Cooperstown 10u Tournament Day 3

Wilton Warriors 12 – Clifton Park (NY) Legends 12

With two one run losses to go with their 1-3 record, the Wilton 10u Warrior baseball team knew they were a much better team than their record would suggest.  But the task facing the young Warriors on Tuesday was a tough one as they were scheduled to play two 4-0 teams that together had surrendered just 16 runs in eight games.

First up was the Clifton Park (NY) Legends, who had outscored their opponents 37-4.  Spark plug Sam Strazza got things started in the first with a two out single and steal of second base.  After a single by Everett Andersen advanced Strazza to third he was able to score on a wild pitch.

Starting pitcher A.J. Preisano cruised through the first two innings, allowing just one baserunner.  With the Warriors clinging to a 1-0 lead, the Legends came to bat in the third and found their hitting stroke.  When the dust settled, the Warriors were down 8-1 and facing the prospect of an ignominious defeat.

However, this young Warrior team has ice in its veins and character aplenty.  Andersen’s leadoff double over the head of the Legends’ center fielder started a furious rally.  A hit batsman, consecutive singles by Preisano and Jimmy McKiernan, and an RBI groundout by Anthony Passaniti closed the gap to 8-5, but with the bases empty and one out the Warriors weren’t through.  Ryan Johnson and Eli Ackerman walked to set the table where they were chased home by a van Heyst RBI single.  Batting around the order, Andersen singled to drive in van Heyst to tie the score at 8.

The Legends regained the lead with two in the bottom of the frame, but the Warriors continued to hit in the fifth.  Davis Wallon, McKiernan and Johnson all singled and Eli Ackerman and van Heyst walked.  Sam Strazza’s single chased home a run and Andersen’s ground out another.  In total four runs crossed to put Wilton up 12-10 midway through five.

Andersen came on to pitch an inning in the fifth, recording two strikeouts and sending the game to the sixth, 12-10 Warriors.

Seeking an insurance run, Wilton advanced a runner to third in the top of the sixth, but stranded him there.  Unfortunately the Warriors depleted bullpen could not hold the lead, giving up a two run single with two out.  While that hit tied the game, a perfect relay allowed the cut-off man to nail the hitter attempting to advance to second, ending the rally.  With the game already two hours gone and a hard limit of time in pool play, the game was declared a tie, but a victory of sorts as the Warriors scored three times as many runs as the Legends had previously surrendered in total.

Wilton Warriors 8 – Clifton Park (NY) Wolverines 4

The Wolverines, who entered the game with a 4-1 record, jumped on the Warriors for a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but with confidence in their ability to score runs, Wilton struck back for three in the bottom half of the inning.  With one out, Ryan van Heyst singled and Sam Strazza walked ahead of cleanup hitter Everett Andersen, who delivered an RBI single.  Ryan Sorbo drove in one with a fielders’ choice and A.J. Preisano followed with a single to put the Warriors up 3-2 after 1.

Starting pitcher Anthony Passaniti settled down to pitch a scoreless second, with help from a sweet Passaniti to Eli Ackerman to A.J. Preisano, 1-4-5 double play, and then helped out his cause with a leadoff single in the bottom half of the inning.  Ackerman’s single was followed by an RBI groundout from van Heyst and single by Strazza.  Andersen then singled in two more and later scored on a wild pitch to put the Warriors up for good 7-2.

The Wolverines got two in the third, but Brian Cipri came on and pitched 3 1/3 spectacular innings in relief, allowing no runs and preserving an 8-4 victory, bringing pool play to a close.