Frank Speziale Photo

OXFORD – Marking their second game of the new season – and serving as the Greene Trojan’s season-debut – the varsity baseball squads of fellow Chenango County high school’s Greene and Oxford squared off in what proved to be an exciting Wednesday night of Baseball.

If not for a mishap on the Blackhawk side in their dreadful fourth inning of play, the final score may have read 7-6 in favor of Oxford – however, allowing five errors, two walks, with two hits, and five runs in one inning is quite the mountain to climb back out of.

Instead, the Greene Trojans took full advantage of their situation, emerging from the Wednesday, April 5, game with a win under their belt at 11-7.

“We are a little inexperienced and things snow balled on us in that inning. If we eliminate that inning we have a great chance to win,” said Oxford head coach Chris Palmer. “You never know how things play out but we certainly have a better chance.”

Oxford was actually leading 4-3 heading into the fourth inning – taking two runs in the first inning when Brad Beckwith drove in both with a fly ball to left field, allowing Austin Crawford and Dylan Depew to come home. Moments later, Beckwith was picked off at second a move that allowed Phil Smith to steal home, drawing the dominant Oxford lead to 3-0.

Greene fired back in fashion, when in the bottom of the first inning Alec Frair singled to left field – allowing Matt Roach and Nick Shoemaker to find home plate.

Trading a run a piece in the third inning, with a silent second inning – in came what proved to be the deadly fourth inning for the Blackhawks.

One, two, three – Greene’s Alec Frair capped off his solid night with the win – pitching six strikeouts, no walks, and five hits – securing two of his six in the top of the fourth. Following Greene’s fourth inning explosion, Frair was pulled in favor of Breven Gilmore who pitched the remaining three innings grabbing five strikeouts and five walks.