GLENS FALLS Typically, Justin Zumwalde’s broken bats are
nothing more than another item to pick up and put away at the end of
a game. But with a stadium full of area schoolchildren, that broken
piece of wood became a hot commodity around East Field.
Students of all ages packed into the stadium Tuesday morning for the
Glens Falls Golden Eagles Reading Program Day, sponsored by the
Southern Adirondack Tobacco Free Coalition.
In between getting hats, T-shirts and even a their foreheads signed,
the young fans got to see the Eagles walk away with a 7-2 win over
the Albany Dutchmen.
"It’s fun to hear them scream," Zumwalde said.
"It’s a great environment. To have anyone in the stands is
fun. It was just nice because they’re louder."
The youngsters didn’t have to wait too long to see their first
run of the day. Zumwalde’s RBI single scored Pepito Moreno from
second base in the first inning. Squeals and cheers rained down on
the shortstop from Pima Community College as he made his way home.
"This was my first time playing in front of kids," Moreno
said. "It was fun. They love the game like me."
Sloppy play from the Dutchmen, six errors in all, led to a pair
of runs in the fourth and sixth inning and excellent field position
for most of the game.
Siena catcher Gary DerHagopian finished with two RBIs, including an
RBI double in the sixth inning. Moreno added two hits and one run
scored, while Zumwalde went 2-for-4 with two singles, an RBI and a
run scored to the delight of the 910 in attendance.
"I thought we put the ball in play, which was good,"
Zumwalde said. "That caused them (to commit) six errors.
That’s key. Coach said earlier in the season, ‘There are no bad
hops in the air.’ So we just hit in the ground and let them throw
it."
Left-hander Chase Richards quickly cooled the Dutchmen bats, who
didn’t get their first hit (a Stewart Park single), until the
third inning. Richards struck out five batters and allowed two runs
and six hits.
Albany’s biggest threat came in the fifth inning after two
straight singles put runners on first and second. Park’s single
drove in Sean Munley for the Dutchmen’s first run of the game.
Richards and the Eagles were able to get out of the jam when Jordan
Lurie hit into a double play to retire the side.
The Eagles were without head coach John Mayotte, who was absent due
to a death in the family.
With so many kids around the field, it wasn’t hard for players
to remember the days when they were the ones running after foul
balls in the stadium.
"I used to run around in the outfield grass for Triple-A games
(with the Tucson Sidewinders)," Zumwalde said. "I just
remember having fun, people jumping onto the field and getting
balls. It’s a great environment around here for them. They can see
us, we’re not big leaguers playing for money. We are playing hard
out here, we go to school and set a good example."
GLENS FALLS ALBANY
ab r h rbi ab r h rbi
Moreno, ss 3 1 2 1 Lurie, ss 4 0 0 1
Giansanti, cf 4 1 0 0 Jimenez, cf 4 0 0 0
Jones, lf 2 1 1 1 Davis, lf 3 0 0 0
Lamont, 3b 4 1 1 0 Jomes. lf 1 0 0 0
Zumwalde, rf 4 1 2 1 Gibbs, dh 3 0 0 0
Phillips, 1b 3 1 0 0 Munley, 1b 3 1 1 0
Lashmet, dh 1 1 0 0 Mallory, 1b 1 0 0 0
DerHagopian, c 3 0 2 2 Deveney, rf 3 1 1 0
Berry, 2b 2 0 0 0 Gee, 3b 3 0 1 0
Valdez, 2b 2 0 0 0 Swift, c 4 0 1 0
Park, 2b 2 0 1 1
McCall, 3b 1 0 0 0
Totals 28 7 7 5 Totals 32 2 6 2
Albany 000 020 000 — 2
Glens Falls (8-3) 100 212 01x — 7
E — Park, Gee, Munley (2), Swift, Chase, Braun, Lamont. DP —
more copy. LOB — Glens Falls 7, Albany 5. 2B — DerHagopian. SB
— Giansanti, Lamont, Zumwalde. SAC — Jones. CS — Jones (2).
IP H R ER BB SO
Albany
Jacobs 6 1/3 7 6 4 2 4
Braun 2/3 0 0 0 0 0
Swanson 2 1 1 1 1 2
Glens Falls
Richards 7 6 2 2 2 5
Brown 2 0 0 0 0 1
HPB — By Swanson (Jones, Phillips). PB — Swift.
T — 2:00.