Over the past couple of years, Rochester McQuaid Jesuit and Baldwinsville have been involved in some epic battles and both have enjoyed their fair share of success. On Saturday, the Bees once again beat the Knights in walk-off fashion, as senior Danny Engels stroked a double in the bottom of the seventh to break a scoreless tie and lead the Bees to victory.
Despite very few hits by both teams, there was a fair amount of drama throughout the game.
The Knights put runners in scoring position (second or third base) five times, while the Bees did so three times. However, each time, the teams were not able to capitalize.
Pitchers Carson Hayes, Tom Scarfino, and Billy Clifford were able to scatter four hits but yield no runs throughout the seven innings.
The Bees were able to escape jams in the third, fourth, fifth, and seventh innings, mostly through some excellent defense and effective pitching.
In the fourth inning, the Knights were able to load the bases with no outs, but Hayes was able to produce a groundball to third baseman, Anthony May, who threw home; catcher Charlie McAllister quickly fired the ball to first to narrowly secure the second out on the double play. With runners on second and third, the next batter hit a ground ball to May who threw to David Marsell at first; Marsell scooped the slightly errant throw and secured the final out of the inning.
In the fifth inning, the Bees were able to produce another unconventional double play with runners on first and second with one out. A ball was lined hard to deep short where shortstop Niko Mirizio snagged the ball in the air and fired it to Andrew Chajkowski, who was covering second, to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh inning, Clifford was able to get the first two batters out, but two consecutive singles and a walk loaded the bases. The final batter grounded to the 3-4 hole between first and second, where Marsell tracked down the ball and flipped it to Clifford, who was covering first.
This set up the decisive final frame. With one out, Clifford walked.
Engels, who had walked and had a sacrifice bunt earlier in the game, stepped into the box and roped a ball into the right center gap. Clifford raced from first to third. With the ball traveling some distance in the gap, Coach Penafeather sent Clifford home. The Knights made a successful cutoff throw and fired the ball accurately home, as Clifford slid in as the ball arrived.
The Bees prevailed with Engels walkoff double.
Pat Dubiel had the Bees only other hit in the game.
With the victory, the Bees improved to 6-2 on the season. McQuaid Jesuit was able to beat the Auburn Maroons, 4-1, later in the afternoon.
