Shen tops Saratoga 5-3 in semi
Defending state champs return to Section II final
TROY, N.Y. » During a team meeting when Shenendehowa showed up to Joe Bruno Stadium for batting practice on Saturday morning, they simply told themselves they wouldn’t lose to Saratoga.
There was no way to have certainty on that matter. The Blue Streaks had already beaten the Plainsmen in the regular season just weeks before.
But a promise made was a promise kept for Shen, in a 5-3 win over Saratoga in the Section II Class AA semifinals.
“Everyone’s doubted us so far, so it just makes it that much sweeter this to be back, and we’re excited,” senior catcher Kyle Douglas said. “This time we were ready play.”
Brendan Disonell, a recent callup from JV, came in to record the last five outs as the Blue Streaks made a legitimate push to get back in the game. It was only his fourth varsity appearance of the season. After slicing a 4-1 lead to 4-3, the sophomore entered and quieted down a spirited Saratoga bench that had regained momentum for the first time all afternoon.
Joe Palko, Kurt Forsell, Joe Novenche and Devin Smith each had RBI singles for Shen, in that order. The Plainsmen got runs in the first and second innings. Saratoga scored its first run on a Peter Herman groundout.
“We kept developing over the course of the year. We finally got things rolling,” Shen head coach
Greg Christodulu said. “You could tell week after week, game after game, we were getting a little bit better. Their concentration was better. They were starting to understand what we were asking them to do. They were getting ready to peak at the right time of year.”
The win is the third of the Section II playoffs for Shen. They started with a come-from-behind win over Troy at home. Then they upset Christian Brothers Academy, the top seed in the section, 11-8, on Thursday. Two days later, they’d upset the No. 4 seed Saratoga to continue an underdog run for a program that’s rarely the underdog.
Saratoga beat Bethlehem on Thursday to advance to Joe Bruno Stadium. But that’s as far as their run would go. In a magical season full of walk-off wins, there would be no more magic on Saturday.
“I’d like to say that we’ve played in enough games where we’re not letting nerves effect us,” Saratoga head coach Andy Cuthbertson said. “I thought their pitcher did a good job of keeping us off balance. We did not keep them off balance in the beginning.”
The player that kept them off balance when it mattered most was Disonell. It seemed Saratoga would be able to win a game they were expected to win. Then Disonell came in and ended the game.
The final pitch was a strikeout. The runner who was at third went to his knees. The Shen players celebrated at the pitcher’s mound. Afterward, Disonell was speechless.
“I don’t know what to say,” he said. “I like winning.”
Shenendehowa will play the winner of the La Salle vs. Niskayuna contest that was not completed by press time in the Section II Class AA final next Thursday back at the Joe.