Stranded baserunners stymie Kendall in state Class C title game loss to Saratoga Catholic

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall first baseman Nic Cole gets the out on Saratoga Catholic’s Zach Streicher to compete a double play during the fifth inning of today’s Class C state championship game at Mirabito Stadium in Binghamton.

A rash of stranded baserunners, including leaving the bases loaded twice, proved costly as Kendall dropped a 4-1 decision to Saratoga Catholic in the Class C state baseball tournament championship game this afternoon at Mirabito Stadium in Binghamton.

Trailing 2-1, Kendal closed the gap to 2-1 in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Nic Cole which followed an error and a single by Sammy Conte.

However, the Eagles could not pull even as the bases were left loaded on an infield popup.

Then in the very next inning, Kendall again got the bases loaded with just one out after singles by CJ D’Agostino, Andrew Cole and Sammy Conte. Once again though the bases were left loaded on a flyout to right field and an infield out.

“The difference in the game was leaving baserunners on and a few base running errors,” said Kendall Coach Tige Noni. “You can’t win a state title by leaving a total of 9 runners on in the title game.”

Saratoga Catholic took the lead for good in the second inning on a two-run double by Kihl Kelley.

The Saints later added a pair of big insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on an error and an RBI single by winning pitcher Pierce Byrne.

Byrne, who scattered 8 hits and struck out 10, allowed only one baserunner over the final two innings as he fanned 4 during that stretch.

Vinnie D’Agostino, who pitched himself out of trouble in several innings, went the distance on the mound for the Eagles giving up 12 hits and striking out 8. He registered clutch strikeouts to get out of trouble in the first, second and sixth innings. He also got a strikeout and a grounder back to the mound to end the fourth frame.

“Vinnie threw a great game. He kept us in it until the end,” said Noni. “This was an amazing season that came up short at the end. Not putting the ball in play in key situations was a huge momentum swing in Saratoga Catholic’s favor.”

Defensively, the Eagles turned a double play in the fifth frame from Jonny Conte at second to Nic Cole at first.

C.J. D’Agostino finished with 3 hits and Sammy Conte 2.

Kendall, which advanced to the title contest by downing Ticonderoga 12-2 in the semifinals on Friday, finishes the season at 24-3.

Andrew D’Agostino bangs out a hit for Kendall.