Crushers pitcher Jim Spirito went 11 innings on the mound to help Canton win its first-ever Tri-State League game Saturday at Bowdoin Field.
CANTON, July 12 – The Canton Crushers baseball team came up big in several spots to win their first-ever Tri-State League contest Saturday at Bowdoin Field, beating the visiting Amenia (N.Y.) Monarchs, 4-3 in 11 innings.
Canton rallied to extend the game in the eighth inning and won it in the 11th inning. Starting pitcher Jim Spirito went the distance, scattering seven hits and striking out four to earn the win. He pitched out of a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning to keep the Crushers in the game.
It’s the initial victory for the Crushers, who lost their first 13 Tri-State League contests.
“It feels good,” Canton manager Tom Dubois said. “I feel good for Jim. He’s been a workhorse or us. It was good for the team, too. We’ve been starting to play better ball in the past few weeks.”
It was a dramatic win for the Crushers. The game, which was scheduled for seven innings, went into extra innings tied at 2-2. In the eighth, Amenia took a one-run lead on a two-out triple from Ken Schufelt and an RBI single from Matt Hoiser.
Spirito gave up two walks to load the bases but he bore down and got Amenia’s Tom Finnerly to fly out to right field to end the rally and keep Canton in the game.
Canton manager Tom Dubois is all smiles after the Crushers won their first game.
In the bottom of the eighth, pinch hitter Mark Trotta and Dubois, who was the extra hitter, each ripped line drive singles to left field. Dubois was thrown out at second base on a fielder’s choice by Shane Fusco and Trotta moved to third base. Spencer Griffith popped up to the shortstop for the second out of the inning.
Canton’s Mike Bowes ripped a hard hit to third base and beat out the throw, allowing Trotta to score the tying run and keeping the game alive.
In the 11th, Spirito singled to right field and stole second base. He moved to third when the Amenia centerfielder dropped a fly ball from Brian Kulik. He scampered home with the game-winning run on a single to center field from Jon Scrippa.
“It was a great game,” Spirito said. “One for the record books. I can’t believe it didn’t come sooner with this team. We’ve had some bad luck. We have the talent. It is stringing hits together.”
Canton had 14 hits in the game. Scippa had two hits and two RBI while Kulik had a single and a double and one RBI. Fusco had three singles.
Spirito went the distance for his hometown team. In the third, Amenia had a 1-0 lead and two runners on base. Spirito coaxed two infield ground balls from the Monarchs to end the threat. In the fourth, the Crushers turned a double play. His changeup was working wonderfully to keep Amenia (5-7) off balance.
Canton took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Fusco singled and moved to second when Griffith walked. Canton loaded the bases when Spirito reached on an error. Kulik’s single scored Fusco from third. Amenia tied the game in the third inning on a leadoff triple by Tyler Smith and an error.
Canton took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on a single by Bowes. He moved to third on a double from Kulik and scored on a RBI single from Scrippa. Amenia tied the game in the top of the sixth inning when Tom Downey ripped a one-out double. After a walk, Hoiser had an RBI single that scored Downey from second base.
Canton returns to the diamond on Sunday when they travel to Watertown to face the Blaze, who are currently a half game out of first place with a 9-3 record.
Canton 4, Amenia, N.Y., 3 (11)
At Canton
Amenia (5-7) 001 001 010 00 – 3-7-4
Canton (1-13) 100 100 010 01 – 4-14-3
Travis Hyatt, Andrew Wolinski (11) and Tim Moore; Jim Spirito and Derek Veenema; WP: Spirito (1-4); LP: Wolinski; 2B: Brian Kulik (C), Tom Downey (A); 3B: Tyler Smith (A), Ken Schufelt (A)
You must be logged in to post a comment Login