GLENS FALLS - Given the fact that both the Saratoga Phillies and
Glens Falls Golden Eagles had waited so many days to actually play a
baseball game, neither squad was terribly disappointed with a split.
The Eagles took the first game of a doubleheader Sunday, winning
5-2. The Phillies turned the tables in the second game, winning 3-2
in a game where a controversial play at the plate generated a lot of
discussion.
In the opener, the Eagles' Justin Zumwalde hit a line-drive solo
home run to left-center field in the second. Gary DerHagopian scored
the first of his two runs on a passed ball in the third to make it
2-0.
Glens Falls then erupted for three in the fifth, with Kevin Berry
and Anthony Giansanti collecting RBI doubles and Rodarrick Jones'
fielder's choice scoring Giansanti.
Tony Dischler earned the win.
In the second game, Saratoga scored its first run in the first when
Andrew Dimino scored from third when the Eagles threw to second to
try to nab Miles Silverstein stealing from first.
"I'd gladly do that every day of the week," Eagles
coach John Mayotte said. "One run early shouldn't hurt
you."
Saratoga (6-9) made it 3-0 in the fourth. Luke Padgett -- a Virginia
Tech player who just made the drive from Virginia to Saratoga on
Friday -- hit a solo home run to the deepest part of center field.
"We had no idea (about Padgett's skills). It was a pleasant
surprise," Phillies coach Greg Zackrison said. "I'll have
to move him up in the lineup."
Later that inning, Silverstein added an RBI single to center field
on a play where the Eagles avoided two runs scoring by throwing out
another runner at the plate.
Little did Glens Falls (10-4) know the Phillies would return the
favor.
In the bottom of the sixth, Jones doubled down the left field line
with one out. He then stole third on a swinging strike for the
second out. Zumwalde walked and, after a pitching change, Eric
Phillips was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kevin Berry then hit
a slicing double in right field that easily scored Jones and
Zumwalde, but the throw home just caught a diving Phillips, who
stuck his left hand on the plate seemingly at the moment of the tag.
"We thought he was safe," Mayotte said. "I was
following it all the way from the third-base line and I didn't think
(the catcher) ever got him in time, but that's the umpire's call. It
was a heartbreaker. That's the tying run."
The Eagles threatened in the seventh. Nate Valdez led off with a
walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Nick Schrock. With one out,
pinch-hitter Chris Lashmet singled to center.
Later, with two outs, both advanced on a passed ball and Jones
walked to load the bases. Reliever Brad Jesernig struck out Sean
Lamont to end the game.
Glens Falls moved to 10-4, and will be two games ahead of either
Amsterdam or Watertown, who played later Sunday and were tied for
second, in the East Division.
Still, with a lot of baseball left in the New York Collegiate
Baseball League season, Mayotte's not concerned with that -- just
the fundamentals.
"Our offense has been sporadic," Mayotte said. "Those
peaks and valleys are expected, but our pitching and defense has
been there."
First Game
Saratoga 000 001 1 -- 2 7 0
Glens Falls 011 030 x -- 5 5 0
WP -- Dischler. LP -- Zecchino. 2B -- Dimino (S), Berry (GF),
Giansanti (GF). HR -- Zumwalde (GF).
Second Game
Saratoga (6-9) 100 200 0 -- 3 8 0
Glens Falls (10-4) 000 002 0 -- 2 5 1
WP -- Stilphen. LP -- Kraham. 2B -- Jones (GF), Berry (GF). HR --
Padgett (S); Attendance: 638.