Sports
David Braverman ’19 winds up to throw to second; Photo: Julian Perricone '20
Strong pitching performances lead baseball team to 6-5 start
By Grace Myers ’19
March 30, 2017
Tags sports
Hamilton baseball got off to a busy start, playing eleven games in a one-week span in central Florida. The team went 6-5 in that time, with half of those wins being shutouts for the Continentals.
Hamilton played Fitchburg State University of Massachusetts in their first two games of the season but were swept by the Falcons. The games were shortened to seven innings each to accommodate the double-header. The first game on Mar. 15 started off well for both teams, with Fitchburg scoring four runs in the top of the third, and Hamilton responding with three runs in the bottom. Hamilton’s scoring was sparked by Kenny Collins ’17, who reached third on an outfield error by the Falcons. Fitchburg’s pitchers held Hamilton down in the remaining four innings, allowing only two Continentals to reach base in that span, and the Falcons took the game 7-3. The second match-up was dominated by Fitchburg from the start, who came out hot, scoring three runs in their first at-bats. Hamilton scored their only run off of a single from Collins, which drove home Ryan Wolfsberg ’17. Wolfsberg accounted for one quarter of Hamilton’s hits in the two games. The Falcons took the second game 5-1 to sweep the doubleheader.
Hamilton, looked to rebound from the Fitchburg losses the next day. The Continentals did just that, coming out with a vengeance against Keene State College, and registering a seven-inning definitive victory by a score of 11-1. The game was notable for Callum Slater ’20, who pitched his first start of his collegiate career, and allowed just one hit and one unearned run in six innings - his current ERA is a promising 2.53. Five players doubled, and two players, Dean Rosenberg ’18 and Collins, hit back-to-back solo home runs. Keene’s only run came off of a runner reaching on a dropped third strike. He later scored the run off of a wild pitch. The game was shortened due to NCAA mercy rules - Hamilton was leading by 10 or more runs after seven innings.
Hamilton’s next doubleheader was a set against Dickinson College on Mar. 17, which they split, dropping the first and taking the second game. In the first match-up, a 5-1 loss for the Continentals, Hamilton’s struggled offensively, garnering only two hits compared to Dickinson’s 11. Craig Sandford ’19 drove in Hamilton’s run, scored by Ian Nish ’19, with a grounder to second. The second game of the day featured lots of hitting by both teams, resulting in a 12-8 Hamilton win. The Continentals trailed for the first three innings, then found their stride in the fourth and sixth, with five and seven runs respectively. Dickinson’s performance was hindered by poor fielding, as they had eight errors between the two games.
The Continentals squared up against the NESCAC East’s Bowdoin College Polar Bears in yet another doubleheader on Mar. 20 and shut out the team in back-to-back games. Their effort was bolstered by solid pitching from Dan DePaoli ’18, Chris Keane ’20, and four relievers between the two games. In the first match-up, DePaoli pitched the entire game and threw his first collegiate shutout, allowing just four hits in seven innings, and Hamilton won 3-0. Not to be denied another strong showing, Hamilton blew through Bowdoin in the second game, tallying five runs in the bottom of the third. Highlights included a double by Craig Sandford, and another home run by Chris Collins, whose strong hitting continued from earlier success. Hamilton took the second game 6-0 and swept the series.
Hamilton split another doubleheader, this time against the Elmhurst College Blue Jays on Mar. 21. The Continentals carried the first game 8-7 despite being outhit 10-7. Ryan Wolfsberg again had a strong offensive showing tallying five RBIs, including a three-run homer and a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh. Reliever Brett Sandford ’19 pitched the seventh inning for his first collegiate win. The Blue Jays blanked the Continentals in game two, on their way to a 4-0 victory. Elmhurst turned crucial double plays in both the third and the fourth innings to strand Hamilton’s runners and maintain their lead.
Hamilton wrapped up spring break play in Florida with another double-header on Mar. 22 against Clarkson University. They again split the series, shutting out the Golden Knights in the first game and dropping the second 7-2. In the first match-up, Finlay O’Hara ’17 pitched the entire game, allowing only two hits and two runners past first base. Wolfsberg drove in the Continentals’ first run, his team-leading sixth RBI, and sacrifice flies in the third and fourth from Craig Sandford and Chris Collins gave Hamilton a 3-0 win. The Golden Knights opened up scoring early in the second game, tallying four runs in the first inning. Hamilton answered with two runs in the fourth, but could not catch up and lost 7-2.
The Continentals finished spring break play with a record of 6-5, and will face Utica College at home on Thursday, Mar. 30 beginning a stretch of 10 games in 11 days. Their first conference test will be a 3-game series against Wesleyan College on Mar. 31 at Apr. 1 in Middletown, CT. This will be a difficult test for the Continentals, as the Cardinals hold an impressive 9-3 overall record. Next week Hamilton plays six games, all at home. The Continentals host SUNY Canton on Tuesday, April 4, SUNY Oswego on Wednesday, April 5, and doubleheaders against SUNY Brockport and SUNY Polytechnic on April 8 and 9, respectively.