Baseball

Eagles edge Bulldogs in three-game series

By RICHARD A. ROSS

JOHN S. BURKE 5 SULLIVAN WEST 2

Round 1: Eagles’ Platt plies his trade with a three hitter

GOSHEN, NY — The John S. Burke Catholic Eagles didn’t forget losing the Division IV title to Sullivan West last spring. That 5-4 loss last May was etched clearly in their memory as the two teams met up for the first game of a three-consecutive day series.

Asked about the new league schedule this year, which pits opposing teams against each other in weekly series, Sullivan West coach Kurt Scheibe Jr. said he liked it.

“When the games are spread out, opposing teams get to throw their ace pitcher at you each time,” he noted. “We have good depth in pitching so I think it favors us,” he added.

For the opener, the Eagles called on ace Scott Platt, a hard-throwing, right-handed pitcher who got ahead of virtually every batter he faced. His prowess enabled Burke to stay ahead throughout the game. Platt struck out nine and scattered three hits in his complete game outing.

One of those hits was a solo home run to John Glassel in the fifth inning. The Bulldogs’ other run came in the seventh when Lloyd Shaffer reached on an error, Glassel singled and Ed Raum reached home plate on a fielder’s choice.

The Eagles got on the board in the second inning when Billy Montipoli walked. A single by Kevin Fahy scored one run and an RBI groundout by Nick Rappa scored another run.

In the third inning, the Eagles manufactured a run on a single by Eric Reinfried, a sac bunt by Sean Canty and a single by Nick Lambrus. Burke got two more runs in the sixth after Fahy reached on an error and Rappa hit a two-run homer.

For their part, the Bulldogs got good pitching from Matt Berger who struck out 11. In a complete game, he gave up five runs, but only three were earned. Berger’s enduring start enabled Scheibe to hold back his other pitchers for the remaining two games of the series. Most of Burke’s offense came courtesy of shortstop Nick Rappa, who rapped a homer and drove in three of Burke’s five runs.

SULLIVAN WEST 14 JOHN S. BURKE 13

Round 2: Emotions run high but ‘Dawgs’ have their day

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — To lose two consecutive games to Burke would seriously damage Sullivan West’s chances to recapture the Division IV title. The stakes were high as the teams prepared to go at it again on April 28. Sullivan West called up its ace pitcher Ryan Taylor to take the ball. Southpaw Kevin Corvino opposed him.

The Eagles got it going right away. Eric Reinfreid blasted a single right over third base for a lead off single. Nick Rappa then reached on a fielder’s choice. Billy Montipoli doubled to left driving in the first run of the game.

In the bottom of the first, the Bulldogs drew three walks from Corvino, who could not find the strike zone. Unfortunately, Sullivan West stranded all three runners and trailed 1-0 after one inning.

The second inning proved to be the game’s biggest frame with the two teams combining for a total of 10 runs. In the top half of the inning, Platt doubled and Corvino sent a liner over third, scoring him. Reinfried’s single scored another run as did Rappa’s. By the time Montipoli flied out to end the inning, the Eagles led 4-1.

Corvino’s diminishing control helped the Bulldogs get back in the game. He issued walks to Glassel, Ed Raum and Taylor. With two out, Berger’s single plated two runs, and Joe Meyer’s double-scored Taylor. Stephen Daley walked to load the bases. Lloyd Shaffer’s single drove in two more. Glassel reached on an error and two more runs came in. When the dust settled, the Bulldogs had put up seven runs and led 7-4.

Burke’s hitters made great contact all day and scored in every inning of the game. They got a run in the third, two in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. After getting two runs in the bottom of the third on hits by Berger and Meyer, the Bulldogs were blanked by reliever Mike Murtaugh until the bottom of the sixth, when they scored twice.

Gradually the Eagles chipped away, and after tying the game 9-9 in the top of the fifth, they went on to take an 11-9 lead in the sixth on a two-out double by Murtaugh.

Scheibe gathered his players before their half of the inning and counseled patience at the plate. His words were heeded as the ‘dawgs’ tied it up again on RBIs from Taylor and Meyer.

In the last inning, the Eagles had the top of their order coming up. With Shaffer on in relief, Rappa led off with a double. Lambrus hit a single, putting the Eagles up 12-11. Montipoli was safe at first when Will O’Brien dropped a fly to right. Lambrus was thrown out at second. Sean Canty’s single sent Montipoli home. Catcher Ed Raum prepared to tag him out the plate as Candy barreled into him. Raum held onto the ball but the umpire ruled Montipoli safe. Raum threw his helmet and was ejected. Sullivan West coaches maintained that Montipoli did not slide and should have been automatically out. The ruling stood and the Bulldogs went into their last licks down a pair or runs.

Scheibe gathered his troops once again. The team wasted no time in answering the rallying cry. Daley led off with a single, Shaffer walked and Glassel tied the bases with a single. The Eagles brought in Platt to pitch, which was illegal since pitchers are required to have a day’s rest after a start. The Bulldog coaches prepared to file a protest in the event of a defeat. No need. Platt hit Barrett sending Daley home. Nick Thony reached first safely when Montipoli failed to touch the bag. With the score tied, Schiebe called for a suicide squeeze. Nordenhold’s bunt was perfectly placed and the Bulldogs erupted in celebration.

JOHN S. BURKE 13 SULLIVAN WEST 4

Round 3: ‘Dawgs’ lick sore wounds while Eagles soar

The rubber game of the series would catapult one team towards the top of Division IV, though the Bulldogs could not match their intensity or efficiency of game two.

Making an unworldly nine errors, the Bulldogs gave the Eagles extra outs to score runs. Not counted in the nine miscues were balls that dropped that should have been caught.

Nick Rappa took the mound for the Eagles. Will O’Brien opposed him. The Bulldogs led 2-1 after one inning by putting together singles by Berger, Daley and Shaffer, but Burke responded with three runs in the top of the second as the defense broke down for Sullivan West.

Despite loading the bases in the bottom of the second, the Bulldogs could only get one run across on a ground out by Ryan Taylor. O’Brien pitched a scoreless third, and Steve Daley hit a towering solo homerun to right to tie the game in the bottom of the inning.

That turned out to be the last moment to celebrate for Sullivan West. The Eagles put up three innings of crooked numbers (three runs each), amassing 13 runs while holding the Bulldogs scoreless for the duration.

This week the Bulldogs try to right the ship in a three-game series against James I. O’Neill, which currently sits atop Division IV with a 2-0 league record.