JUNE 29, 2004
Eagles’ streak ended
Glens Falls comes up a run short in strange game at East Field
By MICHAEL LEWIS

ERIN R. COKER - THE POST STAR David Williams of the Glens Falls Golden Eagles and Plattsburgh second baseman Ryan Ghiandi watch the throw to first base after Williams is forced out at second base during Tuesday’s game.

GLENS FALLS -- They were down one umpire Tuesday night at East Field.

By the end of the game, the teams were two head coaches short as well.

In one of the stranger games of the New York Collegiate Baseball League season, the Glens Falls Golden Eagles and Plattsburgh Thunder lost their tempers several times each, before the Thunder pulled out a 5-4 win.

The loss, before the Eagles' largest crowd of the season, snapped a nine-game winning streak for Glens Falls (19-4).

The trouble began Tuesday night when umpire George Cox had a family emergency and could not make it to the ballpark, leaving David Sherman to call balls and strikes and make judgements on plays in the field.

Eagles head coach John Mayotte, who said he's never been involved in a game with just one umpire, said he and Plattsburgh coach Julio Vega suggested to Sherman not playing Tuesday night.

"But he told us the league rules say we have to play, so we played," Mayotte said.

With just Sherman making the calls, it seemed inevitable controversy would occur. In the bottom of the third, Eagles runner Brad Beatty appeared to be caught stealing by Plattsburgh catcher Ryan Price, but Beatty was called safe.

That enraged Vega, and he was ejected after a lengthy argument with Sherman.

Then, in the bottom of the eighth and the Eagles trailing, 5-4, center fielder Terry Blunt walked with one out.

Blunt tried to steal and was called safe by Sherman. The Thunder infielders all jumped up and screamed to the umpire that Blunt's hand had come off the bag. After approximately 10 seconds, Sherman reversed his call, stunning Blunt and Mayotte.

"I don't know, I know my hand slipped but I got it back on there," Blunt said. "It was just ... I've never seen that before."

"How can you call something you don't see?" Mayotte said. "You're 120 feet away from the play, you call the guy safe, and then you say his hand was off? I don't understand how you can change a call like that from so far away."

In truth, Glens Falls might have lost even without the controversial call. Ace pitcher Brett Zamzow, who'd won all five previous decisions this year, didn't have his best stuff Tuesday. Zamzow allowed four runs in five innings, uncharacteristically walking four batters as well.

Zamzow's worst inning was the fourth when Plattsburgh (11-9) loaded the bases on two walks and a single. The Thunder's Brett Spivy then slapped a two-run single into left, tying the game at three. Plattsburgh's Ryan Ghiandi then beat out a potential double-play grounder that scored the go-ahead run.

With the game tied at 4 in the top of the eighth, the Eagles made an unusual miscue for them. With Ryan Mitchell on third and one out, Glens Falls catcher Aaron Hepner let a Randy Cornejo breaking ball get past him, allowing Mitchell to score the eventual game-winning run.

"Just one of those things that happens; our catchers have been outstanding all year," Mayotte said. "We had our chances."

Ryan Basham had three hits for Glens Falls in the loss.

The Golden Eagles return to action tonight against the Saratoga Phillies tonight at 7 p.m. at East Field. The Eagles have won the first three meetings between the teams.

Tonight is also the last night fans can vote for the first class of the Glens Falls Area Baseball Hall of Fame.