By: Zachary Harnischfeger
GREECE, NY- The Greece Athena Trojans baseball team came into the game looking to continue their hot hitting after defeating Webster Thomas 18-8 on Tuesday. The Trojans did just that as they defeated the Irondequoit Eagles 8-3.
“We put together a game plan and they did literally everything I asked them to do, so you couldn't ask for a better game,” Greece Athena head coach Tim Sova said. “We did everything we could have done so I am very happy with that.”
The Trojans wasted no time getting the offense going. In the bottom of first inning Trojans center fielder Connor Osier singled and knocked in short stop Samuel Saucke to give the Trojans the early 1-0 lead.
“I saw a man on base, and I knew I had to choke up and get the bat on the ball,” Osier said. “And I knew I had to send it through a gap and knew he would score.”
In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Saucke singled, bringing home Trojans second baseman Parker Goodness to give the Trojans a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, Trojans right fielder Jacob Sova drove in Osier on a groundout to make it a 3-0 game.
The Trojans added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Pitcher Derrick Allen doubled and brought home Saucke, making it a 4-0 game. The next batter, Osier, drove in Allen on a sacrifice fly giving the Trojans a 5-0 lead. Osier finished the game going 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs.
The Eagles made it a three-run game in the bottom of the fifth after two solo home runs by Jack Bayerl and Colby Mroczek. The Trojans answered right back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Goodness bunted for a base hit and drove in catcher Giovanni Stewart, extending the lead to 6-2. The next batter, Saucke, hit a two-run single which scored Alexander Hall and Ryan Grasley to give the Trojans a 8-2 lead. Saucke finished the game going 3-for-3 with a walk, stolen base, and two runs scored.
“I was first pitch swinging there,” Saucke said. “I got a good pitch to hit and fouled it back and then missed a bunt on a suicide squeeze. I got the job done, stayed back just long enough to get the hit and it was awesome.”
The Eagles didn’t go down quietly in the bottom of the seventh. They added one more run on a solo home run by catcher Landon Bryan and the game ended 8-3.
Derrick Allen got the start on the mound for Greece Athena. He hurled 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on two hits while walking one and striking out eight. Goodness came in relief and tossed 1.1 innings, allowing one run on one hit while walking one, hitting two batters and striking out three.
With the win, The Trojans advance to their fifth consecutive Section V title game. Sova knows it is not going to be easy and he hopes the team can continue to play well.
“No matter who we play, they’re going to be tough,” Sova said. “We know there is no easy games. We just got to come out and play our brand of baseball. Hopefully, we continue to hit the ball, pitch, and play defense. That’s really it.”
The Trojans will play in the Section V Class AA title game against the Victor Blue Devils on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Innovative Field. The Trojans will look to repeat as sectional champions.