The top two seeds in the Section VII Class B baseball playoffs recorded semifinal wins Friday.
Top-seeded Northeastern Clinton posted a 9-4 win over fourth-seeded AuSable Valley, while second-seeded and defending champion Saranac was a 9-2 winner over third-seeded Saranac Lake.
The Cougars will host the Spartans on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in the first game of the best-of-three Class B championship series
NORTHEASTERN CLINTON 9
AUSABLE VALLEY 4
CHAMPLAIN — The Cougars, down 2-1, took the lead for good with three runs in the fourth and gained breathing room with four runs in the sixth.
Lincoln Perkins and Carter Garceau paced NCCS offensively with two hits each, and Jacob Perkins went the distance for the pitching win.
Perkins allowed eight hits, walked two and struck out nine.
“I thought we played a little tight and were pressing early, but we improved as the game went along and put together some better at-bats,” NCCS coach Jeff Norton said.
“I was very proud of our bench. Everyone who entered the game found a way to contribute. Lincoln Perkins and Carter Garceau had good plate appearances throughout the game.”
Lucas Dashnaw accounted for three hits and Keegan Holzer two for the Patriots. Gavin Richards started and took the pitching loss.
“Gavin Richards threw very well for AuSable into the fifth inning,” Norton said. “AuSable played hard and had good energy all day.”
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NCCS 9, AVCS 4
AVCS;200;000;2;—;4;8;3
NCCS;010;314;x;—;9;8;0
Richards, Girard (5), Dashnaw (6) and Hanshaw. J. Perkins and G. Lafountain. WP- J. Perkins. LP- Richards.
SARANAC 9
SARANAC LAKE 2
SARANAC — Robbie Squier led the offense with three hits, and Adrian Barnes went the distance for the pitching win.
Barnes, in seven innings, allowed seven hits, two earned runs, walked one and struck out six.
“Barnes battled for us on the mound,” Saranac coach Robbie Knowles said. “He didn’t have his best stuff but was able to make some pitches in key spots.
“Squier had a perfect day at the plate and (Ian) Lawrenz had a big swing to build our insurance late in the game.”
The Spartans erased a 2-1 deficit with three runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead for good, finishing it off with a four-run sixth.
“I thought we did a really good job with our approach at the plate throughout the line-up,” Knowles said. “We jumped on pitches when ahead in the counts and put balls in play when we behind in the counts.”
Jackson Daunais struck out five and allowed seven earned runs in going the six innings while taking the pitching setback. Offensively for the Red Storm, Owen Hybicki led the way with a double and single.
“I give Saranac Lake full marks for their efforts,” Knowles said. “They pulled off playoff upsets the previous two years in the semifinals, and they gave us a scare early in this one.”
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SCS 9, SLCS 2
SLCS;020;000;0;—;2;7;2
SCS;130;014;x;—;9;10;1
Daunais and Willett. Barnes and Coryer. WP- Barnes. LP- Daunais. 2B- VanLaer (SLCS), Lambert (SLCS), Hybicki (SLCS), Lawrenz (SCS).