A few things to keep an eye on tonight:
*New Hartford catcher Mike Doyle is playing with a badly bruised bicep (he was hit by a foul tip in Wednesday's game against Sackets Harbor). Doyle missed last night's game and was a last second decision (and when I say last second, I mean last second - the eight-hole in the batting lineup was left blank with only the No. 2 catcher's position filled in until five minutes before the game). The injury is to his throwing arm and has made it hard for the New Hartford High School quarterback to throw with his normal velocity. That will be something to watch as Smith can run and will run (i.e. Kyle Richardson and Ryan Kramer).
*Joe Melioris is on the hill for Smith. In 15 innings against New Hartford this season, Melioris has allowed no runs and no hits. It will be interesting to see if New Hartford can find a way to scratch a run across tonight after 29 scoreless innings against Smith this year.
*Alex Giovannone is pitching for New Hartford. He faced Smith in the team's first match-up this season and allowed no runs over eight innings in a no decision. Giovannone probably has more big-game experience than anyone else involved in tonight's game having pitched (and won) in both a New York State tournament and Mid-Atlantic Regional in his American Legion career.
*This really doesn't matter, but it's interesting - tonight's home plate umpire, Ron Starzciak, is the same umpire who was behind the plate for New Hartford and Smith's 15 inning marathon game earlier this season. The starting pitcher match-up for that game was Melioris vs. Giovannone.
New Hartford is sporting its navy blue jerseys with red trim, and Smith is wearing its white uniforms with navy blue pinstripes. New Hartford will be the home team after winning a coin toss in the coach-umpire meeting prior to the game.
Starting lineups:
New Hartford (20-9)
1. Erik Sheridan, LF
2. Joe Carcone, 2B
3. Mike Matt, CF
4. Eric Verbickas, 1B
5. Joe Desens, RF
6. Dan Nelson, 3B
7. Pat Calli, DH
8. Mike Doyle, C
9. Joe Betar, SS
Pitcher: Alex Giovannone, LHP
Smith (25-2-1)
1. Kyle Richardson, CF
2. Ryan Kramer, SS
3. Nate Mallinder, LF
4. Jason Nowicki, RF
5. Zack Ciccotti
6. Ryan Cooke, DH
7. Ryan Marquette, 1B
8. Eli Hedrington, 3B
9. Mike Stevens, 2B
Pitcher: Joe Melioris, RHP
Top 1st: Richardson struck out swinging for the first out. Kramer flew out to center for the second out. Mallinder reached on an error by Betar at short as he bobbled the grounder and then couldn't make the throw in time. Mallinder was picked off 1-3-6 on a 2-2 count to Nowicki for the third out.
Bottom 1st: Sheridan struck out swinging on three pitches for the first out. Carcone grounded out to Hendrington at third for the second out. Matt drew a two-out walk. Matt stole second, just beating Ciccotti's throw to second on a 1-1 fastball from Melioris. Verbickas flew out to center to end the inning.
New Hartford 0, Smith 0
Top 2nd: Nowicki reached on an infield single on a grounder deep in the hole between short and third. Nowicki advanced to second on an error as Betar's throw to first was high and got over the head of Verbickas. Ciccotti singled up the middle. Nowicki was held at third by manager Tony Abone Jr., but the center fielder (Matt) threw home anyway and his throw got over the head of Doyle, allowing Cicotti to move to second on the throwing error (runners on second and third, no outs). Cooke struck out swinging on the next pitch from Giovannone for the first out. Marquette punched a bloop single into center field for an RBI (runners on first and second, one out). Smith 1, NH 0. Hendrington hit a single to left to load the bases with one out. Stevens popped out to Verbickas for the second out. Richardson ripped a single down the third base line, just out of the reach of Nelson, to plate two more runs for Smith. Smith 3, NH 0. Hendrington raced all the way to third and Richardson went to second on the throw back into the infield. Kramer ripped a one-hop liner to the hole between short and third, but it was snagged by Nelson who threw to first for the third out.
Bottom 2nd: Desens drew a leadoff walk. Nelson ripped a single through the hole into left field (runners on first and second, no outs). After failing to get a bunt down, Calli struck out swinging for the first out. Doyle struck out looking at a 2-2 fastball down the middle for the second out. Betar ripped a single down the third base line for an RBI single, scoring Desens from second (breaking a 30 and 2/3's inning scoreless drought for New Hartford against Smith this season). Smith 3, NH 1. Sheridan poked a linedrive RBI-single to center to score Nelson from second. Smith 3, NH 2. Betar went to third and Sheridan went to second on an error by Richardson as the ball scooted under his glove in center. Carcone grounded out to Stevens at second to end the inning.
Smith 3, New Hartford 2
*We've got a packed house here tonight as all four bleacher sections here at DeLutis Field are pretty full. There are even a bunch of people in lawn chairs scattered behind the outfield fence.
