Chenango Junior Hellcats rip into 2017 with double-header win
Cameron Turner Photo
NORWICH – The Chenango Hellcats hope that the tune has been set for their 2017 spring/summer campaign – earning back-to-back wins over Utica on Saturday, June 3.
“Game one was toughest win I’ve ever coached,” said Junior Hellcat head coach Nick McCullough. “You will never see a team commit eight errors, and still win. Until we did it today.”
The Junior Hellcats jumped to a solid 3-0 start after the first inning, before surrendering their first run to Utica in the top of the second inning. At 3-1, the Hellcats looked to keep the lead, sending two additional runners home for a 5-1 game after two innings.
That is when it seemed to all fall apart.
“We left the bases loaded twice. And we couldn’t capitalize,” said coach McCullough. “But the few big hits we had was enough.”
The Junior Hellcats gave up back-to-back innings of two runs a piece to Utica, resulting in a tied ballgame entering the fifth inning.
Breaking the silence in the bottom of the fifth inning – after blanking Utica in the top of the inning – Junior Hellcat, Eli Rodriguez of Norwich connected for a ground ball where he would reach on an error. This error on the play, secured Rodriguez a base and teammate Cameron Birtch a run.
Two batters later – Hellcat Nick Shoemaker was walked – Oxford native, Brad Beckwith stepped to the plate and simply shined in the spotlight. Beckwith connected for a single down the third base line – resulting in yet another run for the 7-5 Junior Hellcat lead.
Taking the win on the mound for the Junior Hellcats was Norwich’s Mike Trevisani, who pitched 100 pitches in 6.1 innings, for four walks and four strikeouts – allowing six hits in the process. Trevisani was pulled late in the game for Rodriguez who finished off Utica to the tune of nine pitches and one strikeout, no walks.
“Mike Trevisani pitched really well. Kept us in the game, then he hit a wall in the 7th. He obviously just got tired. But Eli came in and shut the door getting the last 2 outs to close the game,” said coach McCullough.
Tyler Hagen and Eli Rodriguez would both finish 2-3 and 2-4, respectively on the day. Hagen secured two walks and three runs, while Rodriguez snagged an RBI to go along with his two runs.
The Junior Hellcats were given some time off to recuperate before game two of the double-header began at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
UT: 0 1 2 2 0 0 0– 5 6 4
CH: 3 2 0 0 2 0 x– 7 8 7
NORWICH – Game two was underway, and the bats were on fire. The Chenango Junior Hellcats made it a double win on Saturday, downing Utica for the second time at 13-10.
The shootout that ensued saw the Junior Hellcats string together 13 runs off of their 10 hits, while Utica was able to secure 11 hits in their road loss.
Much like the game prior, the Junior Hellcats jumped to a nice early lead at 2-0 after the first inning – tacking on runs in all but the second inning of the game.
Up 8-2 over visiting Utica entering the sixth inning, it seemed as if the error ridden Junior Hellcats had at least found some rhythm at the plate to cover up the defensive holes.
“Game two, guys we’re ready at first pitch. Hitting the ball hard and making great plays,” said coach McCullough.
Pitching for the hard-fought win on Saturday in game two, was Greene native Nick Shoemaker. Shoemaker pitched five innings with 98 pitches, five strikeouts and just one walk – however, allowing 10 hits.
“Nick Shoemaker was on his game. (Shoemaker) pitched outstanding. Then like Mike Trevisani did (game one), Nick just hit a wall,” said coach McCullough. “Once again making simple errors behind him. It was the third time through the lineup and Utica started figuring him out. We had to go to the bullpen and they got the lead on us.”
Utica strung together a massive push for the win in the sixth inning, managing to send home eight runs for the lead change. When the game hit the 8-8 mark, Shoemaker was pulled for Tommy Flanagan and Kai Scheer – who held down the mound until Justin Bates was ready to take out for the Junior Hellcats.
Despite the pitching change, the Junior Hellcats surrendered the lead to Utica – down 10-8 entering the bottom of the sixth inning.
What happened next, showed the true grit of the young summer ball team.
“I loved the fight the guys had in the bottom of the 6th, after having the lead the whole game, then giving it up,” said coach McCullough. “To get it right back shows that they will not give in until the last out is made.”
The Junior Hellcats earned themselves eight base runners – by walks, hits, hit by pitches – to reclaim the lead at 13-10, a five-run swing back in the home teams favor.
Justin Bates was able to close the game out in the seventh inning, blanking Utica in their final at bats – as he secured a day pitching two innings, with three strikeouts, one walk, and just one hit surrendered.
“It’s great to see the depth we have on our roster. We were missing four starters, and we still won both games,” said coach McCullough.
Nick Shoemaker and Cameron Birtch both finished 3-3 on the day, with Birtch having three RBI, and one run – while Shoemaker earned three runs and one RBI.Brad Beckwith finished 1-4 with two runs and three RBI.
Next up for the Chenango Junior Hellcats (2-0 overall), they are scheduled to play home against Vestal on Tuesday, June 6. With the weather in question, their following game on the schedule is at home on Wednesday, June 7, against Maine-Endwell.
