GLENS FALLS --- The Saratoga Phillies scored 10 runs on 13 hits and moved toward their goal of making the New York Collegiate Baseball League playoffs with a 10-3 win over the Glens Falls Golden Eagles on Wednesday at East Field.

The win improved the Phillies' record to 15-21, putting them within six games of a playoff spot. The top two teams in each division (East and West) automatically qualify for the playoffs. The Phillies are seven games behind Amsterdam, the first place team in the East Division.

The Eagles, however, who made the playoffs last season, fell to 12-23.

The Phillies have nine games left on their schedule, including a home game against the Eagles tonight at East Side Rec at 7 p.m.

Saratoga coach John Fitzgerald said the idea of making the playoffs is feasible.

"If we got any life left in us (it is)," Fitzgerald said. "We would have to play like this every night. We have to put pressure on the teams ahead of us. We have to build off a win because before, we've been too inconsistent."

Phillies' clean-up hitter Adam Cronk had three hits with four RBIs to lead Saratoga. Kendall Horner also hit well for Saratoga, going 3-for-5 with a run scored and two RBIs.

"He was in a funk for a week," Fitzgerald said of Cronk. "But he's a good hitter."

Cronk and Horner weren't the only ones hitting well. Nick Valdez, the designated hitter for the Eagles, who normally plays catcher, went 4-for-4 with a single, a double and a solo home run. Valdez had almost half the Eagles' 10 hits.

"He's worked hard on his hitting," said Glens Falls coach John Mayotte of Valdez. "He's probably our best hitter right now."

Neither team's starting pitching was impressive Wednesday. Erik Forestiere, the starting pitcher for Saratoga, did get himself out of two bases-loaded situations ,though. With two outs in the bottom of the second inning, Forestiere forced a ground-out and in the bottom of the fourth, again with two outs, Forestiere caught Dan Hughes looking for the strikeout.

"Just one big hit could have made a big difference (in the game)," Mayotte said.

The Eagles finished 31-10 last season and now have won almost as many games as they lost last year.

"Every year is different," Mayotte said. "Summer leagues are unique. My focus is to make the kids better, make them better players."

The win was the Phillies' fourth over the Eagles this season.





SARATOGA GLENS FALLS

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Corvino lf 5 1 3 1 Saltzgaber ss 4 0 0 0

Matesich ss 5 2 1 2 Groff 3b 5 1 2 0

Merrell rf 6 2 2 0 Clausen cf 4 0 1 0

Cronk dh 5 0 3 4 Hughes lf 5 1 1 0

Greiner c 4 1 0 1 Valdez dh 4 1 4 1

Kliman 1b 5 0 0 0 Valdez c 2 0 2 0

Whitmann 3b 3 1 1 0 Ferguson 1b 5 0 1 1

Horner 2b 5 2 3 2 Clark rf 4 0 0 0

Smith cf 4 1 1 1 Burt c 2 0 1 0

Totals 42 10 14 11 Totals 35 3 10 2

Saratoga 203 120 101 -- 10

Glens Falls 002 010 000 -- 3

E -- Dechristofano, Whitmann, Saltzgaber. LOB -- Saratoga 11, Glens Falls 10. 2B -- Merrell, Cronk, Corvino, Valdez. 3B -- Merrell, Horner. HR -- Valdez.

IP H R ER BB SO

Saratoga

Forestiere, W 5 7 3 2 3 4

Sudduth 3 3 0 0 0 4

Howard, S 1 0 0 0 0 1

Glens Falls

DeChristofano, L 5 9 10 8 3 4

Walker 4 3 2 1 0 1

HPB -- by Forestiere (Burt, Clark), by Sudduth (Saltzgaber); by DeChristofano (Matesich, Greiner). PB -- Greiner. T -- 2:40. A -- 150 (est).