PLATTSBURGH — Baseball is a sport that just writes itself, and sometimes those stories wouldn’t be accepted in Hollywood.
Lake Placid’s Vann Morelli would beg to differ.
The senior infielder and pitcher, came back from a shoulder injury and led his team to a 3-2 walkoff win over Johnsburg-Minerva in the Section VII Class D Championship.
“I’ve been rehabbing,” Morelli said. “Rehabbing my shoulder all year just to get back to this point. It was my goal.”
In last year’s sectional championship, Morelli landed awkwardly on his shoulder that took him out for the remainder of the game. He would later return to the dugout and stand with his teammates as Bolton clinched the title.
This year, not only did he win the walk with a ball slapped between the first and second basemen, but he was on the mound in the seventh with the Blue Bombers holding a 2-0 lead over the Irish Jaguars.
“Obviously, we held the lead and they got two gritty runs and I was pretty devastated,” Morelli said. “I thought we had in the bag with two outs but that’s baseball.”
But he got his chance to get a run back. After Hyler Isham drew a walk then stole second, Morelli stepped to the plate. It was the heart of the order coming up with one out.
Morelli didn’t want to waste it.
“Think I was up 2-0,” he said. “So I knew it was going to be a challenge pitch, looking for a fastball in the zone and was a little bit late on it.
“I got the barrel kind of pushing right out there. Far enough to get the run.”
It would be just enough as Isham rounded third and slid into home plate just under the tag to win the game.
“It’s awesome,” starting pitcher Jonathan Caito said. “These guys are like my family, so it’s nice to get it done with these guys again.
“We won it two years ago, and wanted this one and after losing last year.”
Caito and Johnsburg-Minerva’s Cole Millington pitched flawlessly for six innings. The duo combined for 15 strikeouts, providing a thrilling and suspenseful start to a baseball game.
The first five innings sped by as things gradually slowed down for the later innings.
“It was definitely fun, but stressful in the middle of it,” Caito said. “Definitely fun to play a game like this, especially getting the win.”
Caito had a tendency to let the first batter of the inning get on base early, but wouldn’t let any damage come from it. The most tense moment was in the top of the sixth when he got out of bases loaded with one out.
“I just was fine tuning my spots,” he said. “I trust my catcher (Owen Lawrence) as he lines me up.
I was missing some spots and gave up some walks. We didn’t allow any damage. After that inning, we were hyped up and everyone started hitting the ball.”
That came with back to back doubles by Jarrett Mihill and Owen Lawrence, as the latter brought the go ahead run in. Lawrence would score later in the inning to put Lake Placid up 2-0.
But, Johnsburg/Minerva didn’t waver. With their backs against the wall, Nick Sauer-Jones stole multiple bases, including home, to cut into the deficit.
Tristen Campbell added the tying run just a pitch later and the game was tied.
“I mean, it’s kind of been our M-O for the whole season,” J/M head coach Jacob Sauer-Jones said. “We’ve been up against the wall with nine straight road trips at one point. weather problems, games canceled, and they just kept battling and battling.
“They wanted practice every day that they could. They wanted extra. And it showed, it shows at the end, for sure.”
And for a young team like the Irish Jaguars, their time will come. Sauer-Jones mentioned how the team took a big step this season, going farther than 2024, and said he believes his team has the hunger to be back in the game.
That can be the next story to tell. This time it was Lake Placid’s, a senior laden team on a mission to get one more game and capture the Section VII Class D crown.
“This was the goal from the start of the year to come back from last year and win this,” Morelli said. “And I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.
“It’s been a ride for four years and it’s not over yet. It feels great to come back here and win.”
Lake Placid returns to Plattsburgh High School, Wednesday, to face Section II’s North Warren Central in a NYSPHSAA Class D subregional.
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Lake Placid 3, J/M 2 (9)
J/M;000;000;200;-;2;9;2
LP;000;002;001;3;6;2
Millington, N. Sauer-Jones (7) and N. Sauer-Jones, Milligton (7). Caito, Morelli (7) and Lawrence. 2B- Freebern (J/M) Mihill (LP) Lawrence (LP)