The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Sherrill Post extends win streak to 9 straight
Pitcher celebrates birthday with 5 shutout innings
CLINTON » Sherrill Post’s Anthony Farina was celebrating his 17th birthday when he took the mound on Friday as the starting pitcher against Helmuth-Ingalls Post in their American Legion Baseball District 5 game.
His teammates’ gift to him: plenty of run support.
After struggling to drive runs in early, the undefeated visitors exploded for a seven-run fifth inning in a mercy-rule shortened 11-0 victory over the win- less hosts.
“It was important and we talked about it,” said Sherrill Post coach John Roden. “I told them that’s the difference between the good teams and the great teams is we have to come out and play every night. We can’t look at what the records are or anything like that.
“A little slower start than really what I wanted. We didn’t execute some plays to get the runs in that we should have got in but end result, we did what we should’ve and we finished the way we should’ve finished the game.”
Farina tossed a gem to earn the win on his birthday, pitching all five innings of the shutout. A Zachery Freeman single in the top of the first inning was the only hit he allowed. Farina also walked two, struck out one and retired the final seven batters he faced.
“They really couldn’t touch my fastball and I threw my curveball pretty well today,” he said. “They really couldn’t hit it well.”
Zach Nell led the offensive onslaught for the visitors, going 3 for 4 at the plate with a double and a triple, five RBI and two runs scored.
Ryan Palmer got the scoring started with a home run leading off against H-I Post starter Kyle Lofgren in the top of the second inning. After retiring the next batter, Lofgren walked Connor Van Dreason, TJ Horodnick and Jacob Horodnick – Sherrill Post’s 7-8-9 batters – on 13 pitches but retired the next two batters to keep the score 1-0.
The visitors tacked on another run in the top of the third against Lofgren. Nell led off with a drive to center field that one-hopped the fence for a dou--
ble. He took third on a wild pitch to Davey Moffett, who hit an RBI groundout to extend the lead to 2-0.
Sherrill Post continued to pressure Lofgren in the top of the fourth. TJ Horodnick walked to lead off but was caught stealing second. Jacob Horodnick singled and Tyler Rotach walked before a Dylan Shlotzhauer sacrifice bunk put both runners into scoring position. Nell provided the big hit, singling to score both and give the visitors a 4-0 edge.
Walks continued to hurt Lofgren in the top of the fifth and they helped Sherrill Post deliver the knockout blow. Pinch-hitter Andrew Roden and Palmer worked consecutive base on balls to lead off before executing a successful double steal. With two runners in scoring position and the infield in, Farina hit a high chopper to shortstop. Roden scored as Palmer was tagged out trying to take third, with Farina alertly taking second on the play. Lofgren’s day on the mound ended after he issued his ninth walk of the game.
TJ Horodnick greeted reliever Andrew Krom with a two-run double to continue the rally, extending the lead to 7-0. Krom then walked the next two batters before recording the second out of the frame with a strikeout, bringing Nell to the plate. He con- tinued his strong hitting, smashing a three-run triple to make it a 10-0 game.
He scored the game’s final run on a double by Roden.
“I was seeing the ball quite well, actually,” said Nell. “I didn’t really worry about too many curveballs. I was just trying to sit fastball and hit those.”
Tanner Deveans provided a highlight play for the hosts to end the inning, catching his hat with his bare hand as it fell off his head before making a slid- ing catch on the ball to rob Farina of a base hit in right field.
Farina shook it off, retiring the side in order on four pitches in the bottom of the fifth to finish out the victory.
Sherrill Post improved to 9-0 on the season with the victory.
“Everybody just loving each other,” said Nell what’s driven the team’s success thus far. “Everybody’s just got great team chemistry. Everybody’s working together.”