State Playoffs: P-H, Flyers, Ogdensburg, Malone Swept in Openers

Malone Season Ends at Hands of New Hartford

Malone's defense catches a break when they catch New Hartford's Cooper Brown rounding second base too far and he is tagged out by second baseman Austin Lamay.  New Hartford chipped away with runs in every inning except the fourth, including four-run outbursts in the second and seventh innings, while Spartans pitcher Mark Chantry fanned six batters and retired 12 straight Huskies over the middle innings. Malone scratched for single runs in the sixth and seventh innings after falling behind 9-0.  (Rishi Thakur photo)  Game Gallery

New Hartford chipped away with runs in every inning except the fourth, including four-run outbursts in the second and seventh innings, while Spartans pitcher Mark Chantry fanned six batters and retired 12 straight Huskies over the middle innings. Malone scratched for single runs in the sixth and seventh innings after falling behind 9-0. For the Spartans, Jon Donovan collected four RBIs, while Connor Manderson poked three hits and produced two RBIs. The Huskies finished their sectional championship season at 14-4 overall.

One Bad Inning: Albany Academy Sinks Ogdensburg

An Ogdensburg runner is out while trying to avoid the tag betwene first and second base.  Albany’s Mike Eglow rapped a single, double and triple in powering the Cadets to the win. He also threw nearly three innings of shutout relief, including inducing two double plays in the final two innings to seal a 12-7 win over the Blue Devils in the New York State Class B Regional Semifinals.  (Rishi Thakur photo)  Game Gallery

Albany Academy's Darrien White narrowly avoids the tag from Ogdensburg first baseman Kinnon Larose. After The Blue Devils charted a 5-3 lead, the Bears pushed eight runs across the plate in the pivotal 5th inning to grab an 11-5 lead, en route to a 12-7 victory in the New York State Class B Regional Semifinal. The loss put the finishing brush strokes on a baseball coaching career that spanned three decades for O.F.A.’s Mike Sargent. O.F.A. built a two-run lead by capitalizing on two early errors by the Cadets and Brendan Arsenault’s skyrocketing three-run home run to right field. However, during the eight-run Albany rally, Ogdensburg hurlers Breton LaRose and Seth Pinkerton suffered uncharacteristic control issues with six walks and four wild pitches which contributed to the run-scoring spree in which the Blue Devils’s 5-3 lead and season painstakingly slipped away. O.F.A. bats tried to rally in the fifth when the plated two runs to inch back to an 11-7 deficit, but were shut down over the final two games. Coincidentally, that’s how the Blue Devils’ season ended, with an overall record of 11-7. Andrew LeBeau was on base four times with a double, walk and twice hit by pitches. He also flawlessly handled six defensive plays at third base. Kinnon LaRose also had two hits and a sacrifice for O.F.A. The Cadets’ Justin Brock had two hits, including a triple and scored four times.

Blue Devils Finally End Title Drought vs. Potsdam

Potsdam’s Paul Buchanan (27) steals slides safely past Ogdensburg’s Seth Pinkerton (8) for a stolen base. After four frustrating years with Potsdam beating O.F.A. for the Section X Class B crown, Ogdensburg finally emerged victorious with a 9-0 Class B title win for retiring Blue Devils head coach Mike Sargent.  (Ryan Bercume photo)  Game Gallery

The Sandstoners were unable to get much going offensively against Ogdensburg in the Section X Class B Championship.  Potsdam’s Andrew Ace (left) is out on an infield play to O.F.A.'s Ogdensburg’s Kinnon Larose (6).  A four-year monkey is finally off the backs of the Ogdensburg Blue Devils – and in a big way. The Devils lashed 11 hits, capitalized on three Potsdam errors and erupted for six runs in the third inning in delivering head coach Mike Sargent a Section X Class B title after four consecutive frustrating losses to the Sandstoners in the title game. The key hit in the decisive third was a bases-loaded double by Cavan LaRose. Meanwhile, LaRose’s twin Breton twirled a five-hit shutout in Ogdensburg’s 9-0 win over Potsdam. Ben Miller had two of the five hits for the Stoners. Ogdensburg advances to play Albany Academy in the New York State Regional Semifinals on Monday at St. Lawrence University. Potsdam ended its season with a 9-9 overall record.

