New York Playoffs: Section Two Breakdown

May 27, 2015

Bobby Krogh
Capital District Scout

New York Playoffs: Section Two Breakdown

Class AA

Saratoga Springs vs. Shenendehowa ( Friday 5/29 7pm - Joe Bruno Stadium Troy NY )

Shen (19-3) - Although the Plainsmen have suffered a couple tough losses this year, the reality is, who hasn't? Head coach Greg Christodulu's ball club has lived up to the hype all season, and rest assure they will be ready this upcoming Friday. Their starting pitcher presumably will be the Vanderbilt Commit Ian Anderson. With all the professional scouts surrounding the Capital Region this year, Anderson has made the best of it. He has dominated opposing batters all year, including the Blue Streaks of Saratoga Springs. In just under 8 innings of work, the 6-2 170 pound RHP has struck out 12, allowing just 3 hits, walking a pair.

At the plate: Andrew Pedone, Josh Hayner, Connor Douglas, and Richard Drum have carried the workload all season. Look for these 4 to set the pace for the rest of the plainsmen lineup. If they can produce a couple runs, it could mean back to back sectional titles for the Shenendehowa Ball Club.

Saratoga (17-5) - Lets not write off the Blue Streaks just yet. Bottom line - the Blue Streaks can hit. 12 times this year, they have scored 9 or more runs. Nick Kondo, Jake Fauler, Jack Herman, and Dan Coleman are in the top of every statistical category in the section. Lets also not forget, they are just 1 of 2 teams in the section to record a win vs. Shen. The 5-1 victory on May 11th was largely due to the efforts of RHP Danny Hobbs. The emergence of Hobbs this season has been big for Toga, giving them a shut down pitcher of their own. The 6-3 190 pound RHP went the distance when these teams last met, allowing just 4 hits and 2 walks, striking out 5.

PBR's Take - This one is up for grabs. Yet, one thing is for sure...the top two teams in section 2 are playing for the Championship. This game is a can't miss.

Class A

Troy vs. Queensbury ( Thursday 5/28 7pm - Joe Bruno Stadium Troy NY. )

Troy (11-11) - If you were to tell me at any point during the season that Troy High School would be in the sectional final, I probably would of thought you were crazy. Truth is, they were not a very good team all year. They are young, and have made a lot of mistakes along the way, yet the team that has shown up the past two games has been very good. So what has made the difference? They are finally playing as a team. A little senior leadership, and a whole bunch of underclassmen with a lot of guts has gone a long way. One of those underclassmen is Freshman David Judge. Judge is arguably the best all around player on his team. He acts, plays, and looks like a college sophomore. In the Flying Horses first sectional game, he went the distance on the mound, giving up 4 hits and striking out 5 vs. a very good Burnt Hills team. In the semi-final vs. Scotia he put his team up early in the first inning with a 2rbi Double. Everyone knows he's a very talented ball player, but when you sit and think about what he has already accomplished this year as a 14-year old, it's pretty astonishing. Judge has the ball again Thursday night.

Queensbury (17-5) - The Spartans of Queensbury are one of those teams you might only get to see play, when they're playing against your team in sectionals. Luckily we've seen them twice this year, and they are pretty darn good. Head coach Jay Marra has been at the helm for a long time, and consistently brings solid teams in the sectional tournament. In the past his club's were athletic, fast, well-coached, and smart. This year's team is no different, led by Junior SS Brett Rodriguez. Rodriguez has all the tools to take a game over. He's often the best athlete on the field, and a veteran when it comes to playoffs. He can run/hit/play defense/ and throw. Plus we've seen him as high as 86mph on the hill. He's been a starter in the middle infield since his freshman year and as of now, on the radar of a bunch of college scouts.. If you were Troy, and had to worry about 1 player, it's Brett Rodriguez.

PBR's Take - The only question's looming in the air are, can Troy High keep it together 1 more time? Can freshman David Judge really do it again?

Class B

Schuylerville Vs.Albany Academy ( Thursday 5/28 4pm Joe Bruno Stadium Troy NY )

SCHUYLERVILLE - To some it might seem that the Schuylerville might be a Cinderella story, because they don't get a ton of press. For those who have followed the Black Horses this year, they know others are sadly mistaken. They can pitch, field, and hit with the best class B teams in the state. They are led on the mound by Jake Petralia (6-0, 1.47 ERA) and Joe Braim (5-1, 1.80 ERA). At the plate they are hitting .309 as a team, with 4 players in the starting lineup holding batting averages of .330 or better. Leading the offensive charge are Senior's Matt Saddlemire, and Codie Brown. On the year Saddlemire is hitting .466 with 25 RBI's and 9 stolen bases. Brown, a talented leadoff and base-stealer, is hitting .395 with 13RBI's and 17 Stolen-Bases.

Albany Academy - We've followed the Cadet's pretty closely throughout the year, and one thing is certain. That is, when Academy hit's they win. They have lost some close games in the middle of the year that they should have won because their offense simply wasn't producing. When their arsenal is running full steam ahead, no one will beat them. Junior LHP Brooks Knapek has been fantastic all year. We've seen him sit at 83 mph at times, with a hard breaking ball, and and even better change-up. Knapek will no doubt keep his team in the game, but the difference between winning and losing will simply rely on the Cadets bats. Senior leadoff hitter Nolan Duda usually sets the pace for the rest of his lineup. When he gets on base, good things usually follow.

PBR's Take - The key to a Schuylerville victory is simple. Play error-less defense and give Saddlemire the chance to drive in runs. If Codie Brown and Junior Tanner Dunkel can set it up, they just might be able to pull this out. The only problem I see? they are facing a very tough Brooks Knapek. This has all the makings of being a very good ball game.