Top 3rd: Mallinder grounded out to short for the first out. Nowicki ripped a single to right-center. Ciccotti grounded out to Nelson on a high chopper behind the pitcher's mound for the second out (Nowicki went to second). Cooke grounded out 4-3 for the third out.
*That half inning was just was the doctor ordered for Giovannone as he needed only nine pitches after throwing 48 through the first two innings.
Bottom 3rd: Matt drew an eight-pitch walk to lead off. Verbickas reached on a bunt single that scooted past a charging Hendrington (runners on first and second, no outs). Desens laid down a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt down the third base line to move the runners to second and third with one out. Nelson bombed a two-RBI double off the left-center field fence on an 0-2 fastball from Melioris to put New Hartford on top (its first lead on Smith all season). NH 4, Smith 3. Calli was beaned to put runners on first and second with one out. Doyle struck out looking for the second time tonight for the second out of the inning. Betar grounded out 6-4 to end the inning.
New Hartford 4, Smith 3
*Melioris is now up to 61 pitches through three innings. He threw 15 in the first, 22 in second, and 24 in the third.
Top 4th: Marquette hit a weak liner to Carcone for the first out. Hendrington hit a one-out single to left. Stevens hit an opposite field single to right to put runners on first and second with one out. Richardson hit a grounder to Nelson who threw to second to start the double play, but Carcone dropped the throw for an error, allowing Stevens to reach second, Richardson to reach first, and Hendrington to score all the way from second. Smith 4, NH 4. Kramer drew a full-count walk to load the bases with one out. Mallinder hit an RBI sac fly to center to put Smith on top (runners on first and second, two out). Smith 5, NH 4. Nowicki popped out to Verbickas to end the inning.
Bottom 4th: Sheridan struck out swinging for the first out. Carcone hit a one-out single past a diving Marquette. Matt drew his third walk of the game to put runners on first and second with one out. Verbickas grounded into a 4-6 fielder's choice for the second out (runners on first and third, two outs). New Hartford tied the game on a double steal. Verbickas broke from first while Melioris was still in his stretch, prompting Melioris to step off and throw to Stevens. Right when Melioris threw to second, Carcone broke for home and Stevens' throw to the plate was late, allowing both runners to reach safely (runner on second, two outs). NH 5, Smith 5. Desens struck out looking at an 0-2 curveball on the next pitch to end the inning.
New Hartford 5, Smith 5
Top 5th: Ciccotti grounded out 5-3 for the first out. Cooke was beaned by Giovannone to give Smith a one-out baserunner. Giovannone had Cooke picked off of first, but he escaped a rundown and reached second safely after Carcone dropped a throw from Verbickas for another NH error. Marquette ripped an RBI single to right-center to score Cooke from second and put Smith ahead. Smith 6, NH 5. Hendrington popped up a bunt to Giovannone for the second out. Stevens flew out to Desens in right for third out.
Bottom 5th: Nelson drew a seven-pitch walk to lead off. Calli popped out weakly to Marquette in foul territory for the first out. Doyle struck out swinging for the second out. Betar hit a grounder right at Hendrington, but a bad hop made the ball bounce off Hendrington's chest and into foul territory down the left field line, allowing Nelson to go all the way to third and Betar to reach on a double (runners on second and third, two outs). Sheridan grounded out 4-3 to end the inning, stranding two runners in scoring position.
*Tonight's game is hardly what most expected as it has proven to much more of an offensive battle than a pitching duel. Smith has nine hits off of Giovannone to New Hartford's seven off of Melioris. It appears that both team's may have to go to the bullpen much earlier than expected as Giovannone's pitch count is at 89 and Melioris is at 98 through five innings.
Smith 6, New Hartford 5
Top 6th: Richardson reached on an error by Betar as a routine groundball ate up the shortstop. Kramer laid down a sac bunt to move Richardson to second with one out. Richardson stole third on a 1-1 pitch to Mallinder. Mallinder grounded out 6-3, but picked up an RBI as Richardson came home from third on the play. Smith 7, NH 5. Nowicki grounded out to short for the third out.
*New Hartford now has six errors, five of which have come from its normally solid middle infielders (Betar has three at shortstop and Carcone has two at second base).
Bottom 6th: Carcone popped out to Hendrington in foul territory for the first out. Matt singled up the middle (he's reached base in all four plate appearances tonight). Verbickas popped out to Hendrington in foul territory for the second out. Desens got beaned in the back to put runners on first and second with two outs. Nelson drew a full-count walk to load the bases (like Matt, Nelson has reached base in all four plate appearances tonight). Smith coach Tony Abone Jr. came out for a short conference on the mound. Calli drew a full-count RBI walk to bring home Matt and keep the bases loaded. Smith 7, NH 6. Doyle flew out to Richardson in center to end the inning, stranding runners at every base.
Smith 7, New Hartford 6
*It will be interesting to see if Melioris returns to the mound for the bottom of the seventh as he's thrown 121 pitches through six innings and Dustin Colgan has been warming up in the Smith bullpen for a couple innings now. New Hartford's Giovannone has thrown 101 pitches.
