FAYETTEVILLE, NC - The York College baseball squad fell 9-6 to
Shenandoah on Thursday afternoon in Fayetteville, NC. The loss,
which eliminates the Spartans from the South Regional Tournament,
closes the books on their 2010 campaign as the Green and White
finish the year with a 28-16 record.
After York starter Andy Rosenzweig (Glen Rock,
Pa./Susquehannock) mowed down the Hornets 1-2-3 in the top
of the frame, the Spartans jumped out front early with a two-run
first inning. With two out, Mike Connolly (Selden,
N.Y./Newfield) singled home Dustin Worthman
(Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) to plate York's first run.
Back-to-back base knocks from CT Stanley (Timonium,
Md./Calvert Hall College) and Steve Tretter
(Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) would bring home Connolly for
York's 2-0 lead as things looked good for the Spartans early.
The Green and White would own the lead, at 3-2, until the fourth
when the Hornets chalked up four runs. A lead-off walk to Mike
Smith set the stage for a four-hit, four-run, fourth inning which
allowed the Shenandoah squad to secure a 6-3 advantage.
York responded with one in the bottom of the frame to cut the
Hornet lead to 6-4. Rob Klinck (Stanhope, N.J./Lenape
Valley Regional) and Jim Meehan (Mastic,
N.Y./Eastport-South Manor Central) combined to scratch
across the run, with some help from a Shenandoah wild pitch.
The Hornets would tally three more however in the top of the
sixth, increasing their lead to 9-4. With the bases full, Cory
Nelson singled to left to plate two of the three scores in the
frame. Smith then added a single of his own to notch the third run
of the inning.
Despite the six-run deficit, the Green and White continued to
battle.
The Spartans loaded the bases in both the seventh and eighth
innings but could only scratch across one run. Both bases-loaded
efforts came with two outs giving York not much chance to add
additional runs.
Down 9-5 going into the bottom of the ninth, the Spartans look
as if they would mount a significant two-out comeback. After
groundouts from the first two Spartan batters, Matt Monti
(Easton, Pa./Easton) laced a clutch single to keep the
York squad alive. Meehan followed with a single of his own before
Worthman plated Monti from second with a single into right center.
Now down only three at 9-6, the Spartans sent the tying run to the
plate in the form of Kyle Cook (Pylesville, Md./North
Harford). Unfortunately for the Green and White, Cook did
not repeat the heroics from Wednesday evening as he grounded out to
short to end the contest.
For the game, the Spartans and Hornets each banged out 17 hits
while each position player recorded at least one hit.
Jon Holcomb, Jesse Henry, and Alexander Woods each notched
3-for-5 performances while Nelson drove in three runs. Smith
records the victory on the mound after tossing three innings and
only allowing one run.
For the Spartans, Connolly and Stanley each registered three
hits. Worthman went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Rosenzweig suffers the loss as he threw 5.2 innings for the Spartan
side.
With the loss, the Spartans officially conclude their 2010
campaign. York bids adieu to their seven seniors – Connolly,
Meehan, Monti, Rick Shumway (Shippensburg, Pa./Shippensburg
Area), Jason Christenberry (Yoe,
Pa./Dallastown), Chris Frankenfield (Blue Bell,
Pa./Wissahickon), and Jeff Benchich (Salt Point,
N.Y./Millbrook). Over the last four seasons, the Spartans
amassed a terrific 102-74 record and appeared in three NCAA
Tournaments.
GAME BOX
Photo: Mike Connolly
recorded three hits against the Hornets on Thursday
