A run in the bottom of the 7th gives Kendall a thrilling Class C state qualifier victory

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Sammy Conte is congratulated by his Kendall teammates after singling in the game winning run in the seventh inning to give the Eagles a 5-4 win over Geneseo in the Section V Class C state qualifier this evening at Dwyer Stadium.

Pushing across a run in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the seventh inning, Kendall nipped Geneseo 5-4 in the Section V Class C state qualifier baseball game this evening at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia.

Sammy Conte singled in the game winning run for the Eagles as a leadoff double by Vinnie D’Agostino set up the opportunity.

“That was huge. That is his third walk off hit,” said Eagles Coach Tige Noni of Conte’s game winner.

“The kids never gave up,” said Noni whose Eagles had to come from behind twice. “It wasn’t very pretty but we got it done. The battle was epic.”

Nic Cole did yoeman work on the mound for Kendall pitching all seven innings scattering 7 hits and striking out 12.”

“It was a great game overall,” said Cole. “The bats getting the runs to get us back in it really brought my energy back up.”

“Nic really threw just a great game. He got after them,” said Noni.

Geneseo jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Tyler Churchfield.

Kendall though answered right back with the tying run in the home half of the first on an RBI single by Vinnie D’Agostino.

Geneseo regained the lead at 4-1 by scoring three times in the second on a two-run single by Bryce Patterson and an RBI single by Luke Davis.

However, the Blue Devils could not cross home plate again as Cole bore down allowing only two more hits and striking out 7 over the final five innings. The Eagles defense also came up with a big double play triggered by Vinnie D’Agostino at shortstop to get out of trouble in the fifth inning.

The Eagles rallied back into a 4-4 tie by scoring three times in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Cole, a balk and a wild pitch. A single by CJ D’Agostino and a hit batter set up the threat.

Geneseo did get two runners aboard with one out in the top of the seventh but Cole slammed the door on the threat by registering two clutch inning ending strikeouts.

That set the stage for Conte’s dramatic game winning single in the home half of the seventh.

Cole and Vinnie D’Agostino both had 2 hits on the evening as did Patterson for the Blue Devils.

Kendall played the game a bit shorthanded as three senior starters – catcher Colby Hughes, first baseman/pitcher Gavin Braun and outfielder Gio Rodriquez – were away on a Senior trip.

Improving to 23-1, Kendall will next face Section VI champion Gowanda in the Class C Far West Regional on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Dwyer Stadium. The victor will advance to the state semifinals.

Note: More pictures and a video of the winning run will be on our Facebook pages later.

Kendall catcher Andrew D’Agostino tags out Geneseo’s Preston Granger at home plate.

Nic Cole went the distance on the mound for Kendall.

Jonny Conte slides safely into home for Kendall’s first run of the evening.