Robert Jeffrey

Sun Sports Contributor

NORWICH – In local legion baseball action, the offensive juggernaut of the Vestal Legion squad knocked around the Chenango Hellcats senior legion team – making good upon 19 hits for 25 runs in a shortened four inning game.

The woes of the Hellcats were made early on as the visitors drew five hits, and four walks in the first 1/3 of the game, creating an incredible offensive display by scoring 12 runs in that time span and 13 runs total in the first inning alone. Combine that offensive effort early on and another 12 runs were amassed by the visitors over the following three innings.

And yet where does this offensive firepower come from in such a talented area as Binghamton, New York?

For those with short memories, reflect upon the recent New York State baseball championships held across that area and recall the one team that from the Southern Tier Athletic Conference that won a baseball title? Ah yes, if you guessed the Vestal Golden Bears, you’re right.

And with a roster chock full of offensive and defensive talent, every batter an opponent faces – which in this case was the Hellcats – it’s guaranteed they’re going to be a tough out.

And that last statement held true on the evening of Tuesday June 20, as 12 out of 14 Vestal ballplayers stepped into the batter’s box and recorded a hit in the game. With Vestal’s bats rocking and rolling, beating up the Hellcats pitching for six walks, and incredible 19 hits, 24 RBIs and an incredibly 25 runs.

Meanwhile, in the Hellcats dugout, the hometown team mustered two runs on two hits – with the two RBIs coming via the route of a round-tripper by Paden Burlison with a blast over the left field fence in the second inning, to make the game 17-2.