by Ryan Mosher
The University of Albany’s top notch baseball field served as a nice backdrop for the Berlin baseball team to get their act in order as they took on Doane Stuart on Monday. The Mountaineers did just that with a huge 28-9 win in a shortened game.
Berlin jumped out to a big lead in the first inning, sending twelve hitters to the plate. The Mountaineers managed six runs on just one hit, as the Thunder Chickens pitcher could not find the strike zone and walked seven. That would be a theme throughout the game as Berlin received an astonishing twenty free passes in the four inning affair. With a 6-0 lead, the Mountaineers seemed to think they would cruise in this game, but Doane Stuart would not go away.
The home team scored three runs in their half of the first, sending all nine batters to the plate. Berlin starter Toby Goodermote struggled to find the zone in the first, walking four batters. Berlin tacked on six more runs in the second inning behind four hits, including a two run double by Goodermote.
For some reason Berlin could not shake the Thunder Chickens. Doane Stuart sent seven more hitters to the plate, collecting three more runs and keeping the game at 12-6. A combination of walks and errors allowed them to score these runs.
The Mountaineers again batted around in the third inning, scoring five runs, making the score 17-6. After eight batters in this inning, Doane Stuart finally sent in a new pitcher. The pitcher was greeted with a long double by Fred Morine. Berlin also brought in a new pitcher in the third inning, as Seth Hawk took the mound. The freshman right hander drilled the first batter with his first pitch, giving him a runner with no outs. Hawk made up for that as his next pitch was grounded right back to the mound and he looked like a veteran as he started the 1-6-3 double play. With those two outs, it appeared the inning would go quick, but that was short lived. The next batter walked, and the following batter was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second with two outs. A routine fly ball was dropped in right field allowing bases to be loaded. A walk and a single scored three runs for Doane Stuart, making the score 17-9. This was the highest run total for the Thunder Chickens all season. Hawk retired the following batter to end the inning.
In the fourth the Mountaineers exploded for eleven runs, taking the lead to 28-9. Berlin drew nine walks and got just one hit in the inning. With the big lead now, Hawk cruised in the fourth, getting three ground ball outs to end the inning. After four innings and two and a half hours, the game was called. Goodermote was 1-1, scoring two runs and collecting three RBI’s as well as two walks. Matt Berish scored five times, but got no official at bats as he drew three walks and was hit by a pitch twice. Tyler Bacon went 2-2 with two runs scored and an RBI.