Sunday, 9/15 (New Scotland NY) - In a well played game at New Scotland yesterday, the Albany Reds beat the Capital City Blues, by a score of 9-5, a perfect afternoon for baseball in the Capital Division.
Both teams were loaded with pitching, and a great mix of youth and CD-MSBL veterans.
Jack Radzik took the bump for the home standing Blues, while Brad Maione toed the slab for the Reds. Each worked the first two innings.
The Reds broke on top with a quick 2 runs, with an Anthony Nelson Triple along with Carlo Belici & Doug Hall hits. The damage was limited by a quick throw by catcher Witting to catch an unsuspecting Red at third. Blues answered right back with 4 runs, as Vinnie Koster, Ed Tice, Alec Barna and Mike Aiello sparked the uprising. Both Radzik and Maione, posted scoreless second frames. The score stayed that way as pitchers Hall, (Reds) and Greg Kennedy (Blues) posted zeroes.
The Reds scratched out a run in the top of the 4th using hits by Rick Knipper and Matt Relyea to pull with in a run. Another run in the 5th, on hits by Jim Jasiewicz, Belici and Maione made it 4-4. After an unexpected mid-inning pitching change, Hall came back on to retire the Blues but not before they grabbed a 5-4 lead.
The Reds were aided by stopping a steal of home by Vinny Koster and turning a 6-4-3 DP that ended the threat the Blues mounted to add to their lead.
Reds took the lead back in the 6th with a 2-run tally. Rick Nipper started the 7th with a hit and SB to help add some insurance in the 7th with a hit by Matt Relyea and then subsequent doubles by Jim Jasiewicz & Carlo Belici tacking on a total of 3 runs pushing the score to 9-5.
Reds pitching held up over the final 2 innings with Brenden Lee getting an important shutdown by striking out the 3rd & 4th hitters in the bottom of the 6th to end the inning and get through the heart of the Blues lineup. Jimmy Dalton came in in the 7th keeping the hitters off balance for a quick 1-2-3 inning to close things out on a beautiful night for baseball.
Next up is Sunday, September 22, and as these games have gone, another good one is anticipated!
