Bobby Krogh
Capital District Scout

Saratoga 2 - Cicero North Syracuse 1

Saturday afternoon at Onondaga Community College, Cicero North Syracuse (CNS) of Section 3, took on the Section 2 champs Saratoga Springs. 

Senior RHP Brad Hamilton would toe the rubber against the Blue Streaks No. 1 starter Danny Hobbs.  We've reported heavily on Hobbs and his efforts the last 2-months, but word was Cicero's starter also had the goods. 

Saratoga strength in the regular season was undoubtedly their offense.  So often they would jump out to early leads on opponents, and today would be no different. 

In the top of the 1st, Junior middle infielder Nick Kondo led off with a single to left field.  After a sac bunt by Jake Fauler, Jack Herman legged out an infield single.  With first and third, Junior 3rd baseman Danny Coleman grounded into a fielders choice.  Kondo scored on the play, to make it 1-0.  Hamilton would get out of the inning without further harm.

Toga's starter Danny Hobbs has been every part of excellent this post-season.  This would be his first start since being hit in face by a line drive on May 29th, and many wondered if that injury would have any effect on him or his mound presence.  The greatest thing about regional play is the majority of these teams know very little about their opponents.  Sure they know stats and college commitments, but It isn't like sectional play where the vast majority of players have competed against each other their entire life.  If fans were paying attention, they would of seen this first hand as many of the Cicero players were looking at each other after Hobbs delivered his first 2 warm-up pitches - with next-level velocity.

The Blue Streaks starter was in cruise control until the bottom of the 3rd, when he hit the lead-off man Christian LaLomia.  With a LaLomia on 1st, senior infielder Jake McArdell drove what looked to be a single threw the right side, but 2nd basemen Nick Kondo never gave up on the ball.  After a full extended dive, he got up quickly and threw a bullet to 1st base to retire McArdell by a step and a half.  Although the momentum seemed back in the 1st base dugout, Senior Steven Theetge stepped to the plate.  After fouling off a couple pitches, the righty was able to fist a bloop single into shallow right, scoring LaLomia, and tying the game at 1.  Hobbs was able to get out of the inning without further damage. 

Both pitching staffs would battle for the next 2 innings, and wouldn't allow a run.  In the top of the 6th with two out and Brandon Frank on first, Junior Catcher Brandon Coffey stepped to the plate.  Coffey who has been clutch all year, both offensively as well as defensively, took the first high fastball out of the zone, allowing Frank to steal second.  With the stage now set, Coffey took full advantage of a defensive shift.  Cicero 2nd basemen AJ Nesci was playing close to 2nd base, holding the runner.  Coffey saw this, and slapped the next pitch (an outside fastball) through the right side for an RBI single.

The clutch hit put Toga back on top 2-1.

With all the momentum back on the Saratoga side, starter Danny Hobbs beat his defense onto the field.  After a few warm-up pitches, Hobbs retired the NorthStars battery on only seven pitches.  The Blue Streaks were unable to score in the top of the 7th, and Hobbs came back out for the complete game win.

With the way Hobbs has thrown all post-season,  Saratoga felt comfortable putting him back out there, but they also knew that if he ran into trouble, Junior Cory McAthur was ready and willing to put the game in his hands. 

Cicero elected to pitch hit Sophomore Nick Spinella to start the inning.  Spinella in the biggest spot of his High School career, delivered a single on a high fastball.  This would end Hobbs' day, and he walked off to an overwhelming applaud by the Blue Streak fans. 

You could feel a sigh of relief from the Cicero side, as Hobbs left the game, but little did they know Junior Cory McArthur is as tough as they come in section 2.  We've seen him battle through some tough spots in the past, and come out victorious.  When the game is on the line, everyone knows the man you want on the mound is McArthur. 

With the runner on first, McArthur's first pitch was a high fastball that seemed to tip the bat of Cicero hitter Connor Stanton.  The pitch was recorded as a ball, but the Toga defense moved up into a tighter bunt defense.  Stanton would miss his next two attempts bringing the count to 1-2.  McArthur's next pitch, (a slider low and away) was put in play by Stanton.  Coffey pounced on the ball as it rolled down the 1st base line, and threw out Stanton by two steps at 1st.  2nd baseman AJ Nesci then stepped to the plate and earned a walk on 5 pitches.  McArthur then battled back and struck out the NorthStars No. 2 hitter Christian LaLomia.  With two out and two on the big hitting lefty Jake McArdell was up.  McArdell, who had good at bats against Hobbs all day, saw McArthur's second pitch skip off the top of the plate (which was visually three inches higher than the playing surface), over the left shoulder of his catcher, moving the runners up a base.  Saratoga then elected to intentionally walk McArdell, and face Steven Theetge.  After falling behind 1-2 Theetge battled the count back to full.  On the 3-2 pitch McArthur's high fastball was driven deep into right field.  With the wind blowing into the right field corner, it certainly traveled farther than normal.  For a minute I thought it was going to drop, but Jake Fauler caught up on the ball easily, and recorded the 3rd out. 

For the 2nd time in as many games, McArthur was drug down to the ground by his team-mates after collecting the save.  Saratoga Springs now faces Orchard Park of section 6, next Saturday at Union Endicott High School.  The start time is scheduled for 1pm. 

PBR's Take
The bottom line with Saratoga Springs is they play as a team.  They don't care who is on the mound for their team, or who is in the lineup, they will find a way to get it done.  Starter Danny Hobbs' control wasn't as crisp as we've seen him in the past, but no-one is going to question his guts.  In 6 innings he gave up a mere three hits.  His defense was exceptional all day, especially from his 2nd basemen Nick Kondo.  Junior RHP Cory McArthur is a tough dude.  He is consistently put into spots where the average athlete, without mental toughness would more-than-likely fail.  McArthur has yet to do so in the past seven weeks. 

+ Measurable Stats from this game will be uploaded to our scout blog Monday Morning.

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