A spider's best defense is its web. In the case of Game 1 of the 62s championship series, it was the lack of a best defense and an opponent's Web that led to the Arachnids' demise.
John Weber scattered nine hits over five innings and his defense bailed him out of two bases-loaded jams as the Yankees took the first game of the Best-of-3 series by a score of 13-3 at New Scotland Park last night.
Darrell Duncan toed the rubber for the Arachnids last night and struck out four in his three innings of work, but several untimely errors behind him forced him to leave the game trailing 11-0. Stefan Koustakis finished up, allowing two runs in three innings of relief.
The Yankees jumped out in front 4-0 in the first inning, as Tony Nardacci sliced a double to left to open the game, and five of the next six batters all collected hits with Kevin Carpenter's two-run double the big blow. The Yanks tacked on two unearned runs in the second and slapped a five-run third inning on the Arachnids -- all with two outs -- to take a commanding 11-0 lead.
The Arachnids had several golden scoring opportunities, loading the bases in the second and third innings, but couldn't break through. Weber, and relief pitcher Pete Geannelis who threw the last two innings, were the beneficiary of three double plays behind them.
With a brutal sun on the right side at game time and through the first four innings, it became a contest of which team would take advantage of the blinded fielders at first base, second base and right field. Yankees rightfielder Paul Post battled the sun to make two pivotal catches, and teammate Jim McQuade came up with a key sliding catch and running grab to thwart Arachnids rallies from his left field post.
Post was also a catalyst at the plate, collecting three hits at the No. 2 slot. Geannelis added a single in the first and a booming RBI double in the third. Duncan led the Arachnids with a double and two singles and two runs scored, and Wayne Nicholson and Mike Aiello added a pair of hits.
The two teams will go to battle again on Wednesday at New Scotland in Game 2, with Waterliet HS the scheduled site on Thursday if a third and deciding game is necessary.
