Mustangs bow in state Class B semifinal

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 14 June 2019 at 6:01 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Brian Fry slides into third after banging out a game opening triple during the Mustangs state semifinal loss to Schuylerville this afternoon at Broome Commnity College. The Schuylerville third baseman is Nate Preston.

Outscored 6-2 over the last four innings, Medina dropped a 6-3 decision to Schuylerville in the semifinals of the state Class B baseball playoffs this afternoon at Broome Community College near Binghamton.

Medina did get off to a lightning quick start with a run in the top of the first inning as Brian Fry ledoff with a triple and Nate Sherman followed up with an RBI single.

The Mustangs made it 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning as Sherman doubled and came home on a sacrifice fly by AJ Seefeldt.

Nate Sherman bangs out an RBI angle in the first inning to give Medina a quick lead.

However, the Mustangs got only two more hits and just one more run the rest of the way.

Schuylerville rallied into a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fourth inning on a wild pitch and a fielders choice play as a hit batter and a single set up the opportunity.

The Black Horses then grabbed a 3-2 lead in the fifth on a burst of three straight singles by Ryan Yandow, Colton Weatherwax and Nate Preston.

Medina though quickly battled back to retie the contest at 3-3 in the top of the sixth. Fry leadoff the inning with a double and two outs later Seefeldt reached on a single. Fry and Seefeldt then perfectly executed a double steal play with Fry scoring the equalizer.

The deadlock though did not last out the inning as Schuylerville quicky regained the lead for good at 6-3 on a huge two out, bases loaded double by Weatherwax in the home half of the frame. A walk, a single and an intentional walk loaded the bases setting up the threat.

Schuylerville pitcher Matt McCarthy then quickly closed out the victory by striking out the side in the top of the seventh. He finished with a total of 10 strikeouts, 5 hits and 2 walks.

“Our kids battled back to tie it up on a real nice double steal play but they had one more hit that we did,” said Medina Coach Jon Sherman. “They made the adjustment at the plate and got the big hit when they needed it.”

Defensively both teams turned big double plays in the first inning. First Schuylerville turned it from Brady Eugair to Christian Petralia to Alex Valee then Medina turned one from Seefeldt to Zach Fike.

In making just their second ever appearance in the state semifinals, the Mustangs finish the season with a school record mark of 21-3.