Lakers Split with Onondaga, Playoff Hopes Remain Alive
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Finger Lakes Community College baseball team split a doubleheader on Tuesday at Onondaga Community College to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Lazers won the first game 11-10, but the Lakers bounced back in the nightcap, winning 8-4 in 8 innings. The Lakers are now 21-26 on the season. The 21 wins are the most victories FLCC has recorded over the past five seasons. In Region III, Finger Lakes is 15-12 and still fighting for the fourth and final playoff spot.
Onondaga got out to a quick start against Finger Lakes starter Kevin Close. They would strike for four runs in the first and third, against just one for the Lakers in the second. Finger Lakes would get back into the game in the fourth. Down 8-1, Branden Rhodes worked a two-out walk to get the rally going. Corey Galletta and Hunter Hey would follow that up with singles and the Lakers had the bases loaded. Aaron Freida would strike out on a curveball in the dirt that would roll away from the catcher. Rhodes would beat the force out at the plate to keep the inning going and make it 8-2. Joey Simmons would walk to force in a run and Kyle Consolie would hit a two-run double. Dylan Catlin would walk on four pitches before Nate Eastman hit a single that would drive in two more runs. The inning would end and the Lakers cut the margin down to one, trailing 8-7.
The Lazers would answer with two unearned runs in the bottom of the frame. Finger Lakes would get right back to scoring by plating three in the top of the fifth to tie it. Rhodes and Galletta would hit back-to-back singles to start the inning and were bunted into scoring position by Hey. Freida would score them on a double. A Simmons single would put runners on the corners with two outs. Catlin would bring Freida home with a single to tie the game at 10-10. Onondaga would push across an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth to break the tie and beat the Lakers 11-10 in game one.
Galletta and Freida each had a pair of hits for the Lakers. Freida, along with Consolie and Eastman, each had a pair of RBIs.
Game two saw a back and forth affair that would conclude in extra innings. Finger Lakes would get the scoring going in the third inning. Hey and Freida would lead off the inning with back-to-back hit by pitches. Simmons would then single to load the bases. After he reached base, Consolie would walk to force in a run. Troy Loparco would later single with two outs and stake the Lakers to a 2-0 lead. Onondaga would answer with two of their own off of freshman starter Derick Fera. Fera pitched effectively over his five innings of work; allowing just three hits while striking out four.
Finger Lakes would get back on the scoreboard in the fifth with a two-out walk by Eastman. Loparco would follow him with a walk. Eastman would then steal third and score when the catcher threw the ball past the third baseman and into left field. Once again, Onondaga would answer to tie the game at 3. Finger Lakes would fire right back in the sixth. Freida would walk and steal second base. A Simmons single put runners on the corners for Consolie, who, likewise, would single. Consolie's hit, which traveled down the right field line, would plate Freida and give the Lakers a 4-3 lead.
The Lazers would use a leadoff double to their advantage and tie the game at four and continue to threaten with the bases loaded. With one out, Dakota Stackhouse would induce a groundball up the middle. Freshman shortstop Hey would field it, step on second, and throw to Eastman at first for the double play to end the inning. The seventh inning would go scoreless before the Lakers would strike in the eighth.
Galletta would lead off with an infield single before getting pinch ran for by Kenny Urbanik. Onondaga would strike the next two batters out, while Urbanik stole second and moved to third on a passed ball. With Simmons batting, a ball would sneak past the Lazer catcher, thus allowing Urbanik to score. Urbanik's run would give the Lakers the lead. Simmons would walk and Consolie would be hit by the pitch. Catlin would also walk to load the bases with two outs. Eastman would then hit a single down the right field line to score two and push the lead to 7-4. After Eastman's hit, Loparco would beat out an infield single. After Loparco got on base, Onondaga's first baseman would make an errant throw back to the pitcher. The ball would travel away from the Lazers pitcher and Catlin would sneak home to steal another run for the Lakers. His run would give Finger Lakes an 8-4 lead going into the bottom of the eighth.
In the home half of the eighth, Stephen Lewis would get a deep fly ball for the first out before allowing a single up the middle. With one out and a runner on first, Lewis got the next batter to hit a groundball to second baseman Danny D'Eletto. He would feed Hey at short, who would turn the double play to end the game.
Kevin Carpentier recorded the final out of the seventh to earn his third win of the year. Consolie and Eastman each had a pair of hits and two RBIs.
The Lakers have their final doubleheader of the year this Thursday at Corning Community College. The Lakers need a sweep of the Red Barons, and help from Alfred State College in their continuation game against Jamestown Community College to reach the playoffs. First pitch from Corning is scheduled for 2pm.