SANBORN – The FM baseball team traveled to Niagara County this weekend for a best-of-three subregional series with the Niagara CCC ThunderWolves. Niagara is the defending Region 3 champion, having won the title in both 2012 and 2013.
The Raiders gave it a very good go, and led 5-3 in the ninth inning of Game One, but the home team came back to win that one 6-5. Niagara also won Game Two, 7-3, so FM's fine baseball season has ended, and Niagara will go on to the regional final four in Little Falls this coming weekend.
Photo: Gregory Ruddy had six hits on Saturday (photo taken earlier in season)
There were three other subregional series this weekend. All were decided on the first day of play. Herkimer defeated Finger Lakes 10-2 and 10-9. Onondaga downed Mohawk Valley 9-1 and 6-0. Erie eliminated Schenectady 16-0 and 3-2. Thus the Region 3 championship tourney will be contested by Niagara, Herkimer, Erie, and Onondaga.
Game One
Head Coach Dave Hennessey sent Dennis Buckley to the mound, and Buckley responded with a great performance. "Buck" struck out 14, walked four, and drove in a key run.
Greg Ruddy had a day to remember. Ruddy went three-for-five in Game One, with three doubles and three runs batted in.
Niagara led 3-2 in the eighth inning, but the Raiders fought back. Ruddy had what Coach Hennessey called "an unbelievable at-bat" in the ninth. The Raider shortstop fouled off as many as 10 pitches, then lashed a double that put FM in front 4-3. Buckley then drove in Ruddy. FM had a 5-3 lead and tried to add one more run, but Kristjan Maksuti was thrown out at the plate.
Things looked good for the Blue & White, but Niagara managed to come back and win the contest 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth.
Both teams had made strong showings. FM outhit Niagara 12 to 10. James Waters was three-for-three at the plate. Shawn Strong was two-for-four.
Photo: James Waters (photo taken earlier in season)
FMCC 001 100 003 5-12-2
NCCC 011 000 013 6-10-1
Buckley and Houser; Collins, Colosi (7) and Martin
Game Two
Game Two was much closer than the score might suggest. Niagara hit safely nine times, and FM had eight hits. The ninth inning was one of high drama. The game ended with the bases loaded. FM was attacking, and the T-Wolves had to work to keep the Raiders at bay.
Greg Ruddy continued to drive the ball. The left-handed batter had three hits in four trips to the plate. Kristjan Maksuti went two-for-four with an RBI. James Water had a five-hit day, with two hits in Game Two.
FMCC 000 001 011 3-8-4
NCCC 111 000 40x 7-9-0
Flood, Holmes (6), Hewitt (7) and Houser, Gordon (2), Hecht (8); O'Connor, Keating (7), Lamanna (9) and Martin
The Raiders fell short of their goal to play in the regional finals, but the Niagara series was a solid ending to a fine season. FM earned a playoff berth for the first time in 18 years. Their record in Region 3 play going into the weekend was 13-9.
This writer enjoyed seeing this team play baseball as it should be played. The Raiders hit well and ran the bases smartly and aggressively. Their defense was solid at every position. The outfielders covered a lot of ground and alertly threw out runners. In short, this writer will remember the 2014 Raiders as a team that played The Grand Old Game very well.
C.J. Bonny, website writer
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