WAPPINGERS FALLS – Whether it be a high school diamond or a minor league ballpark, nothing’s stopping the Patriots from finding the plate this season.
Playing at Heritage Financial Park, home of the Hudson Valley Renegades, John Jay demolished Pawling in a 12-2, five-inning victory to win its fifth consecutive contest. In that span, the Patriots have scored no fewer than eight runs in every game, surpassing at least a dozen runs three times.
Baseball in its nature can be a game of luck and chance. There’s no guarantee that the torrent scoring will automatically continue the rest of the season, but the consistency of the offensive attack certainly lends hope to the idea that it won’t stop anytime soon.
“We believe in the trust the next-man mentality, we like to pass the bat off to the next guy. Nobody has to do anything too big and that’s the way we’ve been successful all season,” John Jay coach Patrick Tierney said after the game. “We’re hoping that we’re going to continue to be successful that way.”
A team-wide effort carried the program on Tuesday with eight different batters recording a hit. Hitting one-through-three in the order, Anthony Batkay, Lucas Perillo and Austin Seipp each recorded an extra-base hit, two RBIs and at least one run scored apiece. Pitcher Peyton Conto tallied a pair of RBIs to go along with his four innings of scoreless three-hit ball on the mound to secure the win.
Noah Santana, Cristian Garcia and Nick Napp each tallied a hit and an RBI as well.
With a loaded lineup and dangerous hitters one-through-nine in the batting order, passing the baton to the next guy has been easy for the Patriots. Rather than relying on the top of the order to set the table, the depth seems to be the real strength of the unit, evident with the bottom third of the order getting the scoring started on Tuesday.
“Knowing that one-through-nine or anyone on the bench, I can put it to swing the bat, helps us tremendously,” Tierney said. “I have the utmost confidence and so do these guys in one another. It doesn’t matter where we are in the lineup, there’s a threat to hit there somewhere… that’s Patriot baseball.”
It certainly didn’t harm John Jay either that it got an all-around performance from the team. Conto picked up the win after allowing just three hits and no runs in his outing. Allowing just one walk and not recording a strikeout, the junior did well pitching to contact and allowing the defense behind him to make a play. Aside from one error, it was an efficient night from the Patriots in the field.
“He’s a tough kid. We love having him here and he delivers strikes. He’s not afraid to get down and dirty,” Tierney said. “He trusts the seven guys behind him and the one behind the dish. That’s what we need moving forward.”
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: John Jay baseball’s potent offense is finding early-season success
Reporting by Eric Decker, Poughkeepsie Journal / Poughkeepsie Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
