The Arachnids and Yankees met for the third time this year on Thursday night (8/1/24) with 1st Place on the line at always perfect Watervliet HS baseball field. It was another sunny (right side could not see anything), warm and humid night for baseball, and both teams brought the lumber. On the hill for the home team Arachnids was Wayne Nicholsen, and for the Yankees, Craig Miller.

In the top of the 1st, the Yankees got the action going right away against the always tough to hit Nicholsen. Paul Post hit a line drive to LF that was misplayed allowing Post to reached 2B. Following a passed ball that allowed Post to move to 3B, Tony Nardacci walked, then stole 2B. Tim Brown then hit into a 5-3 out holding the runners. Ron Smaka then singled, driving in Post and moving Nardacci to 3B. Jim McQuade then hit into a 5-4 FC, but the throw to 1B was not in time to double up McQuade. Nicholsen then got Ron Massaroni to hit into a 1-3 ground out to end the Yankees half of the inning. Yankees 2, Arachnids coming to bat. Arachnids lead-off hitter Stefan Koutsakis started the Spiders attack, lining the first pitch into LF. After Koutsakis stole 2B, Ken Willington singled to LF, moving Koutsakis to 3B. Lee Madsen then reached 1B on an error by the pitcher allowing Koutsakis to score and Wellington to move to 3B. TJ Scorsone then hit into a 6-4 FC allowing Wellington to score. Miller then recorded the 3rd out on a nicely execute 3-1 ground out. Game tied 2-2.

Second Inning. Both Nicholsen and Miller settled in and retired the sides without yielding any runs.

Top of the 3rd Inning. With 2 outs, Tim Brown singled and stole 2B. Ron Smaka then delivered a RBI line drive down the left field line scoring Brown putting the Yankees back in the lead 3-2. Nicholsen then got McQuade to hit into a FC to end the Yankees inning. In the bottom of the 3rd, the Arachnids responded. Ed Draves led off with a single, after a Don Wixon sacrifice bunt, Koutsakis hit a line drive that deflected off the SS glove for an error, allowing Draves to advance to 3B. Koutsakis then stole 2B. With runners on 2B and 3B, Wellington singled to right field for 2 RBI. Miller then retired the next two batters. Arachnids 4, Yankees 3.

In the top of the 4th inning, Nicholsen quietly retired the Yankees, only yielding a single to John Cortese. In the bottom half of the inning, after retiring the first 2 batters, Jim Tino, Tom King and John Reel all singled to load the bases. Miller was then able to get Draves to pop up to end the threat. Game was tied again at 4-4.

Top of the 5th. The score did not remain tied for long. Miller led off with a single, followed by a stolen base. Nicholsen then got Jim Konstantakis to hit into a 4-3 ground out, advancing Miller to 3B. Leadoff hitter Paul Post, a.k.a The Postman delivered an RBI single to LF scoring Miller from third. Post promptly stole 2B. Nardacci then singled advancing Post to 3B. Brown then hit a ground ball to the second baseman who was able to tag Nardacci going to 2B for out #2, however Post was able to score from 3B. Nicholsen then got Smaka to lineout to the second base to end the Yankees rally. Yankees now up 6-4. In the bottom of the 5th the Yankees went to the bullpen and brought in Ron Massaroni to try and keep the Spidermen bats at bay. After retiring the first hitter on a pop out to 3B, Koutsakis singled to right and stole 2B. Wellington then hit a booming double to RCF scoring Koutsakis. Lee Madsen then followed with a single moving Wellington to 3B. Massaroni then got Scorsone to hit into a 1-4 FC, allowing Wellington to score. Joe Parker then followed with a single, putting runners on first and second. Terry McCarthy then doubled scoring Scorsone and moving Parker to 3B. Jim Tino followed with a RBI single scoring Scorsone. Massaroni then retired the next batter 6-3. The bottom of the 5th saw the Arachnids put up 4 runs on 6 hits to take an 8-6 lead.

Top of 6th Inning. A tired Nicholsen gave way to TJ Scorsone. The Yankees first two batters walked on close call 3-2 pitches. Scorsone was able to then get Cortese to pop out to Shortstop, and strikeout the next batter. After a wild pitch/passed ball that advanced the runners to 2nd and 3rd bases, Ted Poleto hit a blooper to shallow RF that dropped in for an RBI single, scoring McQuade from 3rd base, cutting the Yankees deficit to 8-7. Scorsone struck out the next batter to retire the side. In the bottom of the 6th, Massaroni retired the Arachnids without giving a run despite 2 walks and an error and leaving the bases full.

Top of the 7th. Jimmy Konstantakis led off with a low line drive that could not be handled cleanly by the Shortstop. On the next pitch Konstantakis stole second. Leadoff hitter Paul Post then hit a pop up in front of home plate that dropped, but the throw to first was high and Post was safe, putting runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs. The next batter Nardacci, hit a grounder back to the pitcher for a 1-3 out. With runners now on 2nd and 3rd, the Arachnids intentionally walked the Tim Brown to load the bases with 1 out and clinging to a 8-7 lead. With bases loaded, Ron Smaka hit a blooper into shallow RCF that fell in front of a charging John Reel and Jim Tino for a RBI single tying the game at 8. With 1 out, and bases still loaded and a speedy Paul Post on 3rd base, up steps Jim McQuade. McQuade hits a fly ball to LF just inside the chalk line. The Arachnids LF caught the ball but was not able to throw out a tagging Post from 3rd base. Scorsone then retired the next batter on a pop up to 3B to end the Yankee inning. The Arachnids had one last shot in the bottom of the 7th, however Massaroni was able to retire the 4-5-6 hitters 1-2-3 and close the door on another Yankees/Arachnids classic.

Final Yankees 9 Arachnids 8. Yankees take 2 of 3 regular season games with late-game comebacks. Next rematch will hopefully be in the playoffs!

Team R H E
Yankees 9 11 3
Arachnids 8 13 2

Hit Leaders
Yankees: Ron Smaka 3 hits, John Cortese 2 hits
Arachnids: Ken Willington 3 hits, Stefan Koutsakis and Jim Tino 2 hits each


-- Edited by spakids03 on Sunday 4th of August 2024 08:02:14 PM

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