Top 7th: Ciccotti singled up the middle to lead off. Cooke popped up a bunt that was caught by Doyle who threw to first for a double play as Ciccotti was caught off the bag. Marquette popped up to Betar for the third out.
*Melioris has returned to the mound for Smith. Giovannone needed only 10 pitches in the last half inning and is now at 111 pitches.
Bottom 7th: Betar singled to left to lead off (his third hit of the game). Sheridan laid down a bunt, but it was right back at Melioris who threw to second for the force (runner on first, one out). Sheridan went to second on a pitch that got away from Ciccotti for a passed ball. Carcone hit a hard grounder at Stevens that squeeked through the second baseman's legs for an error, allowing Carcone to reach first safely and Sheridan to score from second to tie the game. NH 7, Smith 7. Matt struck out swinging for the second out and was then called for interference to end the inning as Ciccotti threw to second trying to catch a stealing Carcone.
New Hartford 7, Smith 7
*Every batter in the game, except New Hartford's Doyle, has reached base at least once.
Top 8th: Hendrington drew a four-pitch walk to lead off. Stevens gave himself up with a sacrifice bunt, moving Hendrington to second (runner on second, one out). Richardson grounded out on a chopper to Nelson for the second out. Hedrington went to third on the play. Kramer walked on four-pitches to put runners on the corners with two outs. New Hartford manager John Randall just strolled out to the mound for a meeting with his pitcher and infielders. Mallinder hit the first pitch from Giovannone for an RBI single up the middle to put Smith back on top. Smith 8, NH 7. Nowicki grounded out 5-3 on a nice play by Nelson as he ranged deep to his right and then made an accurate throw to Verbickas to get the third out.
*Dustin Colgan has come to to replace Melioris on the mound.
Bottom 8th: Verbickas walked on four pitches to lead off. Smith manager Tony Abone Sr. just came out to mound to talk with Colgan after his reliever started with six straight balls. Desens walked on four pitches to put runners on first and second with no outs (eight straight balls from Colgan). Smith coach Tony Abone Jr. just came out to the mound to relieve Colgan after only eight pitches (all balls). Nate Mallinder has come on to pitch for Smith. Cooke took Mallinder's spot in left field. Nelson chopped a full-count pitch to Kramer for a 6-3 groundout, moving the runners to second and third with one out. Calli grounded right back to Mallinder for the second out (runners on second and third, two outs). Doyle flew out to Nowicki in right to end the inning, stranding two runners in scoring position.
*New Hartford has now stranded 11 runners in scoring position through eight innings.
Smith 8, New Hartford 7
Top 9th: Ciccotti popped out to Verbickas for the first out. Cooke struck out swinging for the second out. Marquette flew out to center for the third out.
*New Hartford needs to score one run to extend the game and two to win. It has its 9-1-2 hitters due up.
Bottom 9th: Betar ripped a 1-2 fastball to the gap in left-center for a double. Kramer's throw to second was wide for an error, allowing Betar to advance to third (it was a very close play Betar was called safe on a wild slide, just beating the throw from Ciccotti and tag from Hendrington). With the infield drawn in, Sheridan grounded out to Hendrington for the first out. Carcone hit a fly ball single to center to bring home Betar and tie the game. NH 8, Smith 8. The ball was just out of the reach of a diving Richardson who had to run a long way as the outfielders were playing pretty deep to avoid any extra base hits. Richardson was slow to get up after the play and will come out with an apparent injury. Ryan Grogg came in to left field and Cooke slid over to center. Carcone stole second and advanced to third on an error as Ciccotti's throw sailed into center field. The winning run is just 90 feet away for New Hartford. Matt drew an intentional walk (his fourth walk of the game). Verbickas was also intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Desens struck out swinging on a full-count fastball for the second out. Nelson grounded to Hendrington who tagged out Matt trying to get to third to end the inning and send the game into extra innings.
New Hartford 8, Smith 8
*Nelson has come on to pitch in place of Giovannone. Desens went from right field to third base. Calli went from DH to right field.
Top 10th: Hendrington struck out looking for the first out. Stevens grounded out 6-3 for the second out. Grogg struck out swinging at a full-count fastball for the third out.
Bottom 10th: Calli grounded out 6-3 for the first out. Doyle hit a hard grounder that skip off Hendrington's fully extended glove for a double, putting the game-winning run at second with one out. Betar flew out to Grogg in left for the second out. Sheridan hit a grounder at Stevens that looked like it would end the inning, but a bad hop sent the ball sailing over Stevens' head and into right field for a game-winning, RBI single.
FINAL: New Hartford 9, Smith 8 (10 innings)
2 comments:
Carcone's bush league play the past few nights has caught up with him a bit....hard nosed, very good player but needs to get rid of the cheap shots that can and has caused injury...seen him do it all year....just play ball!
Too many pitches, these are young players with promising futures
the coaches need to monitor this better
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