The Tri-Valley League East leading Whitesboro Warriors (5-4, 10-5) baseball team entertained the New Hartford Spartans (4-6, 5-9) today in Whitesboro. The Warriors were not only seeking revenge from the 13-8 loss at the hands of the Spartans two weeks ago, but were also looking to increase their TVL East Division lead to two games over the Spartans, Holland Patent and Notre Dame.
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Head Coach Bill DeCoursey sent senior ace MJ Hajec out to the mound to face New Hartford junior Ben Zalewski.
After a flawless top half of the first by Hajec, Whitesboro erupted for 4 runs in the home half of the first to take a 4-0 lead after one.
Dan Russo, Mike Sullivan, Connor Passalaqua and Ryan Watson all scored for Whitesboro to give the home team a big first inning lead.
Hajec continued his dominance of the Spartans for the second and third innings, facing just 9 adversaries in his first three innings pitched to send his team to the bottom half of the third with a 4-0 lead.
(Whitesboro's MJ Hajec (5) shows perfect form early in the ball game.)
Whitesboro made it 5-0 in the home half of the third when Connor Passalaqua reached on an infield error and was later driven in on a long double by Ryan Watson.
New Hartford showed why TVL baseball is TVL baseball in the top of the fourth when Bernie Turi singled, followed by consecutive walks to Nick DeCrisi and Joe Carcone to load the bases.
A 9 pitch at bat by Joe Betar which resulted in a bases loaded walk to score Turi to pull New Hartford within 5-1.
Following a strikeout by Chris Faro, Anthony Acevedo grounded to third to score Betar to make it 5-2.
(New Hartford's Anthony Acevedo (6) dives back into second base as Whitesboro shortstop Mike Sullivan (7) looks for the throw from centerfield. )
Consecutive RBI singles by Tim Whalen and Sean Hadity brought New Hartford within 5-4 with just one out. Mike Sezniak then stepped in and drove a single just over the infield to score Hadity, tying the score at 5-5, which is the way the fourth inning would come to an end.
The bottom of the fourth saw the Warriors respond with patience and fortitude against the visiting Spartans. Dan Russo reached on a leadoff walk, followed by by Mike Sullivan reaching on an infield error.
A walk to Brendan Heitz loaded the bases with Warriors and chased Ben Zalewski from the mound in favor of reliever Nick DeCrisi.
A sacrifice fly from Dylan Gorski scored Russo to make it 6-5 Whitesboro and after a strikeout by Connor Passalaqua, Ryan Watson's chopper to third was mishandled by Bernie Turi, allowing Sullivan and Heitz to score to make it 8-5, which is the way the fourth inning would end.
(New Hartford's Chris Faro (23) lunges at first base as Whitesboro's Ryan Watson (11) scoops up the throw from short for the 4th inning out.)
Hajec returned to the mound in the top half of the 5th and held the Spartans scoreless.
The Warriors tacked on their 9th run in the bottom of the 5th when Dave Abdoo drew a leadoff walk and was later driven in on a fielder's choice RBI off the bat of Mike Sullivan.
Hajec cruised again in the top of the 6th facing just 4 Spartans hitters and getting three routine ground ball outs.
Alec Brindisi tallied Whitesboro's 10th run of the game in the bottom of the 6th after reaching base on an infield error and was then driven in on an RBI triple by Dave Abdoo.
The Spartans reminded everyone in attendance that this was New Hartford against Whitesboro in the top half of the seventh, and that neither team ever quits until the final out, play or whistle sounds.
(New Hartford's Ben Zalewski (17) delivers a second inning pitch.)
After reliever Mike Ryan got Bernie Turi on strikes for the first out, Nick DeCrisi doubled and Joe Carcone singled him in to make it 10-6.
A walk to Joe Betar, followed by a fielder's choice ground ball off the bat of Chris Faro made it 10-7,
with one out. A single by Anthony Acevedo scored Carcone to make it 10-8.
After another single by Tim Whalen to load the bases, Sean Hadity grounded to third to end the Spartans threat and the game.
MJ Hajec picked up the tough win for the Warriors (6-4, 11-5) scattering 5 runs on 5 hits, striking out 7 and walking 3 in the winning effort. Ben Zalewski suffered the loss for New Hartford, which drops to (4-7, 5-10) on the season.
(Whitesboro catcher Dylan Gorski (10) puts the tag on New Hartford's Joe Carcone (11) on a key out at home.)
Dave Abdoo paced the Warriors at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a single, a triple, two runs scored and two RBI's.
Connor Passalaqua continued his fine season at the plate going 2 for 3, with 2 RBI's, a stolen base and a run scored as well. New Hartford's Joe Carcone who was 3 for 3 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI.
WHITESBORO 10 NEW HARTFORD 8
Box Score
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
New Hartford 0 0 0 5 0 0 3 8 9 6
Whitesboro 4 0 1 3 1 1 x 10 6 1
