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Section 6: Games Recaps

May 19, 2016

Charlie Karstedt
Assistant, New York

Game Recap
Williamsville North 7, Williamsville East 6

Cross town rivals squared off on a sunny day in Williamsville this Tuesday in a non-league matchup to finish out the regular season in preparation for their playoff run beginning this week. Sophomore Clemson commit Charlie Mack got things going early for the Flames driving a solo HR over the right field wall. In the second North answered back as 2017 Catcher Jake Zurat singled up the middle.  After getting himself around to 3rd he was driven in by 2017 3b Kyle Spoth’s RBI single to tie things at 1. In the 3rd, 2017 standout LHP/1b Josh Suroweic ripped an RBI single followed by another hit from Peter Battaglia (Niagara U).  After another single from Kyle Spoth, senior Tyler Eldridge drove him in with a hit of his own. In the bottom of 4 Easy tried to get things going again as Charlie Mack led off with a single but was then doubled up on a hard line-out to end the inning. North extended their lead in the 5th to as Jake Zurat doubled to the right center gap scoring Battaglia followed by another RBI single from Eldridge to make it 7-1 Spartans after the top of 6.

In the bottom half of the 6th the Flames showed some fight left in the tank as Kiefer led off with an infield single.  After a few walks and a single from 7th grader Joe Mack (brother of Charlie) East had a little rally started.  Jack Rubbins came up with a huge 2 RBI single to make it 7-4.  Sophomore Drew Elliot came to the plate with two on and drove an RBI double to bring the flames within one.  However, even with the hard fought late rally, the Flames were not able to plate another run leaving men in scoring position in the 7th to drop the one run game to the Spartans.

Each team has some serious weapons to use in the playoffs. Williamsville North got three solid innings out of 2017 RHP/OF Alex Wanat who threw well to contact with a good breaking ball and command of his FB. Add him to a rotation led by 2017 LHP Josh Surowiec, and a lineup of hitters like Battaglia, Zurat, Surowiec, and Spoth and you’ve got a tough lineup come playoff time. The Flames look to live and die by the bat this year, led by Charlie Mack and Michael Steffan.  If those two can stay hot at the plate come playoff time then East could scare some opposing pitchers.

 

Game Recap
Amherst 18, Grand Island 3

In their last game prior to playoffs the two teams met for a tuneup heading into the offseason. Amherst wasted no times showing the pop in their bats as they put 3 on the board in the first. Senior RHP Nate Cole had a day on both sides of the field. Not only did he throw a complete game with 4 K’s but he was 3-5 with 4 RBI’s at the dish as well. The senior was not overpowering but lived around the plate and showed good command of a slow looping curve ball that had Grand Island off balance all night. Junior Catcher Brian Fulford stood out as well. Fulford barreled 3 balls hard driving in 3 runs including a 2 run double. The 6-foot-3 thick bodied backstop also showed good receiving skills.  

Junior outfielder Zach Tojek was 3-4 on the day with 3 RBI’s including a line drive double to center field. Another riser to keep eyes on is a sophomore second baseman Duncan McDonald who showed some good tools and feel for the game. A good runner, and simple compact swing project him to be a young talent on the rise.

The game got away from Grand Island quickly as the bats just remained hot for the Tigers who finished the game with 19 hits as a team. Though Grand Island looked a little flat in the loss yesterday there’s a few players that will keep things interesting for them if they get hot to start playoffs. Amherst on the other hand showed that they’ll be a tough lineup to get through for any opponent as they hit the ball hard 1-9.


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