Devils Outlast Upstart Canton in Semifinals 3-1

O.F.A.'s Alex Farrell delivered a strong pitching performance against Canton in the Section Class B Semifinals. The top-seeded Blue Devils eliminated the upset-minded Golden Bears with a 3-1 victory, setting the stage for the fifth-straight Potsdam vs. O.F.A. title game. Potsdam won the previous four finals.  (Eric Foote photo)  Game Gallery

Canton’s Bryant Wentworth (23) takes the pitch the other way to drive the only Canton run in on the day which gave the Bears an early lead.  Andrew LeBeau tripled to initiate the Blue Devils’ rally in the bottom of the sixth, then Brendan Arsenault doubled him in and scored later on Breton LaRose’s sacrifice fly to provide Ogdensburg with the margin of difference. Canton Golden Bears got the early 1-0 lead. Top-seed Ogdensburg will play #2-seed and four-time defending Section X Class B champion Potsdam in the championship game at SUNY Canton.

Flyers' Smith Guides "C" Title Win With 18-K Shutout

Norwood-Norfolk's Cody Smith dealt the postseason's best pitching performance with a two-hitter and 18 strikeouts in 21 outs against St. Lawrence Central. Smith also contributed an RBI single in the Flyers' 3-0 win over the Larries in the Section X Class C Championship game on Wednesday at Clarkson University.  (Mike Burns photo)  Game Gallery

St. Lawrence Central catcher Corey LaBarge (12) jumps for a wild pitch in the seventh inning.  The championship win marked the fourth time in five years that Norwood-Norfolk has claimed the Class C crown. Cody Rust added an RBI single in the 6th among his two hits, then scored himself on a passed ball. The Flyers had eight hits total. St. Lawrence Central’s Tyler Savage took the mound loss. The Larries concluded their 2012 season with a 5-12 overall record. The Flyers advance to travel to Section VII’s Ticonderoga in the NYS Class C Regional semifinal.

LASHOMB PITCHES N-N FLYERS PAST TUPPER IN "C" SEMIFINAL

Norwood-Norfolk’s Troy Kovach (3) slides safely into second base to steal the bag well ahead of the throw. Kovach stroked two hits, while Brandon Short delivered four hits and three runs scored in leading the Flyers, with a five-run rally in the third inning, to an 11-1 win in the Section X Class C semifinals at Norfolk.  (Eric Foote photo)  Game Gallery

Norwood-Norfolk pitcher Jordan LaShomb (9) delivers a strong performance against Tupper Lake, by allowing just one hit and striking out 11 Lumberjacks over the first four innings.  Chris Stratton pounded a pair of hits for two RBIs for the Flyers.  Tupper Lake Got its lone run in the second inning by gaining a pair of leadoff walks, followed by a defensive error that was the only blemish that prevented a shutout. 

P-H PANTHERS FALL TO FORT ANN 13-2 IN N.Y. QUARTERFINAL

By Bob LaRue, North Country SportsNet

For about a half hour, rain delayed the start of the New York State Class D Baseball Regional Championship (quarterifnal) between Section X’s Parishville-Hopkinton and Section II’s Fort Ann. After the first inning, the Panthers went the same way as their North Country counterparts – some uncharacteristic miscues, a couple of wild pitches and no breaks against strong pitching. The Panthers gave up eight unearned runs in a 13-2 loss to the Forts. Fort Ann pitcher George Lehoisky went the first four innings and had the Panthers held at bay, giving up one unearned run and fanning five. Lehoisky retired the Panthers in a four-minute first inning in which he threw one ball, then nine consecutive strikes. He retired P-H batters in order in a 12-pitch second inning. Meanwhile, Fort Ann capitalized on an error in each of the first two innings to chip away for an unearned run in both innings to lead 2-0. Parishville-Hopkinton got on the scoreboard when Franklin Pullano led off with a single in the third inning, then advanced all the way to third when the Forts tried to pick him off and the throw to first sailed. Pullano later scored on a groundout to bring the Panthers back to within a run. But the miscues caught up with the Panthers big-time in the third inning when an error and wild pitch uncorked four runs in the third, followed by a four-run fourth inning that effectively did the Panthers in. The Forts got three more unearned runs in the fifth. Parishville-Hopkinton finished its sectional championship season at 11-5.

