Baseball
Norwich 5, Owego 1
OWEGO – Norwich played its second error-free game this week, and won for the eighth time this season beating Owego on Saturday.
Josh Whaley pitched into the fifth inning for the Tornado striking out six to pick up the victory. Justin Lindenthaler added 2 2-3 innings of scoreless relief.
Lindenthaler came on with the bases loaded and allowed just a single run to score.
Mackey Hotaling had two hits for the Tornado with three runs scored and three stolen bases. Ben Barnes stroked a two-run double in the third to put Norwich on the board, Thomas Kalicicki added two hits and two RBI, and Brendan McInerney went 2-for-4 with a single ribbie.
“We had another great job of pitching from Josh Whaley and Justin Lindenthaler,” said Norwich coach John Martinson. “We played great defense and didn’t make any errors. Right now we control our own destiny in the division. I don’t know when the last time Norwich won a division title, but there aren’t any banners hanging in our gym. (Winning a division title) has been our goal from the start of the season.”
Norwich is 6-2 in STAC Central Division play and holds a half-game lead over second-place Johnson City. The Tornado play at the Wildcats today.
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Josh Whaley (W), Justin Lindenthaler (5) and Thomas Kalicicki. Stephen Yanchus
Oxford 10, Afton 3
OXFORD – Backed up by strong pitching and defense, Oxford’s batsmen took care of the rest putting nine runs on the board in its final two at-bats in Friday’s win
“Our pitcher (Nate Head) kept it close, and we played well defensively,” said Oxford coach Chris Palmer, whose club won for the second time in as many days. “We were able to push some runs across toward the end.”
Trailing Afton 2-1 entring the bottom of the fifth, the Blackhawks (4-5) scored five runs to take the lead. Adam Pierson’s RBI single tied the game, and a well executed squeeze bunt by Cameron Heggie pushed across the go-ahead tally. Andrew Golden, Ryan Moore, Eric Dilfer followed with back-to-back-to-back RBI doubles.
Golden finished 3-for-4 with three RBI; Pierson had two hits and two RBI.
Josh Akshar had two hits for Afton and Jack Shearer drove in two runs for the Crimson Knights.
Head allowed six hits striking out 10 in a complete-game effort.
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Nate Head (W) and Ryan Moore. Joshua Davey (L), Josh Akshar (6) and Joshua Austin. Doubles: (A) Corey Mohrein, Jack Shearer. (O) Adam Pierson, Andrew Golden (2), Ryan Moore, Eric Dilfer.
Greene 10, Unadilla Valley 5
NEW BERLIN – Errors and baserunning issues worked against Unadilla Valley’s victory aspirations in Friday’s defeat to Greene.
Curtis Richards, Matt Jones, and Trevor Parrish had two hits apiece for Greene (6-5), and Jones scattered 10 hits to earn the victory.
“We had five fielding errors and at least four baserunning mistakes,” said UV coach Tom Locke, who pointed to two pickoffs pulled off by Jones and Parrish at catcher. “We kind of ran ourselves out of innings.”
Brandon Miles led UV with a 3-for-3 day, and Brett Smith had two hits.
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Matt Jones (W) and Trevor Parrish, Andy Norton (4). Brandon Miles (L), Brett Smith (7) and Zach Montgomery. Doubles: (UV) Brandon Miles, Brett Smith. (G) Jeff Carlin.
Hancock 9, Unadilla Valley 4
HANCOCK – Hancock pitcher Tyler Phillips shut down the UV bats for five innings Saturday, and in that time the Wildcats built a 9-0 lead.
