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In one of its more dramatic games of the season, the Baldwinsville Bees baseball team fought back to tie its game against McQuaid Jesuit in the later innings and then prevailed in extra innings, 5-4, on Monday night at Onondaga Community College.
The game started badly for the Bees, as McQuaid jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first on a couple of hits and an error. Because of the error, only one of the runs wound up being earned.
Baldwinsville responded in the bottom of the first, as with one out, senior Cameryn Williams drilled a line drive to right field. The McQuaid right fielder dived to try to catch it, but the ball squirted by him and, because the teams were playing on turf, it went to the fence. Williams, whose speed allowed him to steal three bases in the game, raced around the bases for an inside-the-park homerun, closing the McQuaid lead to 3-1.
Starting pitcher, senior Jack Andres then locked in through the next two innings and retired the order. Unfortunately, the Bees were unable to respond and were also retired in order.
The fourth inning offered some of the drama that would characterize the rest of the game.
In the top half of the inning, McQuaid got its first two runners on with a single and a walk. Both runners then stole and McQuaid had runners on second and third with no outs. With the infield playing in, the next McQuaid batter grounded a ball slowly to sophomore first baseman Jason Savacool. Savacool looked the runner back to third and jogged to first to record the out. Seeing that the McQuaid runner on second had leaked off second base, Savacool fired the ball to sophomore shortstop Pat May, who tagged the runner out. It was one of two important double plays in the game. Andres then got the last batter to fly out to left fielder, junior, Mike Carni.
In the bottom of the fourth, senior Frank Levanti, who also made an amazing diving play at third in the game, singled to right field to start the inning. Sophomore Nate Ray then reached on an error and Baldwinsville had runners on first and second. May then grounded a ball to the third baseman; he was thrown out but both runners moved up to second and third. Junior Jake Marshall then lifted a sacrifice fly ball to center field, which proved deep enough to score Levanti. The Bees trimmed to McQuaid's lead to 3-2.
Once again, Andres went through the next two innings, retiring McQuaid batters in order, as his multiple pitches were sharp and kept McQuaid's potent offense in check.
Then came the bottom of the sixth inning, which started off with little production, as the first two batters were retired. The Bees' chances to tie or win the game were getting fewer.
With two outs, Savacool drove a double down the right field line. Carni, who has been particularly hot at the plate the last several games, singled up the middle, as Savacool rounded third and beat the throw home. The Bees had tied the game 3-3.
In the top of the seventh inning, Andres surrendered a leadoff single and stolen base, but buckled down and didn't allow any further damage, as he struck out the last three batters, squelching McQuaid's rally.
The Bees quickly got a runner in scoring position in the last frame, as Matt Mercurio walked and was sacrificed over by a Williams' bunt. Then, Levanti walked to put runners at first and second with one out. However, the next two Bees struck out and the rally was over. The teams were headed to extra innings.
McQuaid scored quickly in the top of the eighth, as the first batter walked, then stole two bases and scored on a sacrifice fly, against reliever Nate Johns. With one out and a runner on second, Matt Starczewski came in and struck out the next batter. On the play, the ball was in the dirt, so catcher Nate Ray had to make the play at first on the dropped third strike. Savacool received the ball at first base for the out and quickly wheeled and threw to second base to get the runner at second who had creeped off the bag. The double play ended the inning with Baldwinsville down 4-3.
But the Bees weren't done. With their backs against the wall, they responded again. Marshall reached on an error and Savacool bunted for a single to put runners on first and second. Carni then sacrifice bunted Savacool and Marshall to second and third, respectively.
Andres, who had finished pitching after the seventh and had remained in the game to hit, stayed with a sweeping curveball from the lefty pitcher and hit a soft liner to left. As the ball dropped, Trey Blasi, who had pinch run for Marshall, scored and Savacool moved to third. The Bees tied the game at 4-4. Two more outs were recorded and the inning ended with Savacool stranded at third.
The game moved to the ninth inning.
Senior Chris Dwyer pitched the ninth and, despite walking two batters, was able to work through the inning unscathed, recording three outs, giving the Bees a chance in the bottom frame.
Williams started the ninth inning by walking. After a flyout to right field, Williams stole second and Ray was intentionally walked. Williams and Ray then stole second and third. In a dramatic at-bat, May worked a walk to load the bases.
Marshall then approached the plate and on a 1-2 count, grounded a ball towards the shortstop who flipped to second. But the second baseman's throw to first to attempt to get out of the inning with a double play sailed wide and Marshall reached safely, allowing Williams to score the winning run.
The Bees' bench flew out of the dugout and mobbed Marshall and Williams, who celebrated the walkoff win, 5-4.
Dwyer got the win for the Bees, his first varsity win. McQuaid was held to only five hits, while the Bees had eight.
The Bees' record climbed to 14-3, with its next game on Friday against Fayetteville-Manlius with sole ownership of the league title at stake for the Bees.