P-H PANTHERS CLAIM FIRST CLASS D CROWN IN 11 YEARS

Madrid-Waddington baserunner Jacob Barney (9) is tagged by Parishville-Hopkinton shortstop Tyler Gallaher, but is safe at second base. The Panthers built a 6-1 lead in the 6th. The Jackets closed the margin in their final at bat, but left the bases loaded as P-H clinched the Section X Class D title in a 6-4 win.  (Mike Burns photo)  Game Gallery   NCSN Broadcast

Madrid-Waddington's Jimmy Miller (13) looks to a pitch thrown by Parishville Hopkinton winning pitcher Michael Burns (2).  The Yellow Jackets took the first lead 1-0 in the second inning when Scott Austin singled, stole second and scored on Jacob Barney’s single. However, the lead was short-lived as Parishville-Hopkinton tallied twice in the top of the third on back-to-back RBI singles from Zach Newton and Parker Meashaw. In the fourth, Chase Donovan lashed a triple that plated Frank Pallano from third base. Devin Tebo drove in two more runs with a double in the fifth. In the sixth, Meashaw drove in Phil Huckins with an insurance marker that opened a 6-1 advantage. The Jackets offense, that generated only one runner in the middle three innings, finally produced a run on three singles in the bottom of the sixth, but stranded two runners. Greg Thompson knocked in a run with an RBI single and scored on a fielder’s choice as the Jackets loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but reliever Zach Newtown struck out the final batter. The Panthers captured their first Class D title since the state title team in 2001. Madrid-Waddington finished its season at 15-4.

P-H Panthers tip Unbeaten Morristown in Semifinal 5-2

Parishville-Hopkinton’s Bryan Bicknell slides safely into second base for a stolen base. Top-seeded Morristown edged out to a 2-0 lead through three innings, but were bitten by three errors and three runs in the Panthers' 4th. Parishville-Hopkinton went on to a 5-2 upset in the Section X Class D semifinals at Clarkson.  (Michael Burns photo)  Game Gallery

Parishville-Hopkinton’s Mike Burns came in to pitch in the third inning and delivered hitless relief leading the Panthers to the win.  After Morristown gained a 2-0 edge on just two hits in the second inning, including a leadoff solo home run to left field for Dakota Marshall against Zach Newtown, Burns was brought on to shutdown the Rockets. Burns fanned 10 of 13 batters. Phil Huckins added an insurance run for the Panthers with a solo round tripper in the top of the seventh. Losing pitcher Geoff Baldwin struck out 12. Morristown finished its first championship regular season with a 15-1 overall record. Parishville-Hopkinton advances to play Madrid-Waddington for the Class D title, broadcast live on North Country SportsNet.

P-H PANTHERS BEAT BULLDOGS IN QUARTERFINAL ELIMINATION

The umpire signals that Parishville-Hopkinton’s Zack Newton (20) is safe on the slide at third base in the Section X Class D quarterfinals against Chateaugay.  The Panthers wasted no time in plating three runs in the opening frame, then chipped away to build an 8-0 lead, before putting away #5-seeded Chateaugay 8-1.  (Grant Sharlow photo)  Game Gallery

Chateauguay's Corey Hill (8) squares in a bunt attempt.  The fourth-seeded Panthers got a strong pitching performance from Zach Newton who limited the Bulldogs to just four hits, while producing three hits, three runs and four RBIs at the plate to aid his own cause. Newton sparked the Panthers offensively by ripping a double for two RBIs in the first inning. Phil Huckins also had a single and a run scored. Joe McGillicuddy led the Bulldogs with a double. Parishville-Hopkinton advances to play top-seeded Morristown in the Class D semifinals. Chateaugay closed out the season with a 6-7 overall mark.