JOHNSTOWN – Freshman pitcher Christian Maldonado was almost unhittable as the Raiders defeated Herkimer CCC in Game One on Thursday and earned a berth in postseason play. Christopher Rockefeller's single and double helped seal the 6-1 win.
It was a sweet day for FM baseball. The Raiders had not been to the playoffs in 18 years, but second-year Head Coach Dave Hennessey built a team that is the best Blue & White Nine in recent memory. Further, the weather was by far the best that the team has enjoyed all season – it was a beautiful day for a ballgame.
Photo: The Raiders congratulate Christian Maldonado after his great Game One outing
The team has no time to rest on their laurels. They will board the bus on Friday afternoon and travel to Niagara County for a best-of-three series with the Niagara CCC Thunderwolves. (Story continues below photos.)
Photo: The players try to surprise Head Coach Hennessey with a contgratulatory dousing
Game One
Game One began with Maldonado setting the visitors down in order. That was just a hint of what Maldonado would do.
The home half of the inning had the Raiders facing an unusual sight: a sidearmer. Nearly all pitchers in Region 3 throw from over the top or nearly so, but Herkimer hurler Shimosuke Takahashi throws most of his pitches from the side.
Photo: Shimosuke Takahashi
It looked as if the Raiders would score on Takahashi right away after Rockefeller singled up the middle and Gregory Ruddy walked. James Waters stepped up and stroked a shot to deep left field. It looked as if it would be a double, but a long run and catch by the Generals' left fielder ended the threat.
Maldonado struck out the side in the second inning. He got two batters looking and one swinging.
Herkimer threatened with a leadoff single in the third. Maldonado then struck out the next two batters, and Jason Roth made a nice running catch in right field to end the inning.
FM got on the board in the third inning. Rockefeller drove a double to right field. As "Rock" approached second base he saw the throw go wildly beyond the infield and kept running. Rockefeller crossed the plate standing up.
"Maldo" set the visitors down in order in the fourth. FM then got three runners on board via walks, and Ruddy drove two of them in with a double to left. A Herkimer pitcher walked in a run, and FM led 4-0.
Maldonado allowed a double in the fifth, but he also struck out three more Generals.
The fifth also saw Tim Gordon experience one of baseball's rarities: a strike that was thrown behind him. Herkimer's pitcher threw a ball that simply got away from him and went behind Gordon's head. Gordon ducked, but the pitch hit his bat and became a foul-ball strike. Gordon got on base with an infield hit, then scored when Ruddy sent a sacrifice fly deep into left field. (See photo at bottom of page.)
Photo: Tim Gordon ducked but the ball hit his bat for a strike
FM won the game 6-1. Maldonado's magnificent outing was one to remember. He spotted his fastball well throughout the game and ended up striking out 11 batters while walking only one. And his team was heading to the playoffs.
HCCC 000 010 0 1-2-1
FMCC 001 310 0 6-4-1
Takahashi, Burns (4), Almonte (4), Fabrizio (6) and Prettiore; Maldonado and Gordon
Game Two
Herkimer scored six runs in the first inning, fended off a mid-inning FM charge, and cruised to a 13-6 win. FM got hits from Rockefeller, Ruddy, Shawn Strong, Alex Vickery, Jason Aglesta, and Anthony Visco.
HCCC 620 012 2 13-12-0
FMCC 000 420 0 6-9-4
Godlewski, Kowalski (4), Griffiths (6) and Boland; Mosetti, Gravel (1), Hewitt (3), Ford (5), Visco (6) and Chrisman
Click here for video highlights.
Playoffs
Region 3 baseball has 17 member schools. The top four teams from eastern Region 3 and the top four from the region's west earn playoff spots. FM's 13-9 record in regional play earned them the #3 seed in the east. The four eastern seeds, in order, are Herkimer, Schenectady, FM, and Mohawk Valley.
There are four series this weekend. The #1 team from the west hosts the #4 team from the east, #2 west hosts #3 east, etc. The #1 western team is Onondaga CC. Niagara is the #2 western seed and will host FM. The #3 and #4 western seeds are Erie and Finger Lakes.
C.J. Bonny, website writer
Photo: Greg Ruddy sends a sacrifice fly into deep left field
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