Witches secure key win
Greenwich edges Hoosic Valley; teams now tied for first in Wasaren
GREENWICH — Momentum can be a funny thing in sports.
It’s often difficult to achieve, even more difficult to maintain and on Thursday afternoon, no one felt the bitter sting of a momentum switch worse than the Hoosic Valley baseball team.
The Indians (10-2, 16-2) had John Lucas on third base in the top of the seventh inning against Greenwich with just one out before a miscue on a squeeze attempt saw the speedy left fielder running for his life up and down the line.
Lucas was picked off in between third base and home, stalling a Hoosic Valley rally that began the inning before and ultimately sending that fickle momentum push back to the Witches’ (10-2, 15-2) in their final at bat.
Greenwich took advantage of the turn, as Cody Sebast worked a lead- off walk and Jake Jennings followed with a double that bounced off the fence in center field. It was Nate Passino’s RBI up the first base line though, that gave the Witches the final 2- 1 victory and effectively changed the makeup of the Wasaren League title race.
“That was big,” Jennings, who caught Lucas
on the third base line, said of the game-changing play. “They got us a little nervous right there because they could have got something on us. We were able to get him though and we executed it well.”
The Indians put a little bit of pressure on Greenwich in the top of the sixth inning as John Rooney connected on an RBI single to right field, driving home Frank Acker and tying the game at one run apiece.
With only one out in the at- bat, Hoosic Valley loaded the bases, threatening a come- from- behind victory that would guarantee the Indians at least part of the Wasaren League title.
Greenwich pitcher John Barnes, who finished with eight strikeouts, was able to work his way out of the inning though, striking out one and forcing a fly out at third base.
“I don’t even really know what it was,” Barnes said of his approach. “But I just really wanted to win this game. A couple of times I let my emotions get the best of me, but I tried to focus up and throw strikes.”
Throughout the game Barnes had done a solid job of forcing Hoosic Valley into short at- bats, not allowing a hit through the first three innings.
On the flip side of the mound though, Jt Sawyer still made it difficult for the Witches to get their own offense going. Colin Oswald scored the first run of the day after a John Stewart RBI in the bottom of the first, but after allowing a leadoff single, Sawyer gave up just three more hits in the entire game.
“I thought both teams played great defense,” Greenwich coach Duke Beck said.
Going into the matchup, the Witches, who dropped a 3- 2 decision to Hoosic Valley earlier in the season, were anxious to prove that they too could contend for a league title and some recognition on the field.
“I saw that they (Hoosic Valley) were ranked in the top 10 in the state, and with this win we should be right up there with them too, I think,” Barnes said. “I think we’ve got some momentum now.”
As the regular season winds down, both teams have just two games left on the schedule before heading into sectionals. With the loss, Hoosic Valley drops into a first- place tie with Greenwich. A loss for either team in the next two games would result in the other grabbing the league title. If both teams win out, they’ll share the championship.
While the Indians are forced to look for a little bit of momentum again after the loss, Greenwich is feeling the push and the confidence that comes with a late-game victory.
“I’m really happy for these guys,” Beck said. “A good team win. We’ve still got games to play though. There’s no easy ones in our league.”