TROY — One mighty blast off the bat of Shenendehowa senior shortstop Ethan Farina on Wednesday evening had the Plainsmen believing their hex against Saratoga Springs was finally coming to an end. Michael Mack, the Blue Streak’s’ junior ace pitcher, was named the Suburban Council’s Pitcher of the Year and he rebounded nicely from that blow.
Mack’s double to the fence in left put his team ahead in the fifth inning and the right-hander survived a scare in the seventh when Shen pinch-hitter Ian Oeschlaeger launched a deep drive to left that Drew Adams tracked down with a brilliant grab as the Blue Streaks produced a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Plainsmen at Bruno Stadium in the first game of the Section II Class AA best-of-3 title series.
“He hit it well and long, but it hung up there,” Shenendehowa coach Greg Christodulu said of Oeschlaeger’s drive. “There was a slight breeze coming in and I thought the left fielder made a great play. He was deep. Credit to ‘Oesch’ for putting a good swing on it and credit the left fielder for making a great play.”
“I was kind of scared. That was a really bad pitch,” said Mack, who allowed just three hits, no earned runs and struck out 10. “(Adams) ran it down and it was an amazing play. My boys have my back.”
“Off the bat, I thought it might get into the gap,” Saratoga Springs coach Andy Cuthbertson said. “Drew Adams runs like a deer, tracked it very well and made a big-time play in a big-time game.”
The latest win by second-seeded Saratoga Springs (18-5) over top-seeded Shenendehowa (17-6) marked the fourth straight time the Blue Streaks have prevailed against their rivals. In addition to a pair victories during the regular season, Saratoga Springs also defeated Shenendehowa in the 2022 semifinals.
The second game of the series at Bruno Stadium is scheduled for Friday night. If a third game is required…
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