Sir Bills post fifth straight win

Johnstown draws 11 walks in victory over Queensbury

By BILL CAIN, The Leader-Herald
JOHNSTOWN — Queensbury sent five pitchers to the mound Wednesday, but they couldn’t find the strike zone often enough against a patient Johnstown team.

Johnstown accepted 11 walks from the parade of pitchers, which helped turn their four hits into a 9-4 Foothills Council win, the Sir Bills’ fifth straight.

Queensbury coach Jay Marra said his team has been issuing too many free passes this season.

“That’s been our M.O. all year,” Marra said. “We’ve had seven or eight walks a game. We just can’t throw strikes and it’s been killing us.”

Starter Brendan Agans walked five and struck out two in 3ª innings. He was responsible for the first three Johnstown runs, which tied the game. Taylor Vaughn threw five pitches, got out of the fourth and was lifted before the start of the fifth, walking one.

Ryan Davis threw to two batters, walking both, before giving way to teammate Colin Gallagher. Davis’ two runners eventually scored to give Johnstown a 5-3 lead and Davis the loss.

In the first three innings, Johnstown walked once each inning, but had no hits. With more patience, came more hittable balls.

“We were putting it in play and they had a few errors along the way. I’m happy with our plate appearances,” Johnstown coach Aaron Mraz said. “Early on, we were more aggressive and swinging at first pitches, but we talked about being more patient and getting runners on.”

Johnstown got on the board with its first hit of the game in the fourth inning. Wes Clark reached on an error and both Jordan Hill and Dylan Fries walked. They were on second and third base when Jake Arrunategui came to the plate with two outs. His bloop single behind first base scored both runners and moved Fries to third base. Fries scored on a wild pitch to Jason Biron to tie the game.

After both Casey Rivera and Clark walked to start the fifth, Trevor Bruce doubled for two runs past Vaughn in left field when the Spartan overran his fly.

The Sir Bills added four more runs in the sixth inning, sparked by Biron’s one-out hit to left field. Ryan Brown followed with a walk and Rivera with an RBI single. Craig Cook later drove in a run with a groundout. Both Brown and Hill walked three times in the game.

Throughout the game, the Spartan pitchers were on a short leash. Both Vaughn and Davis saw only two batters. Two others threw less than two innings.

“We told them if they walked two guys in the same inning, they were coming out,” Marra said. “We had to give other guys chances. We’ve gone long enough with the seniors, so I’m trying to work in some younger kids.”

Johnstown starter Colin Lombardoni ran into trouble in the third inning, walking four. He could have gotten out of the inning unscathed, but for Rivera’s miscue at third base with two outs. Two batters Lombardoni had walked scored on the error.

In the fourth inning, Queensbury touched Lombardoni for two hits and a walk. The second hit, from the bat of Tim Hughes, plated Phil Duncan for the only earned run against the Johnstown starter.

Fries pitched three no-hit innings, walking three and striking out two. With two out in the seventh inning and the bases loaded, he walked Andrew Sconzo to score Travis Deuel. Clark got the game’s final out two batters later on a popup to catcher Cook.

“That last walk shouldn’t have happened, but Wes came in and closed it out. It was all good,” Fries said. “I was feeling pretty good, but my arm started hurting in that last inning. I was throwing up and low and inside. Coach made the right decision in bringing Wes in.”

Mraz said Fries has been reliable for the Sir Bills this season.

“Dylan Fries has been huge,” he said. “He’s been solid all year for us. He gave us some tremendous innings and gave us a chance to come back and score some runs. He’s been a trooper for us, big time.”

Now Queensbury (7-9 overall, 5-7 Foothills Council) is left with two games left and must win out to earn a sectional bid, Marra said. They face Hudson Falls and Broadalbin-Perth before the Foothills Council tournament starts next week. Both are teams the Spartans beat earlier in the year.

The Sir Bills are on a five-game win streak and have won six of their last seven. Johnstown is now 7-6 overall and 6-6 in the conference with Scotia-Glenville and Gloversville yet to play.

“It feels real good,” Fries said. “This is five in a row and we have to keep it going Friday against Scotia.”



Johnstown 9, Queensbury 4

Queensbury 002 100 1 — 4 3 2

Johnstown 000 324 x — 9 4 7

Agans, Vaughn (4), Davis (5), Gallagher (5), Sconzo (6) and Clear; Lombardoni, Fries (4), Clark (7) and Cook.



Foothills Council

Hudson Falls 7, Broadalbin-Perth 5

HUDSON FALLS — Matt Ali tripled and drove in a run leading Hudson Falls to a victory over Broadalbin-Perth.

Hudson Falls improved to 2-9 in the Foothills Council.

Joe Rogers had three hits, including a double and an RBI for the Patriots (3-12 overall, 2-10 Foothills Council). Corey Caswell doubled and drove in two runs and John Samples had two hits and an RBI.



Hudson Falls 7, Broadalbin-Perth 5

Broadalbin-Perth 200 020 1 — 5 10 6

Hudson Falls 000 331 x — 7 8 6

Samples, Breyo (4) and Caswell; Donahue and Jones



WAC

Duanesburg 3, Fort Plain 1

FORT PLAIN — Wes Coppolo hit a two-run double, lifting Duanesburg to a 3-1 Western Athletic Conference win over Fort Plain ending the Hilltoppers’ 23-game win streak.

