The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
VVS closes out Phoenix after two- day delay
Red Devils earn 2- 1 win after 2- day delay
VVS's baseball team took a 2- 0 lead over Phoenix Thursday and had to wait until Saturday for a 2- 1 win.
VERONA >> Vernon- Verona- Sherrill took a 2- 0 lead through three innings in its Class B baseball quarterfinal against Phoenix Thursday.
It took two days, but the Red Devils finally closed out the Firebirds Saturday afternoon, with Adam Ross finishing what he started on the mound in a 2- 1 victory.
“( I told them) we gotta show up ready to play,” said VVS head coach Chad Hodkinson. “Whether the weather will let it happen, we’ll wait and see.”
The Red Devils opened the game with a run in the first inning Thursday. Bud Bowers led off the bottom of the frame with a walk and Dane Carlson drew a walk as well. Alex Saville singled to score Bowers and put VVS up 1- 0.
The hosts tacked on another run in the third. This time it was Saville starting things, leading off the inning with a double. Marc Iseneker and James Flagler struck out but Adam Nell was able to connect for a single off pitcher Adam Thoryk to extend the lead to 2- 0. Ross struck out to end the frame and at that point the umpires delayed the game due to rain. It continued Friday, keeping the teams off the field.
The weather f i nal ly cleared enough to play Saturday afternoon, although the cold and windy conditions were hardly perfect for baseball. Ross and Thoryk each returned to the mound after starting Thursday and neither ap- peared to miss a beat. Ross struck out four of the first six batters he faced Saturday before getting into trouble in the sixth.
The inning appeared to be going smoothly with Ross setting down the first two batters. Thoryk then ripped a two- out double to left field and scored on a single by Justin Sutliffe to cut the Red Devils lead to 2- 1. Ross walked the next batter but got a fly out to end the inning.
VVS put two runners on with a walk and an error in the bottom of the sixth but couldn’t capitalize, sending Ross into the seventh with a one- run lead. He walked Chris Vaverchak with one out and Emilio Tassone sacrificed him to second with bunt, putting the potential tying run in scoring position with two outs. Bryce Plante hit a hard line drive to center field but Dane Carlson made the catch to send VVS to the next round.
“I felt really good on Thursday when we came out,” said Ross. “I found my change up I didn’t have Thursday, that helped me a lot today.”