Saratoga, Shaker win
Teams to take part in the first best-of-three Class AA final series
The stellar all-around performance authored by the Saratoga Springs baseball team Monday landed the Blue Streaks a trophy they cherish very much. It also moved them closer to potentially landing another coveted piece of hardware in the Section II Class AA title plaque.
Saratoga Springs erupted for six runs in the top sixth inning, the final blow coming on a majestic three-run home run to left center by senior catcher Noah Joly, and the combination of starting pitcher Patrick Deschaine and reliever Xavier Garcia made that uprising stand up as the Blue Streaks defeated arch-rival Shenendehowa 7-1 in the first of two semifinal contests at Shuttleworth Park.
Saratoga Springs (16-7), seeded No. 7, will next take on No. 4 seed Shaker (14-8) in the first ever best-of-3 final series beginning Wednesday at Bruno Stadium. The Blue Bison advanced with a 2-0 triumph over eighth-seeded Columbia in the second game as Stony Brookbound pitcher Andrew Dongelewic, who fired a no-hitter in April vs. Ballston Spa, tossed a four-hitter and struck out 11 to lead Shaker back to the final for the second straight year.
“Columbia is a really good team and they have been hitting really well of late, but Andrew really did the job. It was really nice to watch,” Shaker third baseman Sam Case said.
“I can’t thank my guys enough because they’ve had my back the whole way. We’ve had our ups and downs, but it all pulled through,” Dongelewic said.
The third meeting this season on the diamond between Saratoga Springs and Shenendehowa netted the Blue Streaks ownership of the I-87 Cup
awarded to the season champion in the rivalry. Collecting that trophy, with a berth in the Class AA final as further reward, made the entire roster erupt with exultation after seeing Garcia induce a grounder to shortstop Zander Teator to end the game.
“I’m speechless ... this feels so great,” Teator said.
“This is a big accomplishment, especially in my senior year,” said Deschaine, who scattered five hits and struck out three before giving way to Garcia with two on and none out in the seventh. “Doing with it these guys is a great time.”
Through five innings, Deschaine and Shen starter Nicholas Jos engaged in a quality pitchers’ duel. Shen scored its run in the third inning on a solo home run to left by Alex Sandberg on a first pitch. Saratoga Springs responded to tie the game in the fifth when senior third baseman Nate Rodriguez laced a double to left to plate eighth grade second baseman Raul Rodriguez.
Nino Salati, who earned the save Friday when the Plainsmen defeated Christian Brothers Academy 4-2, relieved Jos in the sixth but recorded only one out. Teator led off with a single and later scored on an RBI double from Michael Mack. Raul Rodriguez made it 4-1 with a two-run single and Joly later ended Salati’s time on the mound by ripping a 3-2 pitch to make it 7-1.
“I was just telling myself all at-bat, ‘stick with the approach.’ I got an inner-half pitch and jumped on it,” Joly said.
“It was a beautiful thing. I can’t thank my team more for getting all those runs,” Deschaine said.
During an evening when both squads turned in several stellar defensive plays, the Blue Streaks quickly rebounded from making their only error to open the bottom of the sixth by turning a double play immediately after, started by Teator.
Deschaine started the seventh having thrown 72 pitches. He exited for Garcia after walking Colin Maloney and allowing a single by Austin Caldwell.
“He doesn’t blow the ball by guys,” Saratoga Springs coach Andy Cuthbertson said of Deschaine. “He has movement, whether he is in an offensive or defensive count. His change up has movement. He is very efficient. When the guys play the defense they can behind him, it just gives him confidence to left them put the ball in play.”
“I can’t say enough about this kid,” Joly said.
Columbia (10-13), coming off Friday’s 8-6 win against top-seeded Colonie, appeared poised to do immediate damage against Dongelewic in the top of the first as three of the Blue Devils’ first four hitters singled to load the bases. Undaunted, Dongelewic answered back by striking out Kyle Blake and Korin Laurilla to quell the threat.
“Any sectional game or playoff game, you want to get on top early,” Shaker coach Joe Rispole said. “If they had jumped ahead one or two runs, it changes the entire dynamic of the game. He really stepped up.”
Case provided Shaker a 1-0 advantage in the third with an RBI double to right against Columbia starter Jacob Skarlis, who matched Dongelewic with 11 strikeouts.
Shaker made to 2-0 in the sixth when senior shortstop Joe Karpierz singled and later scored on a wild pitch.