on a two-base throwing error by Evans on a pickoff attempt. Nowicki hit an RBI single up the middle to tie the game. Smith 1, NH 1. Ciccotti singled to left to put runners on first and second with two outs. DeBlasiis walked to load the bases. Evans threw a wild pitch over the head of Doyle, allowing Nowicki to score and Smith to take the lead (runners on second and third, two outs). Smith 2, NH 1. Evans threw another wild pitch over Doyle's head to let Smith score again. Smith 3, NH 1. Marquette struck out swinging to end the inning, stranding DeBlasiis at third.

*Smith has continued its hot two-out scoring streak. After scoring its first seven runs of Game 2 with two outs, Smith has scored its first three of this game with two down. Smith has scored 10 of its 15 runs today with two outs.

Smith 3, New Hartford 1

Top 2nd: Desens grounded out to Nowicki at third for the first out. Nelson struck out swinging at a change up for the second out. Calli struck out looking at a nasty backdoor curveball for the third out.

*Baker has thrown 25 pitches through two innings, bringing his full day total to 118.

Bottom 2nd: Hendrington reached on a weak chopper for an infield single down the third baseline. Cooke laid down a sacrifice bunt for the first out, moving Hendrington to second. Richardson reached on an infield single as Betar's attempt to tag Hendrington running to third was unsuccessful and then his throw to first was late. Hendrington scored on a throwing error as Betar's late throw to Verbickas was late. Smith 4, NH 1. Kramer singled to left to put runners on first and second with one out. Mallinder ripped a single past a diving Nelson to load the bases. Nowicki bombed the first pitch he saw off the wall in left-center field for a three-RBI, bases-clearing double. Smith 7, NH 1. Ciccotti popped out to Doyle in foul territory for the second out. DeBlasiis hit an infield single that was knocked down in the middle of the infield by Carcone to keep Nowicki from scoring (runners on first and third, two outs). Marquette popped out to Betar to end the inning.

Smith 7, New Hartford 1

*Smith changes: Baker has been relieved on the mound by Richardson. Mallinder took Richardson's place in center. Ryan Cooke went from right field to left field. Baker shifted to right field.

Top 3rd: Doyle flew out to center for the first out. Betar grounded out to short on a nice play by Kramer for the second out. Sheridan flew out to right for the third out.

*Richardson needed only seven pitches to retire the side in his first inning on the hill.

Bottom 3rd: Hendrington lined a single to left to lead off. New Hartford manager John Randall came out to relieve Evans in favor of Nelson. Desens took Nelson's spot at third, moving there from DH. Cooke grounded out to first on a nice diving stop by Verbickas for the first out. Hendrington went to second on the play. Richardson struck out swinging for the second out. Kramer grounded out 4-3 to end the inning.

Smith 7, New Hartford 1

*Smith's hot hitting from Game 2 has carried over into this one as it already has 10 hits in just three innings. After ripping New Hartford pitching for 18 hits in today's first game, Smith now has 28 hits in 10 innings.

Top 4th: Carcone grounded out to Richardson for the first out. Matt reached on an infield single in the hole toward third as Kramer's throw to first wasn't fast enough to get the speedy Matt. Ciccotti hosed Matt on a steal attempt for the second out. Verbickas blooped a single to shallow center field to give New Hartford a two-out base runner. Desens hit a high chopper to Hendrington and the second baseman made a strong throw to first just before Desens could touch the base for the third out.

Bottom 4th: Mallinder hit a triple to the gap in right-center to lead off. Nowicki ripped an RBI double down the left field line (his third hit and fifth RBI of the game). Smith 8, NH 1. Ciccotti hit an RBI double to the gap in right-center. Smith 9, NH 1. Baker (batting for DeBlasiis) walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. Marquette singled to right to load the bases with no out. Hendrington struck out looking for the first out. Cooke picked up an RBI with a walk to keep the bases loaded. Smith 10, NH 1. Richardson poked an RBI single to center. Smith 11, NH 1. Matt threw Marquette out at the plate for the second out as he tried scoring from second on Richardson's single. Cooke went to third on the throw home (runners on first and third, two outs). Kramer hit an RBI single to left to score Cooke (runners on first and second, two outs). Smith 12, NH 1. Mallinder walked to load the bases. Richardson scored on a wild pitch from Nelson that went behind the batter. Smith 13, NH 1. Kramer went to third and Mallinder advanced to second on the wild pitch. Nowicki flew out to center to end the inning.

Smith 13, New Hartford 1

*The offensive explosion for Smith continues...The Romans ripped off six hits in the fourth and now has 34 hits in 11 total innings today.

Top 5th: Nelson blooped a single to right-center to lead off. Calli struck out swinging for the first out. Doyle singled to left to put runners on first and second with one out. Betar flew out to Baker down the right field line. Sheridan struck out looking for the third out.

*Mike Bower has come in to pitch for New Hartford. Nelson moved back to third base and Desens is now out of the game (Bower will take his spot in the batting order).

Bottom 5th: Ciccotti drew a leadoff walk. Baker walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. Bower walked a third straight batter, Marquette, to load the bases with no outs. Hendrington hit an RBI single to center to keep the bases loaded. Smith 14, NH 1. Cooke picked up an RBI on a 6-4 fielder's choice (runners on the corners, one out). Smith 15, NH 1. Richardson bombed a three-run homerun over the fence in left. Smith 18, NH 1. Kramer singled up the middle on a lined shot that Bower just got out of the way of. Mallinder popped out to Calli in right for the second out. Nowicki singled up the middle to put runners on first and second with two outs. Matt Wanner has come on to bat for Ciccotti. Wanner popped out to Betar to end the inning.

*Richardson's three-run shot was his second homerun of the day. He hit a two-run homer to almost the exact same spot in Game 2 of the series.

*Smith now has 38 hits in 12 innings today. Smith has at least one hit in every inning.

Smith 18, New Hartford 1

*Dustin Colgan has come in to pitch for Smith. Richardson is now out of the game. Ryan Grogg has come in to the game at center field and Mallinder moved back to left field.

Top 6th: Carcone walked to lead off. Matt hit a hot-shot infield single at Nowicki that the third baseman knocked down, but couldn't relay to first in time. Verbickas walked to load the bases with no outs. Bower struck out swinging for the first out. Nelson grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning and the threat.

Bottom 6th: Baker ripped a single to left-center to lead off. Marquette struck out looking for the first out. New Hartford manager John Randall just made a bunch of changes (to have some of his final-year players recognized by the fans). Hendrington lined out to Carcone who made a great leaping grab and then threw to first to double off Baker who was caught off the bag to end the inning.

Smith 18, New Hartford 1

*New Hartford will have to score at least seven runs to avoid the seven-inning, 10-run mercy rule.

Top 7th: Kris Kallay (in for Calli) walked to lead off. Doyle struck out swinging for the first out. Kallay went to second on a wild pitch from Colgan. Betar walked to put runners on first and second with one out. Sheridan walked to load the bases. Carcone struck out swinging for the second out. Tyler Porter (in for Matt) grounded out to Kramer to end the game.

FINAL: Smith 18, New Hartford 1 (7 innings)