BINGHAMTON — It might be difficult for the players to see it now, and certainly to acknowledge it so soon after a loss so disappointing. A thorough appreciation of what the Roy C. Ketcham baseball team did accomplish requires a figurative zoom-out for the panoramic view, which typically doesn’t happen while held by the emotions of the moment.
“This meant so much to them and they put so much into it, so the loss is devastating,” coach Pat Mealy said on Saturday, June 14. “What I say to them won’t matter much right now, but hopefully in a couple weeks they’ll understand our journey was remarkable.”
There is no immediate solace after a loss in the state final, but what eventually will be remembered was the perception of this team even two months ago.
It wasn’t supposed to be their time. Ketcham had its turn already. After a three-year reign in Section 1, six superstars graduated last spring and the Storm would begin to settle.
So, for this underrated group of overachievers to have captured section and regional titles and matched their predecessors in reaching a third consecutive state final, early expectations were far exceeded.
But that impressive run came to a painful end as Ketcham fell to Section 2’s Saratoga Springs, 8-5, in the Class AAA state final at Mirabito Stadium. The Blue Streaks ended a back and forth contest by rallying for four runs with two outs in the fifth inning to win their first state championship.
Saratoga Springs scored on a wild pitch to tie it at 5, and Jack Collier came home with the go-ahead run on a passed ball, denying Ketcham its second state title since 2023.
“The game wasn’t indicative of who we are,” Mealy said, referring to his team’s penchant for avoiding costly mistakes and thriving in the late innings. “There’s no particular person to blame, but we had a bad performance at the worst time, which was uncharacteristic.”
It was unlike a team that routinely overcame early deficits and excelled in the clutch during this playoff run. Ketcham had done it again in its state semifinal Friday, quickly climbing out of a two-run hole and shaking off a poor start. But it was Saratoga Springs that turned the tables this time.
Tyler Durkin went 3-for-3 with a walk and two RBI, including a single that drove in Ensley Perez and gave Ketcham a 4-3 lead in the fourth. Nick Mondesando later scored on Joe Downey’s groundout for the two-run lead.
Giancarlo Henry was 2-for-4 with two RBI, Mondesando and Perez each scored twice, and Christian Maltais went 2-for-4 with a run for the Storm (23-5). Shane Finnigan started and allowed four runs in four innings. Durkin and Downey combined for three innings of relief.
“It hurts right now, but I told them to use it as fuel,” Mealy said. “If you’re a senior going off to college, let this motivate you and apply it to whatever craft you choose. If you’re an underclassman, put in work and get better so you don’t have to feel like this again.”
Raul Rodriguez was 2-for-5 with two RBI and Jack Rigabar went 2-for-5 with two runs for Saratoga Springs (21-6). Rigabar gave up seven hits but allowed only a run in 3⅔ innings of relief to get the win.
“Despite how it ended, this was one of the more fulfilling seasons as a coach,” Mealy said. “We lost a boatload of talented players who paved the way and set an example of how to be winners, and this group learned and ran with that. They may not be on the same talent level as teams we’ve had in the past, but their mentality and work ethic was second to none. They were special.”
Stephen Haynes covers baseball for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Ketcham baseball falls to Saratoga Springs in Class AAA state final
Reporting by Stephen Haynes, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Poughkeepsie Journal
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