The Whitesboro Warriors completed pool play with a perfect 3-0 record today, riding Ryan Watson's complete game pitching performance to an 11-1 victory over Elmira Southside, which was previously undefeated in tournament play. Southern hospitality is working to perfection for the red hot road Warriors.
Visit Perfect Game Imaging for a photo album
For the the third day in a row Coach Bill DeCoursey's Warriors got a great performance from their starting pitcher.
This time junior Ryan Watson scattered 4 hits, allowed 1 run, struck out 5 and walked just 3 enroute to the Warriors third straight victory in the Mingo Bay Classic.
(Ryan Watson (11) delivers a first inning strike.)
Whitesboro's offense exploded again on Wednesday, jumping out on Elmira Southside with 6 runs in the top of the 1st inning.
Mike Sullivan, Brendan Heitz, Ryan Watson, Matt Cornmire, Alec Brindisi and Dan Cecilia all collected hits and scored for the Warriors in the opening frame to give Whitesboro what ended up being an insurmountable lead.
If Watson had any difficulties at all this afternoon it was the bottom of the first inning, which is completely understandable considering his team was up to bat for more than a half hour in the top of the first inning, sending 10 batters to plate.
(Elmira Southside's Sam Carpenter steals second base as Whitesboro shortstop Mike Sullivan looks to cradle the throw.)
Elmira put its only run of the game on the board in the bottom of the first when Corey Hamula drew a walk, stole second base and was doubled home by Mike Craft's shot to right field.
After hitting Brad Bellinger with the next pitch, Watson settled right down and got the remaining Hornets 1-2-3 to end the threat.
The Warriors tacked on two more in the top of the second on a leadoff triple by Brendan Heitz, who scored on an infield ground ball to second by Connor Passalaqua to make it 7-1 Whitesboro with one out.
(Whitesboro catcher Dan Cecilia (27) picks up a chopper in front of the plate and fires to first base for a 4th inning put out.)
Matt Cornmire singled and later scored in the second inning to give his team a 8-1 lead after an inning and a half.
Watson found his groove over the next 4 innings, allowing no runs, only two hits, while facing just 16 more Elmira batters. Whitesboro ensured its third straight victory with three more runs in the top half of the third inning on runs by Dan Russo, Vin Barbato and Brendan Heitz.
After Elmira failed to plate another run, Whitesboro was declared the winner by mercy rule as they had a ten run lead after 5 innings.
Whitesboro, which improves to (4-2) on the season, will await the results of tonight's tournament seeding meeting to find out their next opponent in tomorrow's single elimination playoff round.
(Whitesboro's Brendan Heitz had plenty to smile about today at the Mingo Bay Classic in South Carolina.)
MHTS Update:
We play Thursday at 12:30 vs. Corning East at Myrtle Beach High School. The winner plays the winner of tomorrow's 10:00 game at Myrtle Beach High School between Camden, NY or Penfield, NY on Friday at 12:30 at Myrtle Beach High School. This is the "A" bracket of the single elimination tournament.
Whitesboro 11 Elmira Southside 1
Box Score
1 2 3 4 5 x x R H E
Whitesboro 6 2 3 0 0 - - 11 12 0
Elmira Southside 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 2
WP Ryan Watson (1-0)
LP Corey Hamula
( Go fly a kite! Ok I will.)
