Lashmet Lifts Eagles

July 16, 2010

GLENS FALLS -- Chris Lashmet went into Friday night's game with a .217 batting average.

He came out as a hero.

Lashmet, a first baseman who was first-team All-Big 10 at Northwestern this season, drove the ball to the left-center fence for a double with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to give Glens Falls a 3-2 victory over Mohawk Valley at East Field.

"That was a big win for us, and that was a huge hit for Chris," said coach John Mayotte, whose team has produced 34 hits in winning its first three games of the second half of the New York Collegiate Baseball League season. "He has been struggling, and I was very happy for him."

A.J. Howard, 2-4, got the win, allowing one hit and striking out three in three innings of relief. Starter Kyle Sumple pitched a solid game as well, allowing six runs and striking out seven in eight innings.

With two outs in the 11th, David Olson singled and Ryan Retz walked. That brought up Lashmet, who delivered a game-winning double that looked for a moment as though it would clear the fence.

"I've been a little bit anxious, so I was just looking for a single," Lashmet said. "Sometimes good things happen when you do that."

After his victory, Howard had words of praise for both Lashmet and Sumple.

"That was clutch from Chris," said Howard, who usually only gets one or two innings per appearance at Troy (Ala.) University. "He has been having a tough time at the plate, but he's the guy we expect will make something happen. If anyone deserves it, he does."

Howard said that while he was happy to get the win, he was really impressed with Sumple. "He pitched his tail off," Howard said of the starter. "I hate for him not to win."

Glens Falls, which had lost three straight before the break, is 15-14 and has played itself back into playoff contention. Mohawk Valley is 13-16 and hosts the Golden Eagles at 7 p.m. Saturday.

"We had been struggling before the all-star break, and we knew we needed to get off to a good start to get into the playoffs," Lashmet said.

Glens Falls saw two players go out with injuries during the game. Albert Alvarez, just back from an injury, appeared to re-injure himself when he hit an RBI single in the second. Catcher Jeff Melillo, who had doubled earlier in the game, had to come out with an apparent knee injury after grounding out in the 10th.

The Eagles fell behind in the top of the first when Kyle Richardson, who was hitting .400 going into the game, reached on a bunt single and later scored on a passed ball. Payden Yarmer scored for the Diamond Dawgs in the fourth, reaching on a single and later coming home on a sacrifice fly by Shawn Saverio.

In between, the Golden Eagles had taken a 2-1 in the second. Retz was hit by a pitch, Lashmet walked and the runners advanced on Melillo's groundout.

Arthur Owens drove Retz home with a single. Lashmet scored on the Alvarez single. Owens singled in his first three at-bats. Keenan Maddox had a single and a double and now has eight hits in three games.

Eagles owner Darin Williams presented a check for $1,141.31 collected through donations and auctions during the game to Jackie Roberts for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life.

Glens Falls plays Albany twice Sunday.

The first game is at Bleecker Stadium at 1 p.m., then the teams travel to East Field for a 7 p.m.

The Golden Eagles posted a 17-8 victory at Albany Thursday, one night after beating Cooperstown, 7-3, to open the second half of the season.