New Hartford Post 1376 always seems to sense a big moment in a season, a defining one that sets the tone for the rest of the season. The tone that resonated loudest was the one heard echoing off the bat, as Joe Betar turned on a Mike Gaglianese offering in the third inning and connected with fury, depositing a two run homer deep into the night in left field, to give his team a 3-1 lead, a lead they would not relinquish.
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The 6-4 Blue Division win gives New Hartford a (6-3) league mark and moves them into sole possession of second place, as they chase unbeaten Utica Post now (8-0). Betar would later rip an RBI double to complete his big night at the dish and earn himself the MHTS/US ARMY "A" For Effort Player of the Game Award.
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You can't put too much into one win in this league, but sometimes you can as your team starts to believe, starts to feel they can win in a big spot. Starts to believe they can play with the best of the rest. Tonight was that Night for New Hartford. Let's see just how far this momentum changing win takes them.
(Post 1376 pitcher Pat Derrane (18) delivers a second inning strike. Derrane picked up the win tonight.)
Not only was this a big, league, win but New Hartford Post and Adrean are also competing in the Blue and Gold Tourney that started early on Wednesday and continues until a winner is crowned on July 4th. Not bad to get a two for one special like New Hartford did tonight.
Pat Derrane got the start and win for New Hartford Post, improving to 2-1 in league play as he earned the win with help of lefty Tyler Porter, who kept Adrean's bats pretty much in check with his great mix of off speed pitches.
Derrane lasted four innings, scattered 7 hits, struck out 6, allowed 3 runs and walked none. How important are bases on balls in baseball?
Just look at the number of walks Derrane yielded, none, and then look at Adrean starter Mike Gaglianese's line under walks and look at the number in that column.
The number is eight. Eight walks leads to trouble, no matter how good your stuff is when you hit your stride. Adrean's starter lasted 4/2/3 innings allowing 4 runs, and just three hits before yielding to Colin Pastorella.
(Adrean Post's Luke Manolescu (14) sees nothing but a sea of white jerseys as he touches home plate following his first inning home run to tie the game at 1-1.)
One of those eight walks, the first of the game, to Nick DeCrisi led to New Hartford Post's first run of the game. DeCrisi raced to second on a passed ball, then later found his way home when designated hitter Don Cavoli hit a grounder to short that was booted by Tim Putnam allowing DeCrisi to score to make it 1-0.
While the visitors scratched out a run, the hard way, the home team evened things up at 1-1 when catcher Luke Manolescu strode to the plate, dug in deep and with one swing deposited a Derrane offering over the fence in right field. A sweet looking swing if there ever was one.
The second inning gave fans a chance to see just how good Mike Gaglianese can be on the hill, as he settled down and pounded the strike zone to set the visitors down without much fuss.
Again with the bases on balls. Gaglianese walked the lead off hitter, first basemen, Eric Verbickas, worked out a walk then scored when, player of the game, Joe Betar homered to deep left to turn the game around with one mighty swing. Verbickas trotted home ahead of Betar and in the blink of an eye New Hartford led 3-1.
Jeff Pexton talks to the US Army "A" For Effort Player of the Game Joe Betar.
New Hartford played some solid defense as well and in the third inning we got a first hand look at just how important a good catcher can be to a team. Colin Pastorella beat out an infield single to start the frame off in style.
A strike em out, throw em out, double play put a big dent in the Adrean rally plans when Bernie Turi swung and missed and Tim Whalen sprung from his crouch behind the plate and gunned down a streaking Pastorella who was off with the pitch. The perfect throw by Whalen put a quick end to any rally plans Adrean had in the third.
(He can flash the leather too! U.S. Army Player of the Game Joe Betar (2-4, HR, Double, 2 RBI) takes the throw from catcher Tim Whalen and waits for the sliding Colin Pastorella (9). Pastorella was out on the play to end the inning.)
A key two out rally in the top of the fourth helped New Hartford tack on a fourth run. With two outs New Hartford ripped off three straight hits to go up 4-1.
Joe Desens doubled to left as his hard hit grounder bounced over the top of the bag at third. Eric Verbickas then had some fun, lacing an RBI double to deep left as Desens sped home with run number four. Tim Whalen singled to right to make it three straight hits for New Hartford.
As good teams do, Adrean Post fought back and delivered a two run punch to the mid section of the visitors. It was a rally all managers like because it started with two outs in the inning. Proctor Raider, Steve Sarcone drilled a Derrane offering doubling to left.
That was followed by an RBI double by Kevin Rowlands who sent his teammate home to make it 5-2 New Hartford. First basemen Zane Smith stroked a single to right from the left side of the plate, as Derrane started to leave his pitches up in the zone.
Up to the plate comes Tim Putnam who makes it 5-3 with an RBI single to right field. The two run fourth makes it a game again.
(New Hartford's Nick DeCrisi dives back into first base on a first inning pick off attempt.)
Another leadoff walk haunts Adrean in the top of the fifth, as designated hitter Don Cavoli worked out a walk and later came around to score when Nick DeCrisi picked up an RBI lifting a sac fly to right. The insurance run made it 6-3 New Hartford.
Adrean battled back in the sixth to finish the scoring, plating a run, after Steve Sarcone led off the frame by working out a walk, then stealing second, to get in scoring position for teammate Zane Smith, who singled to drive Sarcone home.
That's the way this one would end and for the second week in a row we enjoyed another great Oneida County American Legion baseball game. Next week we visit Rome for a key matchup between Smith Post and Utica Post. Be sure to tune in to WIBX for all the action.
New Hartford 6 Adrean Post 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
New Hartford 1 0 2 2 1 0 0 6 5 0
Adrean Post 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 4 9 3
Offensive Stars of the Game
New Hartford
Joe Betar-2-4-1 home run-2 runs scored-1 double
Erick Verbickas- 1 single-1 RBI-2 runs scored
Steve Tomanio-1 RBI
Adrean Post
Luke Manolescu- 1 homerun-1 RBI-1 run scored
Steve Sarcone-1 double- 2 runs scored
Kevin Rowlands- 1 double-1 RBI 1 run scored
Zane Smith- 2 singles-1 RBI
Tim Putnam-1 single-1 RBI
