(WATCH) BASEBALL: Notre Dame outlasts Avon in extras; Batavia ousts Arcadia; Le Roy edges York

BATAVIA — Three sophomores were right in the thick of things at the end of Notre Dame’s 3-2 eight-inning victory over visiting Avon on Friday night.

With 10th-grader Ryan Fitzpatrick 90-feet away at third base, fellow sophomore Jay Antinore dribbled a ground ball to third base that wound up scoring Fitzpatrick to give ND a walk-off win in the bottom of the eighth. Antinore’s grounder was handled by Avon sophomore third baseman Michael Rowland, who delivered a low throw to first base, which was bobbled by Braves junior first baseman Christopher Kashorek who then fired home late, with Fitzpatrick sliding in ahead of the tag for the one-run victory.

Coming up on Friday night, it’s the Batavia Daily News and Livingston County News first livestream of the spring season. The Braves will visit the Fighting Irish for a non-league affair.

Irish sophomore Jaden Sherwood also played a significant role in ND’s non-league win, earning the win in relief, pitching a clean eighth inning to set the stage for Antinore to knock in Fitzpatrick. Sherwood also tied the game for the Irish in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly, which scored Fitzpatrick to even the score at 2-2 and help send the game to an extra frame.

Fitzpatrick got the start for ND and hurled seven strong innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out eight, walking just one and hitting a batter. Sherwood allowed two hits and struck out one while benefitting from an incredible relay that cut down the potential go-ahead run at the plate in the eighth inning.

Michael Rowland reached on a fielder’s choice and with one out in the eighth Hudson Volpe drilled a double over the head of ND centerfielder Gavin Schrader. The future Niagara University outfielder proceeded to chase the ball down and begin what turned out to be a perfect relay from himself to fellow senior Colin McCulley, who had come across second base from his position at first base, to junior catcher Hayden Groff who applied the tag at the plate to preserve the tie.

Avon seized an early 2-1 lead after the first inning, with the Irish managing just one run after loading the bases with one out in the bottom half of the frame. The Braves’ runs came on a two-RBI single off the bat of junior Evan Masten, who scorched a sharp ground ball off the glove of Irish junior shortstop Bryceton Berry and into left field. Masten’s base-knock scored Michael Rowland and Andrew Rowland after Michael moved Andrew, who reached on a Berry error, to third base with a double down the left-field line.

In their half of the first, Notre Dame responded as McCulley reached on an error from Michael Rowland, stole second base and came around to score on a couple of wild pitches. Berry, Fitzpatrick and senior third baseman Vincent DiRisio were left on base to end the frame.

After loading the bases in the first two innings, Avon managed just two baserunners over the next five frames before putting a few runners on during a scoreless eighth. Volpe finished the day 2-for-4 for the Braves, while Kashorek reached base three times for Avon. Michael and Andrew Rowland both reached base twice and scored a run.

Masten got the start and hurled 6 and 1/3 innings before giving way to junior reliever Matthew Malley, who was hit with the loss after throwing the final 1 and 2/3 innings.

The Irish had men on base all night, with McCulley finishing 2-for-4 while reaching base four times, stealing two bases and scoring a run. Berry reached base four times, and Schrader reached base three times, as did Fitzpatrick, who went 1-for-2 with a walk and was hit by a pitch to go with a run scored and a stolen base.

Notre Dame improved to 6-0. Avon fell to 6-3.

OAKFIELD-ALABAMA 7 KENDALL 1

Kyle Porter earned the win on the hill for Oakfield-Alabama, hurling a complete game, allowing one run on five hits while walking three and striking out 11 Kendall batters. Porter also finished 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI to help spark the O-A offense, which was paced by multi-hit games from David Schnaufer, Cooper Colantonio, Kaden Cusmano, Gaige Armbrewster, Colton Yasses and Brayden Smith.

“We picked this game up at 10 a.m. this morning, and the boys came ready to go right from the get-go,” said O-A head coach Mike Anderson. “They were locked in and focused from the start. Porter pitched a great game, and we had some huge timely hits from Colantonio, Hyde, Schnaufer, Armbrewster and Yasses. Overall this is a great team win. We will enjoy this one tonight, but it’s right back to work tomorrow to prep for the next opponent.”

BATAVIA 13 GREECE ARCADIA 2

Jesse Reinhart took a no-hitter through five innings as the Blue Devils blew out the Titans. Batavia’s senior hurler went the distance, allowing just two hits, striking out 12 and walking just one. Both runs that he allowed came in the second inning after a walk and a hit batsman. A bunt and a throwing error resulted in both baserunners coming around to score.

“These guys have been focused on their hitting, and it was nice to see their hard work pay off tonight,” said Batavia head coach James Patric. “We have been waiting for the bats to get hot and string hits together. It takes all the pressure off of our pitchers when they have the run support. These guys are all in, and it’s a great feeling as a coach.”

Reinhart also paced the offense to go with his fine pitching performance, finishing 2-for-4 with a couple of runs scored and an RBI. Cole Grazioplene also had a big afternoon, collecting a couple of hits, a run scored and an RBI. Vincent Grazioplene finished a home run shy of the cycle while recording a couple of RBI, and Mekhi Fortes went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Alex Johnson and Aidan Anderson each finished with multi-hit efforts, with Anderson contributing two RBI and Johnson adding an RBI. Bronx Buchholz recorded a double and an RBI.

In a battle of two sophomore pitchers, Jackson Spezzano got the better of Jake Pangrazio with the Knights walking away with a slim one-run league victory.

“Both players pitched with great poise and had solid outings,” said Le Roy head coach Ieon Koukides.

Pangrazio performed well in a losing effort, striking out eight over five innings while allowing three runs. Spezzano was one out shy of a complete game before he was pulled due to pitch count restrictions. Spezzano struck out 11 York batters in the win and allowed just two hits. Le Roy committed five errors, resulting in all three of York’s runs.

Spezzano also powered the LR offense, collecting a couple of hits, a couple of runs scored and a couple of stolen bases. Luke Caccamise and Maveric McKenzie both drove in runs on fielder’s choices for the Oatkan Knights.

Maddox Timothy went 2-for-4 to lead the Golden Knights.

“We played a solid game of baseball tonight,” said York head coach Ed Green. “I’m proud of the way my guys fought the entire game. We were attentive in the field, had good at-bats, and in the end, came up just a little short. We’re getting there. We’re looking forward to getting back to some games against our divisional competition next week.”

CAL-MUM 11 KESHEQUA 1 (Six Innings)

Camden Reed earned the win, hurling six strong innings, allowing just the one run while striking out 11 Keshequa batters.

Offensively, Cal-Mum was paced by Alex Carnes, who finished 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored, while Jake Cappotelli collected a couple of hits, including a double, to go with a couple of runs scored and three RBI. Kyle Wade added a home run, two RBI and two runs scored for the Raiders.

Keshequa was led by Nathan Thayer, who went 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

Wyatt Arbo hurled five innings, allowing two runs and striking out five. Blake Jackson pitched the final two innings for Perry, allowing three runs. Beau Slocum propelled Perry offensively, collecting three hits, while Bryce Tallman also finished with a multi-hit game.

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