ValleyCats shut out Cyclones in finale
TROY, N.Y. » The Tri-City ValleyCats rode some great pitching and a five home run performance, to defeat the Brooklyn Cyclones 13-0 Thursday night. Patrick Sandoval picked up his first win of the year for the ‘Cats, while Jake Simon suffered his second loss of the year for the Cyclones.
The scoring began with the first professional home run for JJ Matijevic on a deep shot to left field, and was followed up by the third home run of the year for Jake Adams, which drove in three more runs.
As the game moved on, the ‘Cats played small ball. Matijevic picked up an RBI on a groundout that scored Andy Pineda, and in the fifth inning, Pineda drew a bases loaded walk. A single and another RBI for JJ Matijevic on a soft single to right field made it 7-0.
The power returned late in the game, with a three run blast by Kyle Davis for his second of the year. Reid Russell immediately followed that up with his first professional home run on a solo shot that gave the ‘Cats an 11-0 lead.
Russell wasn’t done yet, as he recorded another home run in the eighth inning, on a two-run blast down the left field line. Russell and the entire ValleyCats roster reached base at least twice and hit safely at least once in the contest.
Meanwhile, Patrick Sandoval pitched a brilliant outing, recording eight strikeouts
over five innings, while allowing just three hits and walking two. His bullpen aided him as well, as Colin McKee helped finish off the game for the ‘Cats with four innings of hitless baseball, while striking out five.
Tri-City will now head to Maryland to face the Aberdeen IronBirds for a three game set. Friday’s contest was not complete by press time. The ValleyCats will return home on Tuesday to face the State College Spikes at 7 p.m.
Little League
WATERVLIET 16, TROY CENTRAL PURPLE 0 » Mitchell Bower led a balanced offense for Watervliet with three hits followed by Logan Jamrosz, Tyler Senecal, Brandon Dudley, and Shawn Murphy who
recorded two hits each.
Robbie Montes led the pitchers with five strikeouts.
Youth golf
NENY PGA JUNIOR GOLF TOUR SUMMER CLASSIC NO. 3 >> Saratoga Springs resident Anthony Cavotta shot a 1-under 70 at Orchard Creek Golf Club to win the boys 13-15 year-old division of the Junior Golf Tour’s third event this summer. Paul Goetz III was second with a 73 while Ryan Bloomer of Hoosick Falls and Tismark Boham of Valatie tied for third with 75s.
Cavotta’s score would also have topped the boys 16-18 division, won by Delmar’s Ryan Davis witha 72. Austin Lunstedt of Rhinebeck was second with a 74.
Dixon Boggs of Wilton
took first in the boys 8-12 division with a score of 55 points. Kieran Cummins of Loudonville was second with 41 points and Queensbury’s Brayden Dock was third with 40.
In the girls competition, Clifton Park’s Emma VanDeCar won a playoff against Isabella Diaz of Ballston Spa to win the 16-18 division. Both golfers finished with 87s in regulation to edge Laura Rentz of East Greenbush, who shot an 88.
Nicole Criscone shot a 76 to easily win the girls 13-15 division. Schuyler Lorette of East Greenbush was second with an 88 and Grace Kochan of Scotia took third.
Voorheesville resident Kennedy Swedick finished with 46 points to win the girls 8-12 division.