UTICA — A passing storm cut Monday’s junior division game short at Murnane Field but the weather cleared in time for the senior teams to play their half of a scheduled doubleheader, and Utica Post and the Junior Blue Sox played late into the night.
Playing as the visiting team, the Junior Blue Sox scored four runs in the top of the first inning and carried a lead into the seventh. Utica Post tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, sending the teams to extra innings. The Blue Sox broke a 5-5 tie with three runs in the top of the 10th, then threw the tying run out at the plate to complete a game-ending double play and secure an 8-7 victory.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Blue Sox (7-5) in their first of four consecutive games scheduled for the final week of the regular season. The Blue Sox play their final home game Tuesday, July 8, at Utica University against Rome’s Smith Post; they play on the road Wednesday at Oneida Post and Thursday at Utica’s Adrean Post.
Smith and Adrean posts are tied for first place in District at 8-3. The Blue Sox are third, followed by Utica Post (6-8) and New Hartford Post (5-7).
Utica Post has lost four of its last five games and plays at New Hartford Post Friday to finish the regular season. The six-team district playoffs start Monday.
Fast start, dramatic finish for Junior Blue Sox
Trailing 4-0 Monday, Utica Post scored single runs in the fourth and fifth inning. The Blue Sox added a run in the top of the sixth and Utica Post scored two in the bottom of the inning.
Reece Jantzi’s pop fly dropped in for a hit in the bottom of the seventh, and he advanced twice on wild pitches before scoring the tying run for Utica Post on a hit by Radhames Emaniel. Broc Barker was hit by a pitch, a a double steal moved the potential winning run to third base before a fly ball ended the inning.
Utica Post threatened again in the bottom of the eighth. The leadoff batter walked, but was doubled up at first base by Blue Sox center fielder Josh Chieco after catching a fly ball for the first out of the inning. Utica Post proceeded to load the bases before Nicolas Perrotta flew out to end the inning.
The Blue Sox had only one batter reach base in the first two extra innings before Aiden Nofri led off the 10th with a single. Nofri was erased on a force play, but Chieco replaced him at first base and stole second. JJ Ortiz then grounded a double over the third base bag and sent the go-ahead run home.
Nate Pcola and Devin Trevisani each added a run-scoring single, and the Blue Sox missed out on adding a fourth run when umpires ruled the tag for the final out at third base beat a runner crossing the plate.
The bottom of the 10th started with a hit batsman, a walk and a wild pitch. Jantzi singled both runs home with one out, prompting a pitching change. Brayden Wisheart relieved Matt Helmer and walked the first batter he faced. Emaniel then flew out to right field where Nofri made the catch and made a strong throw home to catcher Anthony Marino in time to catch Jantzi who had tagged up on the play.
Junior teams make up game Thursday
The Junior Blue Sox had scored in the first inning and led 1-0 when the junior division game against Utica Post was stopped for rain and lightning in the second.
The teams will make up that game Thursday, starting over from the beginning.
The junior division’s regular season runs through July 16.
This article originally appeared on Times Telegram: Junior Blue Sox earn dramatic win over Utica Post in extra-inning American Legion game
Reporting by Jon Rathbun, Herkimer Times Telegram / Times Telegram
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
