It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that coach Mike Davis and his RFA Black Knights want to make the post-season a successful one. A post-season with a winning streak that can lead them to the Class AA finals. Mission one accomplished, as RFA beat Oswego 10-1.
RFA dealt all aces, sending junior right-hander Brandon Bertrand and his 1.42 earned run average to the hill looking to make the visitors from out by the lake, walk the plank.
Bertrand was dominant, shutting down the Oswego offense to help lead his team to a second round matchup with Auburn on Thursday. The lanky rightie went five strong, striking out 6 and yielding 6 hits while walking just 2. A matchup the Knights should be looking forward to.
(RFA starter Brandon Bertrand delivers in a big way, as Josh Jones looks on.)
After all, it was not too long ago, May 13, that the Romans traveled west to dispose of the Maroon 3-0, with Bertrand tossing a shutout at the home team.
Can the Knights do it again? If they look as focused as they were on a hot mid-summer like afternoon at DeLutis, then the answer is yes. Why else would a team show up to prepare for a game on a sultry day two hours before game time? That's what RFA did today and the hard work paid off.
It paid off with a complete team effort, pitching, good defense, and timely hitting. A receipt for post-season success.
Entering today's new season, RFA looked to put a (6-6) CNYCL National record behind them and improve on their 8-11 overall record as well. With a clean slate, the new season started out with a bang.
The hosts put up two quick runs in the home first to knock the wind out of the blue and white clad Bucs. It didn't hurt that Brandon Betrand struck out two Bucs to start off the day.
(Dante Mezza gets set as the RFA offense rolls at DeLutis.)
Tim Abone got the offense rolling by ripping a double to deep left. Abone was in rhythm at the dish all game long going 3-4, driving in 3 runs and scoring 2, to help push his .379 batting average higher and improve his RBI total to 14 on the season.
The senior leader came around to score Rome's first run when Robbie Waller hit a deep double to left of his own, to make it 1-0 and drive in his 23rd run of the season.
Waller scored on a throwing error to up the lead to 2-0 after one.
Oswego had a chance to make a game of it as they came right at Bertrand in the second inning. Autie Ascenzi slapped a single to left to start things off and centerfielder Mike Brown followed that up with a bloop safety to right to set up a potential big inning.
(Close but no cigar, as RFA baserunner dives in safely.)
Another bloop single by Kevin Carpentier loaded the bases up with Bucs. Up stepped another Carpentier, Rich, who tore in to a Bertrand offering only to see the pitcher snare the hard hit ball and start a momentum changing 1-2-3 double play to end the threat. That play turned the game around for good.
While Bertrand continued to put goose eggs up on the board, out by the B52, his offense had a field day feasting on the offerings of starter Shane Demo, who lasted three innings and gave up all 10 Black Knight runs, while allowing 8 hits. Demo's defense didn't help his cause, committing 5 errors.
After plating two first inning runs, RFA got three more in the home second, banging out five hits in the frame. Here's how it went, Steven Eychner singled to left, Josh Jones singled to deep left, Jason Riggleman drove in a run with a fielder's choice grounder to score Eychner to make it 3-0.
(Tim Abone celebrates with teammates, as he scores against Oswego.)
Tim Abone did it again, driving in Jones and came around to score when Robbie Waller blasted his double. When the dust settled, it was 5-0 Black Knights.
It was time to start up the bus when the Romans put up five big runs in the home third, when RFA sent ten hungry hitters to the plate. Batter number one, Andrew DeBlasiis, singled to start the parade and struck out to end the five run barrage.
In between, Jason Riggleman drove in another run and Tim Abone added two more to his tally. Jeremy Seaton joined the RBI club himself to end the scoring.
It wasn't all about offense for RFA, as senior, third sacker, Dante Mezza flashed some leather to snare a hot shot in the top of the second to cut down Oswego's Autie Ascenti at the plate to keep a Buccaneers' run off the board.
(TJ Reilly applies tag as Dante Mezza thows out Autie Asczenzi at the plate.)
With the big lead, RFA coach Mike Davis was able to pull Brandon Bertrand early and save some innings along the way for his ace.
Steven Eychner came on in relief to close it out and allowed the only Oswego run in the top of the 6th when Auti Ascenzi doubled and then motored home when Chris Pike came in off the bench to line an RBI single to make it 10-1.
With the post-season here it's one and done and the loss by the Bucs ends Oswego's season with a mark of (8-13).
The new, second season, continues for the Black Knights (8-11) on Thursday in Auburn. Something tells me we could see more of the same.
Rome Free Academy 10 Oswego 1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Oswego 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 8 5
RFA 2 3 5 0 0 0 x 10 11 0
(Robbie Waller gets ready to roll in early action.)
RFA OFFENSIVE STARS
Tim Abone- 3-4-2 runs scored-3rbi-1 double
Robbie Waller-2-3-1 run scored-1rbi-2 doubles
Jason Riggleman-1-3-1 run scored-2 rbi
