Paul Gotham
PBR New York Contributor
@pickinSplinters

Max Carver fanned 14 and scattered three hits over seven shutout innings as the Pittsford Sutherland Knights (V) advanced to the NYS Class A semi-finals with a 7-0 victory over  the Olean Huskies (VI) in Far West Regional at Frontier Field, Saturday. 

Carver allowed the first three batters of the game to reach base. He struck out the side in each of the next three innings. 

Carver, who tossed a complete game last Saturday in Sutherland's 2-1 win over Aquinas in the Section V Class A2 final, surrendered a leadoff single, followed by a double before hitting the third batter of the night that he faced.

He escaped the jam with a pickoff, routine fly ball and a ground out to end the threat.

Sutherland sent 12 to the plate and got all runs it needed in the sixth. After putting the leadoff man aboard in four of the first five innings without capitalizing, the Knights took advantage of four walks and two errors in the stanza.

Carver led the frame with a base hit up the middle and gave way to Davis Heyman as a pinch runner. Jack Bergin followed with a base on balls, and Sam Kistler put runners in scoring position with the Knights fifth sacrifice bunt of the game.

Connor Fitzsimmons delivered from the there. The eight-hole hitter sent a two-strike pitch on the outside part of the plate into right field for what appeared to be a sacrifice fly. When the ball was mishandled, two runs scored and Fitzsimmons stood on second.

The next three Knights reached base and broke open the game.

Olean's Bryan Bizzaro matched Carver for five innings. The Huskies senior right-hander scattered four hits and struck out five. But in the fifth inning he landed awkwardly finishing a pitch and required medical attention. He completed the frame but did not return for the sixth.

Sutherland is one of four Section V teams to advance to the state semi-final. Avon (Class C) will look to reach the state final for a second straight year after defeating Maple Grove 14-5. Livonia (Class B) got revenge on last year's loss with a 5-3 win over Fredonia. McQuaid (Class AA) used extra innings to beat Clarence, 5-4.

North Collins (Class D) of Section VI beat Lima Christian, 9-5.

Sutherland (16-9) will face reigning Class A state champion Wantagh (VIII) in Friday's semi-final. A 6:30 p.m. first pitch is scheduled at Union-Endicott High School in Binghamton.