UT: 0 0 1 0 1 8 0– 10 11 3
CH: 2 0 2 1 3 5 x– 13 10 5
NORWICH – The Chenango Hellcats hope that the tune has been set for their 2017 spring/summer campaign – earning back-to-back wins over Utica on Saturday, June 3.
“Game one was toughest win I’ve ever coached,” said Junior Hellcat head coach Nick McCullough. “You will never see a team commit eight errors, and still win. Until we did it today.”
The Junior Hellcats jumped to a solid 3-0 start after the first inning, before surrendering their first run to Utica in the top of the second inning. At 3-1, the Hellcats looked to keep the lead, sending two additional runners home for a 5-1 game after two innings.
That is when it seemed to all fall apart.
“We left the bases loaded twice. And we couldn’t capitalize,” said coach McCullough. “But the few big hits we had was enough.”
The Junior Hellcats gave up back-to-back innings of two runs a piece to Utica, resulting in a tied ballgame entering the fifth inning.
Breaking the silence in the bottom of the fifth inning – after blanking Utica in the top of the inning – Junior Hellcat, Eli Rodriguez of Norwich connected for a ground ball where he would reach on an error. This error on the play, secured Rodriguez a base and teammate Cameron Birtch a run.
Two batters later – Hellcat Nick Shoemaker was walked – Oxford native, Brad Beckwith stepped to the plate and simply shined in the spotlight. Beckwith connected for a single down the third base line – resulting in yet another run for the 7-5 Junior Hellcat lead.
Taking the win on the mound for the Junior Hellcats was Norwich’s Mike Trevisani, who pitched 100 pitches in 6.1 innings, for four walks and four strikeouts – allowing six hits in the process. Trevisani was pulled late in the game for Rodriguez who finished off Utica to the tune of nine pitches and one strikeout, no walks.
“Mike Trevisani pitched really well. Kept us in the game, then he hit a wall in the 7th. He obviously just got tired. But Eli came in and shut the door getting the last 2 outs to close the game,” said coach McCullough.
Tyler Hagen and Eli Rodriguez would both finish 2-3 and 2-4, respectively on the day. Hagen secured two walks and three runs, while Rodriguez snagged an RBI to go along with his two runs.
The Junior Hellcats were given some time off to recuperate before game two of the double-header began at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
UT: 0 1 2 2 0 0 0– 5 6 4
CH: 3 2 0 0 2 0 x– 7 8 7
NORWICH – Game two was underway, and the bats were on fire. The Chenango Junior Hellcats made it a double win on Saturday, downing Utica for the second time at 13-10.
The shootout that ensued saw the Junior Hellcats string together 13 runs off of their 10 hits, while Utica was able to secure 11 hits in their road loss.
Much like the game prior, the Junior Hellcats jumped to a nice early lead at 2-0 after the first inning – tacking on runs in all but the second inning of the game.
Up 8-2 over visiting Utica entering the sixth inning, it seemed as if the error ridden Junior Hellcats had at least found some rhythm at the plate to cover up the defensive holes.
“Game two, guys we’re ready at first pitch. Hitting the ball hard and making great plays,” said coach McCullough.
Pitching for the hard-fought win on Saturday in game two, was Greene native Nick Shoemaker. Shoemaker pitched five innings with 98 pitches, five strikeouts and just one walk – however, allowing 10 hits.
“Nick Shoemaker was on his game. (Shoemaker) pitched outstanding. Then like Mike Trevisani did (game one), Nick just hit a wall,” said coach McCullough. “Once again making simple errors behind him. It was the third time through the lineup and Utica started figuring him out. We had to go to the bullpen and they got the lead on us.”
Utica strung together a massive push for the win in the sixth inning, managing to send home eight runs for the lead change. When the game hit the 8-8 mark, Shoemaker was pulled for Tommy Flanagan and Kai Scheer – who held down the mound until Justin Bates was ready to take out for the Junior Hellcats.
Despite the pitching change, the Junior Hellcats surrendered the lead to Utica – down 10-8 entering the bottom of the sixth inning.
What happened next, showed the true grit of the young summer ball team.
“I loved the fight the guys had in the bottom of the 6th, after having the lead the whole game, then giving it up,” said coach McCullough. “To get it right back shows that they will not give in until the last out is made.”
The Junior Hellcats earned themselves eight base runners – by walks, hits, hit by pitches – to reclaim the lead at 13-10, a five-run swing back in the home teams favor.
Justin Bates was able to close the game out in the seventh inning, blanking Utica in their final at bats – as he secured a day pitching two innings, with three strikeouts, one walk, and just one hit surrendered.
“It’s great to see the depth we have on our roster. We were missing four starters, and we still won both games,” said coach McCullough.
Nick Shoemaker and Cameron Birtch both finished 3-3 on the day, with Birtch having three RBI, and one run – while Shoemaker earned three runs and one RBI.Brad Beckwith finished 1-4 with two runs and three RBI.
Next up for the Chenango Junior Hellcats (2-0 overall), they are scheduled to play home against Vestal on Tuesday, June 6. With the weather in question, their following game on the schedule is at home on Wednesday, June 7, against Maine-Endwell.
UT: 0 0 1 0 1 8 0– 10 11 3
CH: 2 0 2 1 3 5 x– 13 10 5
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