CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Runs were at a premium, but excitement was not in Friday’s battle for the I-87 Cup between Shenendehowa and Saratoga Springs baseball.
The starting pitching shined in the rival’s first meeting since last year’s Class AA sectional championship series, where the Plainsmen came from down a game to win the series, and advance to the state tournament.
Shen’s R.J. Ensel and ‘Toga’s Michael Mack both twirled gems, but it was Ensel coming away with the win after his third baseman, Brad Curtis, drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn the Plainsmen a 2-1 victory.
Not only was Mack untouchable for the 4.2 innings he pitched prior to being pulled due to arm discomfort, we was also the catalyst behind the Blue Streaks getting out to an early lead. He cranked a single to the base of the right center-field fence in the bottom of the second, advancing Jack Rigabar, who singled to start the inning, to third base.
Right fielder Brady Mills then won a six-pitch at-bat with Ensel by flaring a single out to center, scoring Rigabar for the game’s first run.
Mack followed that up in the bottom half of the frame by striking out the side; he finished with seven total punchouts.
Ensel, however, allowed just one hit over the next five innings, and the Plainsmen offense finally came to his aid once ‘Toga went to the bullpen.
After Shen loaded the bases with just one out in the bottom of the sixth, Ian Oehlschlaeger drove in the game-tying run on a sacrifice fly.
Ensel worked out of a jam in the top half of the final frame before the Plainsmen bats reignited in the home half.
Blake Mello got things started with a one-out single to left field. That gave way to Peyton Marszalek, who doubled to put the winning run 90 feet away. Two batters later, Curtis deposited the first pitch he saw from reliever Rick Rossi into left field, plating Mello for the game-clinching run.
Ensel earned the win, tossing a complete game with just four hits allowed. He struck out five.
Shen (6-3) will be right back at Plainsmen Park Saturday for an out-of-section matchup with Section I’s Mamaroneck. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m. Saratoga (8-4) returns home Saturday, welcoming in Albany Academy at noon.