Three players had two hits each while pitcher Chris Salamida struck out 11 batters to lead the Albany (N.Y.) Athletics to a 6-3 win over the Terryville Black Sox in the first round of the AABC Northeast World Series at Fuessenich Park in Torrington on Thursday.
The A’s, who won the Albany Twilight League championship, rapped out 12 hits and took an early three-run lead over the Black Sox. Nate Novak (2-for-4), Cesar Matos (2-for-4) and Austin Lawrence (2-3, 2 RBI) each had two hits for the A’s.
Joe Poletski and Tony Patrone each had two hits for the Black Sox (21-5) while Justin McCullough belted a home run. Patrone had a double and a single for the Sox, who play in an elimination game on Friday morning at Fuessenich Park.
Terryville got off to a great start when Patrone doubled and Poletski singled with one out, putting runners on second and third base. But Salamida worked out the jam with a strikeout and getting McCullough to pop out to the second baseman. The Black Sox stranded seven runners.
Albany (34-9) took the lead with a two-out rally. Novak and Matos singled before Salamida ripped a two-run triple to right field for a 2-0 lead. Greg Sulz’s RBI single drove in Salamida for a 3-0 lead.
Terryville took advantage of two walks in the fourth inning and Andrew Hinkley drove in both runs with a two-out single to trim the lead to one, 3-2. But the A’s extended the lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning on a two-RBI single to center field from Austin Lawrence.
McCullough’s home run in the fifth inning to left field cut the lead to two runs, 5-3, but that was as close as the Black Sox would get.
Starting pitcher Kody Kerski gave up 12 hits and a walk for the Black Sox. He struck out nine.
Albany is playing in their eighth AABC Northeast World Series tournament.
Albany 6, Terryville 3
At Torrington
Terryville (21-5) 000 210 0 — 3-7-0
Albany (34-9) 300 201 x — 6-12-0
Kody Kerski and unknown; Chris Salamida and unknown; WP: Salamida; LP: Kerski; 2B: Tony Patrone (T), 3B: Chris Salamida (A), HR: Justin McCullough (T), Dan Barbero (A)
American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC)
2019 Northeast World Series
At Waterbury and Torrington
Thursday, August 8
Game 1: New York Hawks 13, Danbury Pirates 10
Game 2: Blasius Chevrolet-Waterbury vs. Braintree (NY) White Sox, rained out
Game 3: Albany (NY) Athletics 6, Terryville 3
Game 4: Fedells Mechanics-Trumbull 2, Pelham (NY) Mets 1 (8)
Friday, August 9
Game 2: Blasius Chevrolet-Waterbury (17-7) vs. Braintree (NY) White Sox, 9 a.m., Municipal Stadium
Game 5: Terryville vs. Pelham, NY, 11:30 a.m., Municipal Stadium, loser eliminated
Game 6: Danbury Pirates vs. loser game 2, noon, Fuessenich Park, loser eliminated
Game 7: Albany (NY) Athletics vs. Fedells Mechanics, 2 p.m., Municipal Stadium
Game 8: New York Hawks vs. winner game 2, 2:30 p.m., Fuessenich Park
Game 9: Winner game 5 vs. loser game 8, 4:30 p.m., Municipal Stadium, loser eliminated
Game 10: Winner game 6 vs. loser game 7, 2 p.m., Municipal Stadium, loser eliminated
Game 11: Winner game 7 vs. winner game 8, 7 p.m., Municipal Stadium, winner advances to final
Saturday, August 10
Game 12: 9 a.m.
Game 13: 11:30 a.m.
Game 14: 2 p.m.