The Hilltoppers’ last loss was May 12, 2007 when they lost the championship game of the Bower Tournament to Canajoharie.

Duanesburg improves to 9-3 in the WAC.

Jim Thomas singled home the only run for the Hilltoppers (10-1 overall, 10-1 WAC).



Duanesburg 3, Fort Plain 1

Duanesburg 010 020 0 — 3 6 1

Fort Plain 100 000 0 — 1 6 2

Brand, McMullen (7) and Springer; Cutspec, Baker (5) and Hudyncia



Schenectady Christian 13, Mayfield 7

MAYFIELD — Chris Stephano had the game-winning single, leading Schenectady Christian to a win over Mayfield.

Steve Garrasi added a two-run single for the Falcons (9-5 overall, 9-4 WAC), who fell behind 4-0 in the first inning.

D.J. Hoagboon led Mayfield (5-9 overall, 5-9 WAC) with three hits, including a double. Zach Cast doubled and drove in three runs.



Schenectady Christian 13, Mayfield 7

Schenectady Christian 003 040 6 — 13 8 1

Mayfield 410 020 0 — 7 10 7

Kovel and Amedore; Rose, Cast (5), Casimiro (7) and Hoagboon



Berne-Knox-Westerlo 13, Northville 4

NORTHVILLE — Josh Skinner had three hits and an RBI, leading Berne-Knox-Westerlo to a win over Northville.

Brett Flansburg had two hits and an RBI for the Bulldogs (5-8 WAC).

Chris Downs doubled and scored a run for Northville (1-12 overall, 1-12 WAC). Matt Blowers doubled and drove in two runs and Jimmy Cole had an RBI.



Berne-Knox-Westerlo 13, Northville 4

Berne-Knox-Westerlo 230 350 0 — 13 10 1

Northville 100 300 0 — 4 3 6

Galgay and Springer; Cole and Jones



Canajoharie 4, St. Johnsville 3

ST. JOHNSVILLE — Payton Stahler had two hits and Dylan Slater homered, leading Canajoharie past St. Johnsville.

Dane O’Neil threw a complete game for the Cougars (10-2 overall, 10-2 WAC) with 11 strikeouts.

Jaxson Smith and Tyler Bellen each had a hit and an RBI for the Saints (6-6 overall, 4-5 WAC). Evan Springer struck out six batters and only allowed one earned run in the complete-game effort.



Canajoharie 4, St. Johnsville 3

Canajoharie 013 000 0 — 4 7 2

St. Johnsville 110 001 0 — 3 42

O’Neil and Fleischer; Springer and Smith



Schoharie 8, Fonda-Fultonville 7, 8 innings

SCHOHARIE — Zak Hurn hit a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning, leading Schoharie to an extra-inning win over Fonda-Fultonville.

He finished with three singles, a double and five RBIs for the Indians (8-10 overall, 7-7 WAC).

Fonda-Fultonville fell to 10-5 overall and 9-3 in the WAC.



Schoharie 8, Fonda-Fultonville 7, 8 innings

Fonda-Fultonville 103 001 11 — 7 12 2

Schoharie 410 100 02 — 8 11 2

Sperow, Hart (5), J. Nethaway (8) and J. Nethaway, L. Nethaway (8); Liddle, Davis (6) and Beninati



Big 10

LaSalle 8, Amsterdam 0

TROY — Lukas Bridenbeck singled, tripled, scored two runs and drove in one, leading league leading LaSalle to a win over Amsterdam.

Kyle Charron earned the win on the mound for the Cadets (12-0 overall, 10-0 Big 10)

Kurt Kowaczyk doubled for Amsterdam (7-6 overall, 6-4 Big 10).



LaSalle 8, Amsterdam 0

Amsterdam 000 000 0 — 2 5 2

LaSalle 042 200 x — 8 10 0

Whitty and Hugo; Charron, Ferris (7) and Bridenbeck



Center State Conference

New York Mills 14, Oppenheim-Ephratah 4

OPPENHEIM — Steve Revere singled, doubled, drove in two runs and scored three times, leading New York Mills to a win over Oppenheim-Ephratah.

Brett Miner had two doubles and an RBI for the Marauders (4-11 overall, 3-4 CSC-IV).

Preston Brown had two singles for Oppenheim-Ephratah (0-11 overall, 0-6 CSC-IV) and Brock Ferguson scored two runs. Mo Conte had a double and a sacrifice fly.



New York Mills 14, Oppenheim-Ephratah 4

New York Mills 031 550 0 — 14 9 0

Oppenheim-Ephratah 200 110 0 — 4 7 4

Vasco and Miner; Seeley, Ferguson (5) and Conte



Mohawk 8, Dolgeville 7

DOLGEVILLE — Ryan Hunt’s single plated the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and Dillon Hassett gave Mohawk some insurance in a win over Dolgeville.

Hassett had two hits for Mohawk (7-5 overall, 2-3 CSC-I).

Chris Robotham had three hits and four RBIs for Dolgeville (1-10 overall, 1-6 CSC-I).



Mohawk 8, Dolgeville 7

Mohawk 140 100 2 — 8 8 1

Dolgeville 302 001 1 — 7 10 3

Marquissee, LeClair (6) and Hassett; Weaver, M. Barnes (7) and Normoyle