Buffalo eliminates Schenectady in 18-14 hit-fest
August 2, 2011 - After falling behind by 6 runs early in the game, Mader Construction of Buffalo stormed back to eliminate Schenectady's PNA Eagles 18-14 in a offensively-gifted game on Sunday at the Altoona Regional. The loss eliminated Schenectady and sent Buffalo to the championship round, where they lost to Cleveland.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | LOB | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schenectady PNA Eagles | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 16 | 2 | 12 | ||||
| Buffalo Mader Construction | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 4 | -- | 18 | 19 | 3 | 12 |
Eagles soar into the lead
Buffalo's starting pitcher James Tronolone struggled with a tight strike zone and walked four consecutive batters to bring in Schenectady's first run. Schenectady's starter Michael Sturges scored on a wild pitch. When it was Sturges' time to pitch, he too struggled with the tight strike zone, but gave up only 2 walks and got two ground outs and a fly out to right field.
"The pitchers had trouble with the strike zone; it seemed like it was a postage stamp," said Buffalo's manager Pat Barrow, who clarified that while the zone was tight, it was the same for both teams and consistent throughout the game. Buffalo walked 9 batters and Schenectady walked 12.
The pitchers each recorded a strike-out-looking in the second as the teams went scoreless, but the Eagles opened things up in the top of the third. Veteran Matthew Pause started the inning with a single to centerfield, and scored from first on Struges' double to center. A third consecutive outfield hit from Jayson Osborne brought Sturges home. He was thrown out at the plate, but catcher Dylan Baun could not hold on to the ball. Cameron Curler advanced the runners on an infield single that was bobbled by the pitcher and third baseman. After a fielder's choice and strike out, Ryan Bellomo cracked a single to centerfield to score two.
Buffalo brought in pitcher Sean Larson who recorded a strike-out to end the inning with Schenectady now ahead 6-0.
With one out in the bottom of the third, Vincent Bomasuto singled to third base, and walks to Baun and James Fitzgerald loaded the bases. Daniel Karstedt then grounded into a fielder's choice to score a run. A pop fly ended the inning, and Buffalo stranded 2 runners for the third time in three innings.
Maders construct a comeback
"It wasn't looking good when it was 6-0", said Barrow with a smile, "but we started swinging the bats and went for broke; that's all you could do."
A quick top of the fourth gave the Maders some momentum. Sturges walked Tyler Ferretti but struck out Charles Mosey who was ejected for arguing with the umpire. Matthew Corigliano then singled up the middle and John Knauth doubled to center to cut the lead to 6-2. With men on 2nd and 3rd, Bomasuto doubled to center to score them both. After a walk to Baun, relief pitcher Ben Brown was brought in and induced two ground outs to end the inning
The Eagles got one back in the fifth, as Bellomo singled to center allowing Michael Triller to score from second. Triller reached based on a double with one out. The Eagles stranded two in the inning.
Buffalo pulled even closer in the bottom of the inning with a two-out rally. Brian Barry doubled up the middle, Corigliano singled to left, and Knauth hit a single to center that was boblbed and allowed Barry to score. Bomasuto then hit a double over the centerfield fence to score Corigliano from third. A walk to Baun loaded the bases, but Bellomo made a great play on a hard hit ball to end the inning, stranding three. After 5, it was Schenectady on top 7-6.
A big inning for Buffalo
The Eagles looked to strike in the top of the sixth. With one out, Sturges battled through a long at-bat to single through the infield. A double from Osborne prompted a pitching change, putting designated-hitter Michael Wagner on the mound. Curler grounded out to advance the runners, and Triller was hit by the pitch to load the bases. But Wagner struck out pinch-hitter Jeffrey Johnson looking on a full count to leave the bases loaded.
Patrick Riley was brought in to pitch the bottom of the sixth for Schenectady. Daniel Karstedt welcomed him with a triple to left field that Jorel Aleman was unable to catch. He then scored on a wild pitch. Wagner was walked, but a throw from Riley caught him off first base. However, no throw was made to second, allowing Wagner to steal safely. He advanced to third on a wild pitch. David Crowley struck out, but Barry was walked on a full count. Corigliano then singled up the middle for the 2nd run of the inning.
Steve Brown was brought in to pitch with runners at the corners. He walked John Knauth after Corigliano stole second, loading the bases. Bomasuto then sent his first pitch up the middle for a two-run double. Baun flew-out to center, scoring a run, and Fitzgerald singled past third base for another.
Schenectady scored twice in the seventh as Sturges singled a shot off the mound and into centerfield, scoring Aleman (walked) and Brandt (bunt single). However, the Eagles left the bases loaded again.
Buffalo quickly earned those runs back with Cameron Curler now on the mound. After a flyout to left and a great sliding stop from second baseman Bellomo, Brian Barry hit a home run to deep center field. Later, the speedy Matt Corigliano stretched his rightfield hit into a double, and scored on a bullet to left hit by Knauth.
The wild finish
In the top of the 8th, Wagner struck out the first and third batters he faced, and Barry made an amazing diving catch in centerfield for the second out, as the Eagles went down in order.
It all appeared over in the bottom of the 8th, as the Maders put on four more runs. An error in the outfield let Baun reach second. Two batters later, Karstedt doubled him home. Wagner singled to advance Karstedt to third, and he and Baun both scored on Crowley's double. Conner Johnson came in to pitch, but Barry singled up the middle for Buffalo's 18th run of the game. Corigliano struck out and Knath grounded out to end the inning.
"Obviously with a whole lot of games in a little amount of time, pitching is always a struggle," said Schenectady manager Zak Mayo. Schenectady used six pitchers during the game.
The Eagles entered the ninth inning trailing by 9 runs and only 3 outs away from an end to their season. After playing four games in two days, surrendering a 6-run lead, and with the game reaching its third hour, it would have been understandable if Schenectady had given up.
"We don't quit, we don't give up," said Mayo. "We try to manufacture runs, or do whatever we can to get runs across the board. We're always up and always trying to keep it going. That's just what Schenectady is; that's what the PNA is all about."
The final half-inning was as humorous as it was inspiring, as the Eagles blatantly refused to let the game end. Brandt singled and stole second. Pause then singled to score Brandt. Sturges was walked, but Osborne struck out. Curler appeared to hit into a ground out, but an error at second let him reach safely to load the bases. Triller then singled into right field to score another run. Dakota Euber went down on an infield pop up, but Pause scored on a wild pitch. Bellomo then singled up the middle to score two more runs, bringing the score to 18-14 with 2 outs. Finally, luck ran out for PNA, as Conner Johnson grounded out to the shortstop.
"You can't ask for much more than what we brought to the table. We came out short and that's how baseball is sometimes," said Mayo. "Ryan Bellomo had a fabulous game today. I thought he did a great job at the plate," said Mayo. "Matt Pause--you couldn't ask any more than what he gave us. He caught all four games and every inning of every game. He was an animal."
The win advanced Buffalo on to the finals where they lost in a mercy rule to Cleveland. The loss eliminated Schenectady from the regional with a 2-2 record. Despite the loss, Coach Mayo remained in good spirits, just as he had all weekend. His perpetual optimism surely inspired his team's valiant last stand, and with a several young players on the team (including 3 sixteen year olds), Mayo is excited about his team's future.
"I was just very happy with what we've done all tournament," said Mayo. "We went over and above our expectations, and we're definately looking forward to next year."
Click here to visit the Altoona Regional page on this site for scores and standings.