PLATTSBURGH — Lake Placid found a way to score enough runs on Wednesday which could normally win a baseball game.
The problem for the Blue Bombers, however, was keeping Section II champion North Warren off the scoreboard.
The Cougars, who recently captured their first-ever Section II title, rapped out 16 hits in a 15-8 victory over the Section VII champions in the opening round of the NYSPHSAA Class D tournament.
“Yeah, they were the best-hitting team we have seen this season,” Lake Placid coach Brian Brandes said. “They play in the Adirondack League down there and they are used to any pitching we could throw against them.”
North Warren’s bottom three in the batting order were a big difference in the game.
Brodie Rooker went three-for-four, Will Lindsley two-for-three with two doubles and C.J. Barlow three-for-four. The trio combined for eight hits and six runs scored.
Maceo Matson added two singles and a double for the Cougars, while George Holton chipped in with two hits.
Winning pitcher Wyatt Jennings came within an out of a complete game, leaving the mound with two out in the bottom of the seventh due to the pitch-count rule. He allowed eight hits, walked three and struck out 10.
“Their pitcher threw well, but we were able to get to within 12-8,” Brandes said. “He was getting near his pitch-count limit and we needed a couple more hits. It just didn’t happen.”
The Blue Bombers did a good job going the other way against Jennings as Jarrett Mihill led the way offensively with a single, double, triple and RBI.
Owen Lawrence contributed two hits while standout Vann Morrelli scored three runs despite being injured in the first inning scoring a run. He did stay in the game despite not nearly being at 100 percent.
“I don’t know if the game would have been different if Vann hadn’t gotten injured,” Brandes said.
Morrelli, who has had more than his share of bad luck on a baseball field with injuries, delivered the game-winning RBI hit in the Section VII Class D championship game against Johnsburg/Minerva, Sunday.
Lake Placid rallied for three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-3 advantage.
But the big inning for the Cougars came in the fourth when North Warren strung together six hits and a walk to score six times and take a 9-4 edge.
The Blue Bombers got to within 12-8 in the sixth, but that would be as close as they would get as North Warren tacked on three more in the seventh.
This was a season Brandes expected to yield positive results for the 11-5 Blue Bombers. It’s a senior-laden team, consisting of players from Lake Placid and Keene.
“I’ve had six players on the team since they were freshmen,” Brandes said. “They have gotten better and better, and I’m proud of them for winning the Section VII championship.
“They come to practice early, and ask to do more hitting and throwing. They are easy to coach and it’s going to be hard to see them go.”
North Warren, which didn’t win a game two years ago, will play Section X champion Parishville-Hopkinton on Saturday in a regional final.
—
North Warren 15, Lake Placid 8
NW 030 630 3 — 15 16 3
LPCS 103 130 0 — 8 8 4
Jennings, Scheafer (7) and Hitchcock. Caito, Mihill (4), Lawrence (4), Mihill (7) and Lawrence, Baillargeon (4). WP- Jennings. LP- Caito.2B- Matson (NW), Lindsley (NW) 2, Mihill (LPCS). 3B- Mihill (LPCS).