Senior Day is always an exciting day for the Baldwinsville baseball program, but it is made even sweeter when the team wins an exciting game against a quality opponent, as it did on Saturday, beating Corning-Painted Post, 8-5, behind a strong outing by senior pitcher, Nick Borek.
Corning started the game hot, getting runners on first and second on a hit by pitch and a walk in the first inning. With two outs, a Corning batter hit a double to left center to score both runners and take a 2-0 lead.
The Bees didn't panic, however, despite Corning's excellent record and state ranking.
In the bottom of the first, David Cerqua singled and Anthony May doubled with one out, putting runners on second and third. The Corning pitcher then balked in Cerqua but got out of the inning on a line drive double-play.
Borek was masterful in the next three innings, as Corning could not score.
In the meantime, Baldwinsville took advantage in the third inning when, with one out, Nate Johns doubled and Zach Bush singled him home. Bush scored when he stole third and the catcher made an errant throw. Billy Clifford singled home Cerqua, who had singled earlier in the inning. The three runs allowed Baldwinsville to take a 4-2 lead.
Corning crept back in the fifth inning on two hits and a sacrifice fly, to make the score 4-3, but Baldwinsville, as it has done the last couple of games immediately answered back.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, with one out, Bush reached on an error, Cerqua and May reached on walks, Clifford reached on an error, Robinson hit into a fielder's choice, and Cam Williams reached on an error. In all, the Bees recorded no hits in the inning but scored four runs to take an 8-3 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Corning made a little run on two walks and two doubles, scoring two runs, but Borek shut the door with a strikeout against a good hitter to end the game with runners on first and second.
Senior pitcher Nick Borek pitched a complete game, striking out six batters.
Senior Billy Clifford drove in one run in the game.
Senior Keenan Nellis was the designated hitter in the game.
And senior Cody Kaestle got a rare at-bat, flying out to right field in the fourth inning as a pinch hitter, after pitching a complete game the day before.
Baldwinsville finished with eight hits in the game, paced by two hits by Cerqua, doubles by Johns, May and Carson Hayes, and singles by Bush, Clifford, and Ryan Carson.
The Bees will play in the sectional tournament next week, most likely on Thursday, against an opponent to be named on Sunday afternoon.
