This time Kendall downs Gowanda as the Eagles advance in the state Class C tourney

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Sammy Conte tries to turn a double play during this afternoon’s state Sub Regional victory. He got the out on Gowanda’s Seth Geiger as Jonny Conte backs up the play.

Avenging an 8-1 loss in last year’s regional, Kendall bested Gowanda by a similar score of 8-0 in a Class C state baseball tournament Sub Regional contest this afternoon at Hamburg High School.

Nic Cole hurled the shutout scattering 5 hits and striking out 7. He registered his milestone 300th career strikeout in the fifth inning.

“I was mixing them really well,” said Cole of his pitches.

Nic Cole hurled Kendall to the shutout win.

Vinnie D’Agostino banged out 3 hits, CJ D’Agostino and Sammy Conte 2 each and Jacob Abrams, Cole and Mikey Colucci 1 each to lead the Eagles offense.

“It feels great,” said Vinnie D’Agostino of the win. “We really wanted revenge.”

The Eagles scored the only run they would need as it turned out in the second inning on an RBI sacrifice fly by Andrew D’Agostino. An error, a single by Abrams and a walk had loaded the bases to set up the opportunity.

Kendall then opened up some breathing room by erupting for 4 runs in the third inning on a two-run error, a bases loaded walk and an RBI sacrifice fly by Andrew D’Agostino. Singles by Vinnie D’Agostino and Sammy Conte and an error loaded the bases to set up the threat.

‘”That was really big getting those four runs,” said Cole.

The Eagles later capped off the win with 3 runs in the top of the seventh inning on RBI singles by Andrew D’Agostino and Vinnie D’Agostino and a wild pitch. A single by Cole and a double by Colucci set up the scoring chance.

The victory propels Kendall into Saturday’s state quarterfinal game against Beaver River (Section III) at 4 p.m. at Frontier High School. Beaver River downed Charles O. Dickerson High from Trumansburg (Section IV) 14-1 in another Sub Regional today.

Kendall third baseman Vinnie D’Agostino tags out Gowanda’s Kyan Austin trying to go to third.

Kendall’s Mikey Colucci dives safely back to second base on a run down play avoiding the tag attempt by Gowanda’s Nich Smuda.