Two teams with important agendas faced off in a key Oneida County American Legion baseball game on Thursday night in New Hartford. The fans who dared to try and beat the heat, were treated to a game of rallies that left both cheering sections with reason to smile. After a game winning four run rally in the home seventh, it was the New Hartford fans who had the widest grins as they headed home for Joseph Corr Memorial Field.
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It was not a night for the bashful or feint of heart, as the basepaths were as backed up as the north/south arterial on Boilermaker Sunday morning. Pitchers looking to lower their ERA's might have wanted the night off as well.
With New Hartford still looking to gain firmer footing on the post season playoff ladder and secure their spot in second place in the Blue Division, right hander Tom Roberts headed to the hill to start against rival Whitestown Post.
Manager Paul Engelhart and company had one thing on their collective minds, win another Gold division title. Both teams had a chance to say mission accomplished on this back and forth night.
New Hartford 11 Whitestown 10-Click the archived link below to listen to the game again.
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(New Hartford's Tyler Porter strides long to deliver a 7th inning pitch.)
Lefty, Matt Engler was handed the starting assignment for Post 1113. Whitestown entered play with a 12-4 record and second place Moran Meeker O'Rouke, who would have had to settle for a second place finish, had Whitestown prevailed.
Post 1113 also got off the bus a confident bunch and winners of 8 of their last 10 league games. New Hartford also knows when to go for the gusto and had some extra pep in their step with Joe Carcone back in the lineup after his summer league stint down south in Georgia. Carcone was recently named an All-State first team selection for the 2010 high school regular season.
So having number 11 back in the lineup really spiced up our Game of the Week.
So let's get on with it and let's see how this one played out. Being the road team, Whitestown had the honors to see what was shaking with Roberts on the hill.
Tom looked terrific in inning one, getting short stop Mike Sullivan to fly out to Joe Desens in right and then induce Mike Bunal to pop out to third for out number two.
Brendan Heitz, who wears number 4, laced a clean single to left to keep the inning alive. Ryan Watson hit a grounder to the left side of the infield, as Heitz was forced out at second, to end the frame.
(New Hartford second baseman Joe Betar locks in on a 3rd inning ground ball.)
Matt Engle, who battled control problems all game long, but battled hard to keep his team alive, worked out of early trouble after Nick DeCrisi reached on an error by second baseman Matt Cornmire. Cornmire was forced to leave the game with an ankle injury as he dove to try and make the play.
After Joe Betar walked, the other Joe, Carcone, grounded into an inning ending double play as we went to the second scoreless.
We started the tit-for-tat portion of the game as both teams tried to impress each other with their offensive prowess.
Whitestown put a two spot on the board as Adam Pexton, who entered the game when fellow second basement Matt Cornmire got injured, singled right back up the box and later came around to score the games first run, as Whitestown led 1-0.
Matt Engler did what pitchers love to do, help their own cause by blasting an RBI double to deep right center. Engler later came around to score, as catcher Dylan Gorski picked up a run batted in.
How would Engler react with a two run lead? Like both starters would on this night, surrendering the lead the very next half inning.
(Adam Pexton kicks up some dust as he hustles back to first.)
In the home second, one of New Hartford's veteran leaders, Eric Verbickas walked and later scored New Hartford's first run.
Big Don Cavoli beat out an infield single and also scored to tie things up at 2-2. Shortstop Steve Tomaino and rightfielder Joe Desens picked up RBI's and Ryan Watson, who walked, came around to make it 3-2 New Hartford.
It was more of the same in inning three, as Whitestown put a run up and New Hartford scored two runs of their own, to lead 5-3, as we headed to the fourth. The lead would look cushy when New Hartford plated two more in the fourth to make it 7-3.
Carcone and Verbickas scored runs in the third and the fourth. The fourth was highlighted by a Joe Carcone home run over the centerfield fence; a shot that kept rising, as it sped out toward route 8. When the day was done, Carcone was 3-4, scored 3 runs and drove in a pair as well.
(US Army "A" for Effort Player of the Game Joe Carcone.) |
New Hartford's seventh run was scored by Verbickas who found his way home after singling to reach base for the second straight time.
After pushing across seven runs in three innings it was a joyride home for New Hartford, right? Wrong. Whitestown decided to join the fun, putting up three big runs to make it 7-6 and it was game on.
New Hartford starter Tom Roberts was replaced by lefty reliever Tyler Porter in the top of the fifth and Porter was greeted rudely by Whitestown.
Oh, those bases on balls. Porter walked Mike Sullivan and Mike Bunal and both Mikes scored to make it 7-5. Even though Whitestown scored three runs to make it a game, it could have been a lot more as Nick DeCrisi made a great catch in left field as he gambled on a sinking line off the bat of Brendan Heitz.
The gamble paid off as DeCrisi dove and came up with the ball still in his mitt after slamming to the turf.
(Mike Bunal ranges over to make a catch in left field.)
Ryan Watson drove in a run with a sac fly and Adam Pexton laced an RBI single up the gut. Dan Smith followed with an RBI single of his own.
Believe it or not, it was 1-2-3 times two in the 6th. Buoyed by a solid inning on the hill by Mike Ryan, the Whitestown offense responded with a four run frame and seemed to put this one away.
Knowing a division title was close at hand, Whitestown went for the win, trailing 8-6. Brendan Heitz did what good leadoff hitters do and got on base working out a walk.
Ryan Watson doubled and later scored to make it 8-8. Dan Smith continued his solid night with an RBI sac fly to left to score
Adam Pexton scored from third to give Whitestown the lead at 9-8.
It was 10-8 Whitestown as Mike Bunal came on to pitch the seventh. Oh, those bases on balls. Nick DeCrisi worked out a leadoff walk and later scored to make it 10-9. Joe Desens drove in a run and then the other Joe, Betar, tied it with an RBI single to left.
Betar scored the winning run and was chased home by Eric Verbickas who drove in two runs on the night while going 3-3 and scoring three runs as well. By the way, Verbickas also picked up the win in relief. Nice night big guy, way to go.
With the win New Hartford in now 11-6 in league play Whitestown falls to 12-5.
New Hartford Post 1376 11 Whitestown Post 1113 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Whitestown 0 2 1 0 3 0 4 10 10 3
New Hartford 0 3 2 2 1 0 3 11 10 0
